I love this face

She was named Twitchtip when she first came in to PACC as a stray on 3/11/2014. The kids and I had made a list of names for the Evaluation Team to give stray animals. Twitchtip is a giant talking rat in a children's book, "Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane". She helps Gregor (a human boy) throughout the book until her death.

Around six weeks, she went to Pima Paws for Life on 4/24/14 for a Upper Respiratory Infection. After treatment, she came back and was adopted 5/24/14.

She had a name change to Chloe and a home for 2 years.

The owners returned her on 6/23, with a 25cm long laceration on her left shoulder. There are no notes (apparently) that explain how this happened. I'm assuming she was returned because they couldn't afford vet treatment. This happens, unfortunately, quite a bit.

She sat in sickbay at PACC while the shoulder healed and while there, she got ANOTHER Upper Respiratory Infection. After that was healed, she sat in the back kennels, nearly unseen, until they're sure she's over her infection. She was starting to get a little depressed being stuck in a kennel for so long with very little exposure to potential adopters. I couldn't stand to see her there anymore. She had been moved up front to the kennels with more exposure, but she had been passed up during 2 free adoption events. I think that sometimes when people see an animal has been there for awhile and there is no easy to find explanation as to why, they pass over them a little quicker.

I love those ears. I love her cute face. I think she looks like a cute rat when she smiles. I named her back to Twitchtip right away. She responds to "Twitchy".

She's all gray with the exception of a little white on her chest. She now has a Frankenstein type scar on her left shoulder. It would make great conversation starters!

She is also a leaner. If you're standing next to her, she'll lean on you.

Twitchy calm and relaxed on the floor

If you sit on the floor next to her, she'll want to sit in your lap.
Just her rear end.
She doesn't want to smother you.
Just be close to you.

When I call her name she looks like this

 

She is horrible on a leash. She really is. She pulls and pulls but that's something we're working on.

You have to watch her closely when you go down the toy aisle in the pet store because she grabs what she wants and just takes it with her. I know this part for a fact. I've purchased a stuffed toy, a ball and a frisbee that she took off the shelf.

She loves to chase the ball and will bring it back to you. She won't give it up right away but as long as you don't try to pull it out of her mouth, she'll eventually drop it.

She loves ALL toys.
She doesn't beg at the table for human food.
She LOVES the water. We have a baby pool that she likes to sit in. I'm not sure how well she would do in a big pool.
She seems to be doing well in a crate.

You'll need a very secure back yard because we have discovered that she is a digger. She was put in one kennel in the evening and the next morning she was hanging out with her neighbor in the kennel next door.

She seems good with other dogs (most of them. She growled at one of my females) and we took her for a cat test today which she seemed to pass.

She also LOVES my 12 year old daughter and loves to cuddle with her.

She is so beautiful and really so mellow and well behaved. I know she will make a great addition to any family. She is available for adoption through Lifeline Oro Valley. 520-979-2282

I loathe the dog park

The family and I got up early this fine Sunday morning to take pictures of a couple of new fosters for Cold Wet Noses.

We met at a new place (for me). Unfortunately, there wasn't any grass around so we ended up going into the empty dog park to give some time to the dogs to relax a bit before I started taking photos.

We were there for maybe 15 minutes and I got a few photos. A car pulled up with a dog and the foster knowing that her dogs were a bit reactive, wanted to leave before the other dog came in.

We got them leashed up and started heading out. I asked the gentlemen to please hold off coming in until we were out. He kindly agreed.

We got one dog out and then we started hearing the frantic barks and cries from a group of dogs that had just pulled up in a different vehicle.

Erik had the second dog, Oreo, and was still in the dog park when one of the dogs from the group that just pulled up got loose and started running towards Erik and Oreo. Erik closed the gate from inside the park. This loose dog was nearly frothing at the mouth.

What scared the hell out of me was that I looked and saw Kat standing at the opening of the first gate with her coffee in one hand and this 80 pound dog, barking, running and growling, coming right towards her.

Before I could do or say anything, Kat reached down with her one empty hand, grabbed the dogs leash and stood there. The dog wasn't looking at Kat but at Oreo and was still lunging and barking.

So there is Kat with a coffee in one hand and a scary dog on a leash in the other hand. The expression on Kat's faced never changed from calm. It was like she had reached for a sandwich. No panic. Nothing.

I got to Kat about the same time the owner did with his other two dogs (which were also lunging and pulling on the leash) . He said, "Don't worry he's friendly".

