As a journalist, I decided to go to the dog pound, and interview some of the "inmates". I wanted to know what it was like in there from their perspective. What follows is not for the faint of heart.

I entered the building, and one of the workers accompanied me to the holding area. This is where dogs are kept before they are allowed up for adoption -- IF they are allowed up for adoption. If the dogs are found to be aggressive in any way, euthanasia is employed. Fortunately, if "fortunately" is the word to be used here -- this is a Canadian establishment, and they use lethal injection, not a gas chamber.

The pound worker led me past a big steel door that says "Employees Only". "What is in there?" I asked. From the look he gave me, I knew that this is where dogs go in, and never return.

We moved on to a row of kennels. The dogs were barking loudly, there was the acrid smell of urine and feces, and a feeling of despair seemed to permeate the room.

"Go ahead," the worker said. "They're all yours."

Pete

I looked into the first kennel, and saw only the back of a medium sized dog who was curled up in the corner of his kennel, shivering. He was mostly white, with some black spots. "Hello?" I said. "May I come in?" He lifted his head, as though it weighed more than he could bear. When he looked at me, I could see he was a Pitbull. His eyes were gentle, but filled with grief.

"Enter," was all he said.

I stepped in, closing the gate behind me. He put his head back down, facing away from me. I crouched down a few feet away.

"My name is Pete. Petey my Master called me," he said, still not looking at me.

"Why are you here Pete?" I asked.

"I am here because Master cannot afford to move to another province. I am here because someone with power said I am vicious, and a killer. Someone who never met me. Master took me for a walk one day, and some lady started to scream when she saw me. I got frightened, and barked at her. The dog police came, and they took me away. I have been with Master for 10 years. The last time I saw him, he just held me and cried. He kept telling me he was sorry. I worry for him. Whatever will he do without me?" Pete shivered even more.

A tear slid down my face. I am supposed to remain objective, but this was wrong -- so wrong.

"Thank you Pete." I said. He said nothing as I got up and left his kennel.

Popper

The kennel next to Pete's held a very young looking dog. Pure Border Collie by my guess. He stood on his hind legs, looking at me through the gate.

"Hello. My name's Popper. He tilted his head. "Are you here to take me home?"

"No, I'm sorry," I replied. "But I would like to talk with you."

"Sure. What would you like to talk about?"

"Popper, how did you come to be in this place?" I asked.

Popper dropped down from the gate, with a perplexed look on his face. He walked to the back of the kennel, then back to the front. I noticed he had one blue eye, and one brown. He was quite beautiful. His black and white coat was shiny and thick.

"I am not certain WHY I am here. I think maybe my family will come back for me. They bought me when I was only 6 weeks old. I remember they said how smart Border Collies are, and how it would be so easy to train me. They were very excited at first. The little ones played with me all the time. But the trouble with little Masters is, they refuse to stay in a group. I constantly had to nip their heels to keep them together." He looked confused. "Why won't they stay in a group?" he sighed. "So I did what I thought I should do. I am not quite sure why the little ones screamed when I did my job, but they did, and the Masters got very angry at me. They also got angry when I had to relieve myself, and did so in the house. I am not sure where they expected me to go. All they said was that I was the smartest breed in the world, and I should just KNOW better. Then they left me in the yard for a month or so. I got bored a lot, and I dug holes in the grass. The next thing I knew, the Masters brought me here."

Popper jumped back up on the gate, his white paws protruding through the links. He looked at me with his lovely eyes, and asked "Will you please let them know I want to come home? Please tell them I promise I will be good?"

"I will Popper," I said.

Spartan

My heart was breaking. I was beginning to regret coming here, but their stories had to be told. I moved along. The next dog I saw looked to be easily 100 lbs., a Rottweiler. He was handsome indeed, except for the scars on his face and back. He tilted his head, and looked me right in the eyes.

"Hello. Who are you?" he asked.

"I am a reporter," I replied. "May I speak with you for a little while?"

"Most certainly. My name is Spartan. You can come in, I won't bite," he said.

"Thank you Spartan. I will."

