It’s that time of year again when we start to think about the impact of our everyday lives on the environment: April 20th is Earth Day. Most of the goals we make around Earth Day include recycling more, turning the lights off before work, not running the water while brushing our teeth, and maybe not taking a 30-minute shower. Okay, the last one is definitely NOT happening in my case. Believe me, after delivering a rotten calf, I’m doing people a favor with my excessive amount of time in the shower (although my husband may disagree). However, few people probably think about Earth Day in regards to pets. Today, we’re talking about the benefits of adopting a homeless pet, or as I like to say in this context, a recycled pet! Will this have a lasting impact on the environment itself? Probably not, but it will make a world of difference in the life of that animal. Not only that, by choosing to adopt a dog rather than buy from a breeder, you are helping to reduce the pet overpopulation problem. We can all agree that fewer stray dogs in the streets, unwanted or abandoned animals, or animals euthanized in the shelter is a good thing. I’m going to start by telling my adoption story of my own dog, Harley. If you have read previous blogs, many of you know that my husband and I lost our Great Pyrenees, Shalane, to cancer just before Christmas. I wanted to adopt a dog at some point, ideally a Great Pyrenees as I have a particular fondness for the breed. When you lose a pet, it’s hard to decide when is the right time to add a pet to your family. The answer is there is no “right” answer. Every person processes grief differently. Some feel better if they adopt a dog immediately. Others need more time before they’re ready. However, there’s no reason to feel guilty for wanting to adopt soon after losing a pet. You’re not replacing the pet you lost. You’re giving your love to another animal and filling the void in your home. I wasn’t necessarily biting at the bit to adopt right away. I knew that the right dog would come at the right time, and I simply needed to be patient. I was working one day when I received a text from a close friend and classmate of mine. She had just taken a tour of the Jefferson City Animal Shelter and sent me a picture of a cute looking Pyrenees. She told me she appeared friendly and was relatively young. She seemed to be exactly what we were looking for. I tentatively sent my husband the picture, expecting an immediate refusal. To my surprise, his response was, “Go get her.” Another classmate of mine is the shelter veterinarian at this shelter, so I sent her a message expressing interest. I told her I would love to come meet the dog, and we arranged a time for that to happen on my afternoon off. My husband and I drove down to Jeff City to meet Harley. I had never been to the Jefferson City Animal Shelter before. It was a relatively new facility, and I was impressed with the cleanliness and overall facilities they had. My friend and classmate escorted us back to the kennels. Apparently, since we last talked, the shelter had actually acquired one more Pyrenees for us to meet. We were escorted to a room and spent some time with both dogs. Both dogs were so sweet, but we definitely connected with Harley right away. She had been found wandering as a stray in a nearby town several days before. She was a bit underweight and looked like she’d been neglected and fending for herself for awhile, but that didn’t stop her from loving everyone she met. We decided to adopt her. I was surprised how hard it was to choose just one. I felt bad for leaving the other dog, but my classmate assured me that they have a high adoption rate and she would likely be adopted quickly. I was also impressed by the relatively inexpensive adoption fee of $50. For that amount of money, I received a pet that had been spayed, vaccinated, and started on parasite prevention. That is a deal if I ever heard of one (which my frugal husband appreciated). While taking her out to the car, it was apparent that she had never really been on a leash before. She planted her feet and refused to move forward. We finally coaxed her into the car. Her first day with us was a bit of a whirlwind. I was preparing to sing several songs with a former bandmate of mine for a PAWs fundraiser, and we were meeting in a nearby town for our last rehearsal before the event. Yes, you’re probably thinking that it’s hard to believe that I was actually cool enough to be in a band at one time. Our name was Zu Zu’s Petals. Most of you can probably figure out that movie reference. Anyway, while we were killing time, I stopped by a local pet store in Columbia to buy some essentials, including a new dog bed, a collar, and about three dog toys. My husband would probably argue that these actually aren’t essentials, but I beg to differ. We went to a local trail to walk her around and get her more used to the leash. It was a cold and windy day, the day before Valentine’s Day. As I zipped my coat all the way up and bared the cold weather, wishing I had brought gloves, I was surprised how quickly she picked up the leash training. We drove to my friend’s house to practice, where she got to meet even more friends, including their dog, and be serenaded by our singing. I picked the name Harley as my husband is a motorcycle fan and has talked about getting a Harley for some time. This was my smart-aleck solution to his lifelong dream. We finally drove another 30 miles home at about 9:30 P.M. As we got close to town, my husband slowed the car down and said, “Wait! Was that an owl on the side of the road just sitting there?” I was honestly spacing out and hadn’t noticed it. We turned the car around and parked on the shoulder. Sure enough, there was a barred owl just sitting on the side of the road, clearly not concerned about us standing right next to him. I told my husband to grab his coat from the back seat of the car. Having worked at a wildlife sanctuary in the past, I was somewhat experienced at handling birds of prey. I wrapped the coat around the owl and swooped him up without much of a fight. So there we were, late at night with our brand new adopted dog in the back seat and me holding on to an owl in the front seat. This could have been a recipe for a complete disaster. Looking back, now I’m seeing Harley baring teeth, barking relentlessly, the owl waking from his stupor, spreading his wings and attempting to fly in the very limited space of a Toyota Corolla, as my husband and I scream like little girls, trying to keep the car on the road, while trying to not get our eyes clawed out before we get the owl out of the dang car. Surprisingly, everything was fine and we drove the owl to the clinic where I put him in a quiet cage in the back, away from the dogs and cats. I digress, but for those curious about the fate of the owl, he was taken by my husband the following morning to Raptor Rehabilitation at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. He didn’t do this without some sarcastic comment about being a wizard and picking up chicks at Barnes and Noble. He was taking time out of his day off to drop off a random owl that I wanted to save, so I’ll give him that. The person there agreed that the owl was probably stunned from hitting a windshield, was a bit underweight, but should make a recovery and be able to be released after some nursing care. Since our adoption day, Harley has filled our lives with joy. Our home felt so empty without a dog. We’ve had a few challenges along the way, including some mild separation anxiety and chewing behavior. So far, she has chewed the heel of one of my running shoes, the top of my Ariat work boots, and a sleeve of my black leather trench coat that I inherited from my late grandmother. Of course, all these things are either expensive or have sentimental value, and all of them are mine. Why she doesn’t chew my husband’s stuff is beyond me. Aside from the minor challenges, it’s been very rewarding inviting her into our home and family. She loves to run and will run up to three to four miles with me (not typical of a Pyrenees). Compared to our last Pyrenees, Shalane, Harley is quite obedient, comes when called, and stays by our side. She is also a bit afraid of cows and the dark. Shelter pets can have interesting histories, even if you adopt young. Many of them may have been neglected or abused, or just plain ignored. Most of these pets are forever grateful to have a loving home. No dog, whether it’s a purebred bought from a breeder or a shelter pet, is immune to minor behavioral issues. In fact, I often see more behavioral and genetic problems in dogs bought from breeders. Usually with a little patience, training, and establishing trust, you’ll end up with not just a pet, but a new member of your family. The reward is well worth it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Jessica Stroupe, DVM
Archives
August 2017
|