I just looked at him and told him how lucky he was that Kat was standing there and was able to grab the leash.

No "sorry".
No "thank you".
Nothing.

Instead he proceeded to take all three dogs into the park.

I asked him to hang on because we were still trying to get Oreo out. Before he went into the second gate into the dog park, I turned around to close the outer gate so we wouldn't have an escapee.

He actually looked at me when I did this and said, "Why bother? The dogs are all on a leash. They aren't going anywhere."

I wanted to kick him. Dude, your dog was just on a leash, loose and my 12 year old daughter caught him. Asshole.

Finally, we got Oreo out.

By that time, both dogs were worked up. Actually, all of us...dogs and humans were worked up. We tried to get some more pictures but we'll see how those end up.

At the same time, there was what looked like a mastiff/pit mix in the parking lot. He was HUGE. A tiny woman was trying to control him as he pulled her across the parking lot, barking and crying. She would try to stop walking when he did this. If he didn't stop crying and barking, I saw her do the ol' Cesar Millan finger punch to the shoulder with the "tssss" sound.

We left shortly after this. Even the foster mom I had met to take pictures of was stunned at what was going on. It was pure chaos.

In the car I yelled at Katrina for reaching for a dog that looked aggressive but still told her how impressed I was.

"Don't ever do it again", was the last thing I said.

I HATE the dog park.

Now I'm home and I need a nap because I'm mentally exhausted.

And here's a picture because pictures are important. It's Kat a few months back in dog class at The Complete Canine. Shannon is trying to sneak treats from her hand.

My friend and fellow animal rights advocate needs help!

Remi's mom lost her job a couple months ago. She is looking hard for a new one but in the meantime, she has a pup that needs cancer medication.

Can you please help?

Remi

Thank you!

Chip Holds

Here is reason #429 to send in/update chip information when you own an animal.

This is Payton. He is 13 years old and his owner brought him in for euthanasia. He doesn't walk well and is in obvious discomfort.

Payton has to sit in the shelter for 7 days because the person that brought him in did not update his chip information. Payton's chip is registered to the person that owned him before. This family has to be contacted before the shelter can euthanize him OR Payton has to wait (by law) 7 days and if he is "unclaimed" during that time period, THEN the shelter can put him out of his misery.

Payton is housebroken. He is not allowed to go for walks because the shelter does not have confirmation on who owns him.

So, here he spends that last week of his life missing his family, confused why he is there, scared and alone, feeling guilty for relieving himself in his kennel and in obvious discomfort from whatever ailment a 13 year old dog gets.

Update your chips, please.

and YES, there is the possibility that the person(s) that brought him in really isn't his owner and his "real" owners will be thrilled to find him. However, in my limited experience, that doesn't happen very often.

If there was a way to do lost cost euthanasia, this wouldn't even be an issue. You know this is my hot button, right?

PACC will allow a finder of an animal the option of taking that animal home while a "Found Report" is posted on their web site. The finder just has to show a driver's license so when the true owner calls, a reunion between the dog and their real owner can happen. 

I wonder if PACC could be allowed to give owner who requests euthanasia, the option to take the animal home for the 7 day time period IF the chip doesn't match the current owner?

Why make the animal suffer like Payton has to?

My name is Bowen.

I died alone on the cold, concrete floor at Pima Animal Care Center. I was only 18 months old and didn't ever have a chance at a normal dog life.

No one noticed that I was sick the last week before I died.
No one noticed that I could hardly walk the last week before I died.
No one noticed the putrid smell or my pus covered neck the last week before I died.

This is 1 of only 2 pictures of me. This was taken the day before I died. I did not feel good at all.

I am a Pit Bull mix, not a cute little Pug mix or a beautiful Shepherd.

I'm just a black and white Pit Bull. I'm just another Pit Bull in the hundreds of other Pit Bulls at Pima Animal Care Center.

______________________________________________________________

Bowen was a field confiscate on 11/23/14. This means the owner was probably told that he needs to give his dog up or he'd be fined for neglect or for whatever irresponsible behavior the owner had with his dog.

Bowen's review date at PACC was 12/02/14.

He was reviewed on 12/03/14:

He weighed 55 pounds
BCS (Body Condition Scale) 4/9
No temp was taken
He was QAR (Quiet, Alert Responsive)
CRT was 2 seconds
Pulse 90
Resp 30
Intact male
Healing wound on right hind leg
Gingivitis
Everything else, within normal limits

He passed, looked good and was set for neutering the next day.