I entered his kennel, reached out and stroked his giant head. He made a loud grumbling noise, and closed his eyes.

"Spartan, why are you here?"

Before he could answer my question, he was suddenly in the grip of a nasty coughing spasm. It sounded painful.

"Please excuse me," he said when it passed. "Kennel cough. It seems all of us who come in here get it. "Why am I here? Well, about two years ago, I was born in the backyard of some person I can't even recall. I had 11 brothers and sisters. I recall a day when a big man came and gave that person some money, and took me away from my mother. They had to chain her up, as she was very angry that he took me. They chained her and beat her. I came to know the man by the name of Jim. I overheard him telling his friends that I would grow up to be big and mean like my mother. But as I grew older, all I wanted to do was play and be friends with everyone. Jim said I needed to be taught how to be mean, so he chained me up in the yard. No more house for me, he said, I was too spoiled. When people came by to visit, I was so happy to see them. I wanted them to come and play. But that made Jim angry, so he beat me with sticks and chains. When he came near, I would roll onto my back so he would know I wasn't a bad dog. That made him beat me more." Spartan's eyes clouded with grief. "Then he brought me here."

I reached out and stroked Spartan's massive gentle head once more. "I am so sorry Spartan. Some people are just plain evil." I gave him a kiss and left his kennel.

As I walked away, Spartan called out, "What will happen to me, nice lady?"

I shook my head. "I can't say Spartan. Maybe someone kind will come and get you. We can only hope."

Patsy

I walked a little further down. I could see a shape moving at the back of the next kennel. "Hello?" I called out. Suddenly the shape lunged at the gate in a fury, barking and gnashing its teeth. I stumbled backwards, and crashed into an adjacent kennel. The other dogs began barking loudly and jumping at their gates.

"Don't go near her," a small female voice came from behind me. "She's mad."

I gathered myself back together, and saw a little Jack Russell Terrier behind me.

"Thanks for the warning," I was still trembling. Across the way, the other dog, apparently a Husky and German Shepherd cross, was glaring at me, lips curled back revealing brown stained teeth. Her ribs and hips showed through her dull, matted grey coat. The little dog invited me into her kennel, and I gladly went in.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Patsy." The little brown and white dog held a paw up to the gate in greeting.

"My owner surrendered me. She said she wanted a cute little dog like the one on the TV show, Frasier. She didn't bother to look into the type of dog I am." Patsy heaved a sigh.

"I suppose she expected me to just lie about and only need a short walk each day, just like Eddie, but my energy was so high that I needed to run and play." She glanced at her surroundings. "Now I am here. I suppose it could be worse. I could be like -- her." Patsy looked towards the still growling dog across the way.

"What happened to make her so vicious?" I asked.

"From what we could gather," she replied. "she was found tied in a back yard. She only had a three foot chain. Some days there was no water. Rarely was there any food. One day a nice neighbour came by and brought her some meat. By then it was too late. She was already mad. She broke off her chain, and bit the poor man badly. We know she will be going behind the steel door. I am sad to say, I think it will be best. Perhaps then she will know some peace."

Just then, the door at the end of the building opened, and a woman stepped inside. All the dogs began to bark wildly, then one by one, they went quiet.

I whispered to Patsy, "Who is that? Why have all the dogs gone quiet?"

Patsy breathed deeply through her little nose, and closed her eyes. "SHE is a Rescuer. Can't you smell it?" she asked.

"Smell what?" I was confused.

"Compassion. Love. Sorrow. It emanates from her pores. She is here for one of us, but nobody knows who just yet." Patsy looked hopeful.

The Rescuer moved from kennel to kennel, looking at each dog. I sat quietly watching. I could see tears in her eyes as she made eye contact with each one. She stopped at Spartan's cage and spoke quietly to him.

"No more beatings my man. No more. You are coming with me. From here on in, it's all going to get better."

The Rescuer produced a leash, opened the kennel door, and took Spartan away. As he walked beside her, his little stubby tail wagged with delight.

Patsy sighed again. I could see the disappointment in her eyes, and it grieved me. They all had the same look, as they watched The Rescuer depart.

