Pounding

A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to "give back" locally in regards to dogs. Specifically, rescue or shelter dogs. After all, I love our dogs, I love the world of rescue and I admire those who can do such things. I do things nationally (aka: give money, support rescues, adopted two dogs from a rescue) but I wanted to do a little more something in the area.

Hence, I found myself at the local shelter's website, filling out a volunteer application.

Now, a shelter is different than a rescue, but the dogs are still in the same predicament: they are homeless, owner-less and looking a wee bit like they could use some love, attention and medical intervention. I figure I have much talent in the poop-scooping department. I love pitties and certainly will never have one, so why not hang around with some? I know there is stigma about the local shelter; I've already heard "isn't that a kill shelter?" followed by "That place is horrible." The next sentence is always, "Aren't they all pit bulls?" I'm fine with me. Say what you will. It's not pretty. It's not exactly happy. There is limited funding. There are some animals that end up being euthanized. This is where the "dog catchers" come from. There are indeed a lot of pit bulls and bull dogs.

I'd rather volunteer and try to make a difference than to pass judgment.

Perhaps I will feel differently after a few months. I'll own it if I do.

I made it clear I only work with dogs. No cats. I'm allergic to cats. They'd probably try to claw my eyes out upon entering, knowing that I am allergic. I did consider working with the two guinea pigs but they seemed not in need of much attention. There are a LOT of cats in that place. I know nothing of cats besides there are lots of cats in that place.

My assignment is to take the dogs outside (it's not exactly walking them but it's considered walking them), stay with them, pick up their poop and then take them back inside. I'm also supposed to interact with "the customers" who come to adopt a dog.

There are big dogs, little dogs, surrendered dogs, senior dogs, dogs with medical issues, scared dogs, friendly dogs... and, dogs of which are deemed dangerous just by being a specific breed.

The dog part is super easy. The people part: not so much. The first day, two elderly ladies were fighting over a shih tzu. Both laid claim that they were there first, so they should get the dog. I slowly backed away and found a pittie to take outside. I'd rather stand in the freezing rain than stand near that debacle. I hadn't considered that I might have to interact with humans while volunteering at the shelter. I do that all day. I was hoping for no human interaction, but it's part of the gig. Humans it is.

I think the hardest part is the stray aspect of the shelter. There's a room full of strays.... of whom have eight days for their owner to find them. After that, they are put up for adoption. There are a lot of cute dogs in there, obviously many of whom escaped from home, in one fashion or another. I'm sure Rosita was a naughty dog who ran away from home many a time. She's a runner. She was a stray, piled in a Texas kennel with a bunch of other strays. I doubt her owners came looking.

I always hope the owners in our town come look for their dogs.

Last week, I gave a lecture to one of the handsome, long-time-stay pit bulls because he wasn't trying very hard to "sell himself." I had taken him in to the visitor room, as someone was considering him for adoption. Instead of interacting, he stood with his nose at the door. I told him, "You've gotta sell yourself! You're not doing a good job of selling yourself!" The lady thought he was quite handsome and gentle but he had no interest in her. I bent down and encouraged him to go visit her. He gave me big, wet, sloppy kisses but never turned toward her. She went and found a different dog.

There is one other aspect that is understandably tough: Getting the dogs back into the kennel. Would you want to go back in there? I think not. It's smelly and loud and impersonal and lonely. Oh, there is food and cleanliness and a bed, but that's about it. There are no people in the kennel. Dogs are barking everywhere, yelling at me to pay attention and to let them out. It's tough to get a 70 lb-all muscle pit bull back into the kennel.

It's not meanness--it's quite the opposite. It's a need to be with a two-legged nice person. It's a need not be alone.

My mentor won't be there this week, so I'm not allowed to take the dogs out for walks. I think I'll go there, anyway. I can sit and talk to the dogs.
They listen.
They like to listen.
They need to feel the love, even it's just the tiniest bit.
They need to learn that not all humans are assholes.....
There are a LOT of assholes. Abusive, yucky excuses of humans. But, not all humans are abusive.

That's a tough lesson to learn. I imagine it is really hard to trust humans after being beaten and starved and thrown into dog rings and kicked and left chained outside in the below-zero weather or the 100 degree sun. I can't change any of that.

I can't fix or save a dog. There are going to be dogs that are just too "broken" to be anything but that: broken. But, I can be compassionate and hope for the best....

...I can work to break stigma about breeds, about shelters. I can educate about breeders. I can pick up poop. I can pet dogs. I can try to get the dogs homes by interacting with customers. I can be a nonjudgmental visitor who wants only the best....

...I can give my pittie friend lessons on how to sell himself. I intend to help him do just that. A little practice and a lot of patience... and, maybe some counseling from this counselor.... perhaps he can learn to sell himself so he too can find a good home....

I'll be mighty happy if I get there this week and he is gone. He's not in danger of being euthanized, so if he's gone it's not that. It means he sold himself by displaying his good traits and handsome self. What a great surprise that will be for me.

If you're interested in a grey and white pittie-mix, with short legs, basically no ears (don't even get me started) and a lot of drool, I have just the dog for you.

Make me surprised, indeed.

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To Bandido and Rosita: I honor you with this effort. After all, you were rescued from one of the worst shelters on the planet. It's the least I can do. 

Now, stop pooping in the house!