12/04/14 Neutering Day

Temp 103.9
Reported that he "has high temp and crusty eyes"

12/05/14

Notes: "Temp yesterday at S/N clinic was 103.9, but BAR, no nasal/ocuolar discharge. Recheck temp today 101.2, wt=49#. Ate meatball of canned food readily. No tx indicated."

12/11/14

Marked as "Adoptable"

12/12/14

I find him. He's brought to my attention by another volunteer. He can't walk. She's been instructed by staff to take him from the indoor kennels in the main room up to the tent but he won't go. He can't walk.

When I look at him, I can actually smell him first. It's the smell of infection and it's strong. I don't know where it's coming from. I look in his mouth to see if there is an infection in there and I notice his gums, they're very pale. His cheeks and lips are cold.

I pick him up and carry him to the vet.

This is when I realize it's his neck covered in pus.

Weight: 48.4
Temp: 101.3
Depressed, drooling. Ate canned cat food reluctantly.
Odorous fur
Moist dermatitis on ventral mandible/neck.
Seromucoid nasal discharge and ocular crust.
A: Severe URI

Dr. Wilcox treated him with antibiotics and SQ fluids IMMEDIATELY and IMMEDIATELY got a kennel ready for him in sick bay.

I carried him to his kennel and laid him down on his bed. I had to leave as I had pus on my clothes and didn't want to spread infection.

It was the last time I saw him.

I asked about him Saturday, Sunday and it wasn't until Wednesday, 12/17 when I was back in Sick Bay, that I was told he was found on the floor Saturday morning (12/13/14). Dead. There was a small amount of blood next to him.

I had many questions for the Live Rescue Coordinator at PACC, including:

• Why was he neutered at a 103.9 temp?

• Why was he marked as a "A" just two days before he was dead?

• What happened to him in the week between being neutered and death?

• Do the inmates not notice when they're trying to pull a dog out of his kennel and he won't walk? 

• Do the inmates let someone know when a dog is sick?

• You could smell his infection from 5 feet away. Why was he being moved to the tent?

• Why was he NOT on the walker board? Another volunteer would have noticed he was sick before it was too late? (I asked a volunteer that is there nearly daily if she had ever put him on the walker board. The answer was no, meaning that he had not been released for walking. Dogs with a E-Collar are allowed to walk, just not as far)

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? HOW WAS HE MISSED???

The Live Release Coordinator's answer to this was honest. He was disappointed as well that this dog fell through the cracks.

"We are understaffed."

Pima County, DO SOMETHING about this. This dog was confiscated from his owners for a reason.  The reason was NOT so he could die alone on the cold cement floor. There is no proper excuse for this. NONE whatsoever.

I can remember during my PACC Volunteer Orientation it was stated, that for some dogs, PACC is the best place they've ever been. Many dogs are kept in the cold with no water, food or shelter. When they come to PACC, they are warm and safe. I believed that and that is what made me come back to do the volunteer training and volunteer hundreds of hours over the last year.

Bowen was NOT safe at PACC. He was overlooked. 

He was neglected at PACC the same way he was neglected by the owner he was taken away from.

Bowen, I will not let your death be in vain. You will be the dog that sparks a change, that touches someone's heart, that helps make a decision that this will never, ever happen again.

ETA 1/28 3:00 PM: SOMEONE took off his E-Collar. He was wearing one in the first picture on his kennel card. Did that same SOMEONE NOT notice the smell? or the moisture? or the fact that he was so sick?

We've talked about this before...

It's one of the reasons I wanted to go to vet tech school.

Low Cost Euthanasia

Better Low Cost Euthanasia

Improved Low Cost Euthanasia

One of the hardest situations at the Help Desk is when the working poor come in to euthanize their family pet.


They've spent 10+ years with this animal and because they don't have $200-$300 for euthansia, they have no choice but to drop their suffering animal off at PACC.  For $15, PACC will euthanize them. However, before that happens, their beloved pets will sit on a cement floor next to the cooler that reeks of death. The animals can wait for hours, sad, alone, scared and confused.

The family doesn't get the option of sitting with their animal and holding their paw while they pass.

They don't get their ashes back but they can ask for the body.

Animals are killed usually during a scheduled time. Animals may have to suffer a bit before they are put down at scheduled euth times.