"I am so sorry Patsy," I said in a whisper. "But you are a little dog, and everyone loves little dogs. I am convinced you will be rescued soon." Patsy's brown eyes twinkled at me, a little bit of hope returning.

I had heard and seen enough. I needed to tell people how it was for these unfortunate creatures. They were all here through no fault of their own. I stood to leave. I passed by many other dogs I did not interview, looking at each one, wishing I could take them all home with me and give them the love they deserved. I stood by the door taking one last glance back, when it opened, and one of the pound workers came in. His face was drawn and sad. He walked by without a word, and stopped at Pete's kennel. I heard him take a deep breath, then he paused, and opened the kennel door.

The words were muffled, but I am sure I heard him say "I'm sorry old boy."

He came out, with Petey in tow. The old dog's head hung down in resignation, and they both disappeared behind the big steel door.
---

Copyrighted by Sally Hull

Choosing the right pet for your family..............

(taken from Canadian Living Magazine)

1. Choose a dog or cat with a personality that is fairly calm and not threatening or defensive, says Dr. Patricia Stapley Chase, owner of Pine Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Cobourg, Ont. "But keep in mind that any dog can be a challenge and any dog can be pushed to his limit."

2. Large dogs and small dogs generally are not good choices for families with preteen children, says Dr. Betsy Brevitz in her book Hound Health Handbook (Workman, 2004). A child who is considerably smaller than the family dog is likely to have trouble earning the dog's respect, and a small dog may be intimidated by the rambunctious play of young children.

3. Take a moment to observe the demeanour of the animal. "If you're choosing a puppy," says Stapley Chase, "and one is sitting in the corner fairly quiet and the other is barking aggressively at you, which one do you want?"

4. "With dogs, there is always a hierarchy, and the children need to be above that dog," says Stapley Chase. "Otherwise the dog is always challenging the kids." Participation in obedience training is an excellent learning opportunity for children 10 years and older. During these classes, the dog learns to respond to people.

Recognize animal warning signs
5. Often accidents occur when a child teases a pet or touches him in a disturbing manner, such as grabbing a cat's tail or pulling at his legs. This is especially important for young children who may not understand warning signs from a pet.

6. Clearly state these rules: Never disturb a pet when he's eating, sleeping or chewing on something. Don't grab the pet's feet, ears or tail -- ever.

7. A cat may be less tolerant of a child's playful behaviour than a dog. Teach your child how to properly hold the cat, providing support under the chest and back legs. Touching the sensitive stomach area may bother the cat enough to bite, so the child should be aware of this delicate area.

8. Play calmly and with no fast motions toward the animal. If a child plays roughly with a cat, for example, he may attack with his claws; a dog may grab and cause puncture wounds. "Pets don't know their own limitations," says Stapley Chase. "Also, an adult may recognize warning signs from a dog, but a child might not know those boundaries."

9. In the event of a fight between two animals, teach children to never stick their hands or feet between them. "You're going to get bitten because the animals won't be able to differentiate between your limb and the one they're being aggressive toward," says Stapley Chase.

10. Learning to read an animal's warning signs will keep your kids safe. For dogs, if their eyes are down, ears are back and tail is between the legs, they may be in a fear position. "Some animals bite when they feel trapped or cornered," says Stapley Chase. Cats are more vocal with their fear and may hiss, or the hair on their backs stands up and their pupils enlarge.

Showing your child how to love and respect animals will create a more loving bond that will last a lifetime and help build empathy for all living creatures.

 

Some winter pet tips

Dear pet owners,  

     I am writing this letter to let you know some concerns that were brought up by some of my fellow animal friends at our last meeting at a cool off lead park. We feel this is an important message to bring to your attention as the cold weather has started to creep in. 

      Please don’t leave us outdoors when the temperature drops, get cold and we are lonely. We are all are safer and much happier with our family indoors, except when taken out for exercise, which we love. And we love the company of our pack, both 2 and 4 legged companions. Indoors is where we really want to be and belong. 

