"First Dog" Material...or Not?

The entire country is now immersed in a new presidential puppy. Bo, the quasi-"rescued" pure breed pup who was presented to the First Family recently.

Many are thrilled and now the stock for Portuguese Water Dogs begins its meteoric rise..... On the other hand, many in rescue are disappointed in the fact that a shelter dog was (again) passed over in favor of a bred for profit canine.

What ever side of the issue you find yourself on, here is a news flash: at any given shelter on any given day throughout the United States and beyond, there are literally hundreds (maybe thousands) of dogs that would have been suitable for adoption by a family with health concerns such as the First Family.

That being the case, the fact that they chose to bring a bred for profit pet into their homes is their business - their choice. I don't judge....but I can still feel for all those other dogs in shelters out there who didn't stand a chance when it came down to brass tacks. It's a shame one of them couldn't have benefited from the good will and intentions of an administration setting out to make grand changes all over; because right about now some changes in the public attitude toward shelter pets would be most welcome!

Felicia was one of our rescues, (an 8 year old Portuguese Water Dog mix!), who suddenly found herself quite literally kicked out of the house by the only people she'd ever known in her entire life.

Why? Well, the family got a new baby and Felicia was no longer the center of their universe.

It happens. A lot. So, poor Felicia not only lost her favored position as cherished pet, she was unceremoniously "sent packing" to live in the back yard where she became suddenly, and most unprepared, exposed to all the elements! (Not so happy a life for a pup who is deathly afraid of thunder storms). She was a mess both physically and emotionally when we took her in.

It doesn't have to be this way, however. There is a lot you can do to prepare ahead of time in anticipation of a new baby and the introduction of that baby to an existing pet. In fact, the ASPCA website has some good material on how to successfully introduce an existing pet to a new human baby. First, there is their on-line community where you can connect with and learn from others who have successfully navigated these same waters:

http://aspcacommunity.ning.com/group/dogsville/forum/topics/658300:Topic:757650

Then there is their Virtual Pet Behaviorist to weigh in on the subject of children and pets:

http://www.aspcabehavior.org/articles/141/Children-and-Pets-Living-Together.aspx

Urbandawgs (http://www.urbandawgs.com/), another favorite site of ours, also has a wonderful little pdf on preparing pets for your impending little bundle of joy:

http://www.urbandawgs.com/articles/diapers_and_dogs.pdf

Happily for Felicia, she found the most wonderful of homes (complete with a loving and devoted human) to live out her life in happiness and without fear. In fact, she is quite the lovely and pampered pooch now, with her very own doggie birthday party invites, etc.!

Felicia, we are so very happy for you and you loving "dad"...may you have many happy years together.

Oh, and as far as "First Dog" material....we think Felicia would have been a FABULOUS First Dog - even though she is not necessarily a pure breed (although we can't say THAT for sure, either! She may well BE a pure bred dog!). Also, she may not be so young anymore, either. The point is, what we're trying to say is this: in any given shelter on any given day through out this vast country are MANY other non-allergenic shelter pups, waiting and hoping for you to see them and say "yes we can!" adopt you.

Don't be seduced into thinking that the only way to guarantee a non-allergenic and pure bred dog is to go to a breeder. And if you do go to the shelter, remember that just because that shelter dog may be a bit over (or under!) weight, or matted and dirty, or older and a little unsure of themselves, don't just pass them up because you don't know their pedigree. Remember that this little "diamond in the rough" dog standing hopefully before you is potentially just the right dog for you and your family. Not only that, but you may very well be their last chance.

We have successfully placed hundreds of shelter and owner surrender dogs with new families and have virtually not had any returned due to exacerbating known allergy issues. It may take a bit of work and a lot of searching, but we know that somewhere in some shelter or neglected, unwanted and tied in some backyard is your very own "First Dog".

Remember how Felicia's dad found his "First Dog"....

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"Oh, She (He) Must Have Been Abused."

We hear that a lot when people see those of our dogs who are somewhat shy or skittish about being touched by strangers. The truth is, those behaviors are not necessarily a good indicator of how an animal was treated prior to coming into our care. Some dogs are shy or fearful of new people simply because they were unsocialized in their prior home and are therefore timid of new experiences outside their own comfort zone.

The ASPCA published a very interesting article about how you can detect animal abuse. Here it is, in part, quoted below with the link to their website for further information about what you can personally do if you see an abuse situation.

"Signs That an Animal Might Be Abused

Recognizing cruelty is simple, right? Not quite, say ASPCA experts. Obvious behaviors such as aggression, timidity and fear don’t always tell the whole story. Animals may appear to be timid or frightened for many reasons other than abuse....

Check out our list of signs that may alert you an animal needs help:

Physical Signs
Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck

Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated

Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes

Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible

Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites

Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes

Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat

Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally

Heavy discharge from eyes or nose

An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal

Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness

Environmental Signs

Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary

Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter

Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them

Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with too many other animals..."

The key here is that if you see suspected animal cruelty, you want to alert the proper authorities to ensure that any animals in such a situation can be saved. This can be done by making a complaint to the police or humane society in your area (this can be done anonymously). You will not only save an animal's life, you will be helping to take these perpetrators off the streets and prevent future harm to other animals.

Check out the ASPCA's website for more details on this and other relevant subjects.

http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/how-to-recognize-cruelty.html

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