     We Short-coated dogs do like wearing our fancy and functional winter coats; they keep us warm during walks and play. And don’t be shy about putting doggie booties on us either our toes get cold too.  

     When my friends and I come in from the outside and we are wet from snow or cold rain, towel or blow dry us. And don't forget to dry our paws and ears. This will take off any salt that may be stuck to and in our paws and help prevent cracking plus prevent our ears from cracking as well, which really hurts.  There are some great products available at your local pet friendly store to put on our paws to help repel the salt.  

     No matter what the temperature, wind-chill can threaten our lives. We pets are happiest and healthiest when kept indoors where we deserve to be. I will speak for all dogs that live outside and tell you to please take some extra precautions this winter to make sure they are protected by a dry, draft-free doghouse that is large enough to allow then to sit and lie down comfortably, but small enough to hold in their body heat. The floor should be raised a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The house should be turned to face away from the wind, and the doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic. And please check their water dishes several times a day as water can freeze and leaving them with nothing to drink. Also please use plastic dishes for food and water as metal ones can cause injury to their mouths and tongue.  

     Do not leave us in a vehicle. If you leave the vehicle running, you are adding to the stress of the environment BUT worse we could be overcome by carbon monoxide fumes. If you turn your car off, it can quickly become too cold  - a no win situation. We would really rather stay home and wait for you to walk in the house so we can check each shopping bag you have for treats and bones we know you bought us.  

     Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, Please bang on your car's hood to scare them away before starting your engine, we think it is fun to scare our feline counter parts, but it is safe for all of them, sigh 

     Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that we love. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze out of the reach of us pets. It smells like a treat to us and we are very tempted to drink it.  

     Plants and other items associated with the winter and holiday season can be toxic to us. Poinsettia leaves/stems, tinsel, spray snow, holly berries and leaves, mistletoe, and chocolate just to name a few. If you can please take care these items are not in reach or do not have these items in the house. They are very attractive to us and it’s safer if these items are never brought home.  

     Do not allow us to play with ribbons, yarn, or six-pack beverage holders and don't put ribbons or yarn around our neck. If you want to decorate us we would love to have a fancy holiday collar or a Santa hat that you purchase from a store. These items are safe and made for us animals.  

     We don’t like to be given as gifts, while we are special we require our new family to have seriously thought about bringing us home and all that goes with it, we bring much love and joy but we also require attention and vet care.  We want to fit in with our new family as much as you want us to, that is why adoption is great…you get to know all about us.  I don’t like wheat it bothers my tummy so I want my new forever family to know this. 

     The cats would like us to mention that since they would rather spend the long winter days inside, could you please move all the birdfeeders and squirrel food close to the windows.  

Thank you The Animals at ARC  

  Dog Proofing your home

Here are some things to remember when welcoming your new four legged addition to your home........

Everyday items can be hazardous, even deadly. The most important thing to remember is to lock up all medications. When a dog finds a Pill Bottle or liquid medicine it can become a toy to them and can be opened in minutes. The most common poisoning is from ibuprofen because most people always have it on hand.

Pesticides and Anti freeze also pose a danger and should be locked up where animals cannot get to it.

Some toxic foods that should also not be given to animals are chocolate, grapes, onions and raisins.

Baker's chocolate is among the most toxic because it hasn't been sweetened with sugar or mixed with other ingredients. Just three ounces of baker's chocolate can kill a 20-pound dog. Although milk chocolate is less toxic because of added ingredients, it's actually more dangerous because the milk and sugar make it more palatable.

Macadamia nuts are also poisonous. Although somewhat rare, it can happen. As with chocolate, the degree of toxicity varies with the amount of nuts ingested.
Common symptoms include weakness, depression, vomiting, staggering, tremors, and fever. Most symptoms occur less than 12 hours after ingestion. Call your vet immediately if you see your dog eating macadamia nuts or if you suspect he has eaten them.

Post your veterinarian's number by the phone, and keep a good pet first-aid book on hand -- one that includes a comprehensive list of common poisons and what to do if your dog swallows them.
If you know what the dog ate, take the container with you to the veterinarian. If your puppy is vomiting but you don't know what he ate, take a sample of the vomit to help the veterinarian make a diagnosis.

Dog proofing your home can be as easy as surveying each room in your house on all fours and see what you can reach and what might pose a danger.

Install baby gates in areas where dogs are at risk of falling.

secure window blinds and curtains with dangling cords and cover electrical outlets.

keep the lid on toilets, toilet bowl water is enticing to a dog and carries an increased risk with toilet bowl cleanser.

Ensure fences are free of holes and gaps. Gates, trash cans, and recycling bins are securely fastened and lock up anti freeze, all cleaning supplies, gasoline, paint and fertilizers in the garage.

Remember anything that is unsafe for children is also unsafe for dogs.

Where to get a dog (and where not to)

So you have decided to get your family a dog. Here are a few places most people look for a new dog and the good and bad points about them.

The Pet Store.....

This one is easy. Don't do it. Even if you think you are "Saving" the dog.
Why? Because pet stores have a dirty little secret they would rather you didn't know. Those cute puppies are raised in abysmal conditions, and every time you buy one, you support an industry that dooms thousands of breeder dogs to lives of suffering. Pet store puppies are raised like livestock in tiny cages. These places are called Puppy Mills.

As soon as a Puppy is purchased at a pet store you have just opened up a spot for the Puppy miller to fill with another dog. The more puppies that are purchased at a pet store the more demand for these puppy mills to turn out more dogs.

Besides the horrors of the puppy mill, there are many other good reasons not to buy a puppy from a pet store:

- You'll pay more than you will for a healthy, well-adjusted puppy from a reputable breeder
- You'll get a puppy that is not carefully bred and is likely to have a genetic defect like hip dysplasia or epilepsy
- You'll get a puppy that hasn't been carefully socialized and may turn out to have behavior problems
- Due to careless breeding, your puppy may not grow up to look or act anything like its breed
- Because pet store puppies have to poop and pee in their cages, they are very difficult to housebreak
- You will not have the support of a caring and knowledgeable breeder to help you if you have problems with the puppy

The Animal Shelter or Pound....

A great choice if you want to save a life! You'll see plenty of dogs that need homes. The downside is that you sometimes may not have  background on the dog's health and socialization.

Shelters and Rescues do strive to provide as much information as possible but if the dog is picked up after being dumped or is a stray information may not be known about the dogs past.
However Rescues often put their dogs in foster homes for the duration of its stay and a lot of info can be learned about a dog when he is living in a home setting. If you can handle that, a rescue is a good choice.

The Newspaper (or Magazine Ad, etc.).....

Some good breeders do advertise in the newspaper, but most don't. If you are looking for an adult dog, you may find a lovely pet that someone is trying to place. Interview them carefully! Go meet the dog and the owners at their house. Some people will want to meet you in a parking lot - not a good idea. You have to think about why they do not want you at their house, is their dog sick and they are not telling you about it. Or are they a puppy mill and they do not want to be found out. This is a tricky way to find a dog and you might find what you get is a lot of heart ache and a truly bad experience.

A Breeder....

There are all kinds of breeders. Most do it simply because they have two dogs and want a puppy "just like the parent", or they do it to "teach the kids about life" or they do it for "the money". These are all wrong reasons for having puppies. This is simply called a Backyard Breeder.
Don't patronize these people! Responsible breeders, on the other hand, deserve support.  For they have they usually have the experience and the dogs best interest in mind.

There is no reason to breed a dog unless you are a breeder in the true sense of the word.
There are simply too many dogs being put down in shelters with no one to adopt them. People do not see the other side of what breeding a dog does.

A good thing to keep in mind.........If you don't Rescue don't breed.

According to the American Humane Association, an estimated 9.6 million animals are euthanized in the United States every year.

Out of 1,000 shelters responding to a survey,  56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter shelters were euthanized.
15% of dogs and 2% of cats were reunited with their owners; 25% of dogs and 24% of cats were adopted.  But...........

The majority of these are euthanized at animal shelters, typically after a standard period of time (ranging from several days to several weeks for unclaimed stray animals).