I don't know if everyone knows this, but since it was brought up in the vet's euthanasia meeting that I had to miss, I'm going to share it here... catheters aren't always used. A catheter will get the poison to the place it needs to be quicker. Miss a vein, it hurts and the tech tries again until they get a vein. It's not always "humanely done". "Humanely done" would be at least be with a catheter. Unfortunately, shelter life does not give time for this. Too many animals need attention and care. This is also an emotional drain on the tech that has to do so many of these in a day.

I can't even imagine how difficult it is to leave your suffering pet with strangers and walk away with nothing.

Today my mother donated air drying clay and several copies of the Rainbow Bridge poem. 

The other volunteer and I made paw print impressions for the families that had to bring in their pet for euthanasia because they can't afford anything else. Each paw print also got a Rainbow Bridge poem.

It was the first time I felt like I was helping people. We're not just there for the animals but we're also there for the families.

I'll never forget today the large woman bending over her dog and saying goodbye. She was bawling and her family was crying. She didn't want to leave and the family was coaxing her to go. The coat she wore was tattered, dirty and coming apart at the seam in the back and I could see the lining. It was just falling apart in front of me.

People leaving their animals at PACC to die should never leave empty handed. I'm glad I was able to help her with the smallest of tokens...a paw print impression of her beloved dog.

I always add a picture to my post. This is Gigi and Shannon. Gigi died last month and we had to pay nearly $400 for her euthanasia, cremation, and return of her ashes.

Crayola makes an air drying clay if anyone would like to donate to this cause. Michael's sells it and you and buy it in a tub for $7.00. Use a coupon, and you'll get it even cheaper.

Thank you.

Dogs of Sickbay 12/10

These aren't all the pups. Just the few that I was able to interact with. Not all of these pups are even in Petharbor or showing as available for adoption.

Sweet Agatha - A502607. Rottweiler and Sharpei mix.

1 year, URI

I think this is Cameron - A502614

1 of 18-20 chihuahuas that were confiscated. 

2 years, URI

Dodger - A503540

2 years, Male, URI

Kenneled with Scout

Dottie - A502710

3 years, tumors on her belly, URI

Judy & Dottie - A502710

3 years, tumors on her belly, URI

Ghost - A501361

Beautiful and Elegant, a volunteer favorite.

18 months?, possible amputation of front left limb

Ghost - A501361

Beautiful and Elegant, a volunteer favorite.

18 months?, possible amputation of front left limb

Hooch - A503445

2 years, Male, URI

 

Phoebe-A502621

2 years, 7 month, URI

She is in a video on my Facebook page. She can barely breathe, but she wants to shake my hand. Very, very sweet girl that is soooo soft like a teddy bear. Kenneled with Agatha.

Savannah - A502036

4 years, URI

I love her T-rex leg

Kenneled with 4 other chihuahuas. She was part of the big confiscation.

Scout - A503070

8 years, URI

What a sweet and loving dog. Kenneled with Dodger.

Ruby-A502342

5 months, broken leg

Marked as a black lab but I see Sharpei.

There is something about this dog that reminds me of my sister in law's ex. Don't know.

Unknown male. No paperwork

Unknown male with broken leg. No paperwork

Unknown chihuahua.

There were 4 or 5 in a separate kennel. Part of the 18-20 that were confiscated.

 

Toby -  A501071

1 year, URI

Now Toby is a dog that is really full of energy. He was bouncing all over everywhere. BUT, all I had to do was to tell him to knock it off and he sat down nice and still for that picture. He is ready to play but listens well. He'd be a great dog for a family with older kids.

and that's all I have today. Pass this around please. Not all the dogs are on Petharbor or showing as available for adoption.

 

Rest in Peace, Storm

Rest in Peace my sweet love .I'm sorry I didn't get to know you.

Storm was one of our sick bay boys. Giardia and Kennel Cough. He just got worse and worse and he was so sick he could hardly lift his head. Dr. Wilcox put him down to keep him from suffering.

Dog Recovery 11/12/14

First, I'd like to apologize for the horrible quality of the photos. It's hard to take nice, sharp photos inside the kennels and especially when you're wearing gloves and gowns. The photos are very blurry. Sorry.

Some of the dogs have been moved out/fostered/adopted. I will make note as we go.

Kennel 155

Harlem, A499378

Intake 10/24, Male, 4 yrs, URI

Hansel, A499377

Intake 10/24, Male, 4 yrs, URI

Sir Mix a lot, A500424

Intake 11/3, Male, 4 yrs, URI

Kennel 156

 

Guerro, A499344

Intake 10/24, Male, 1 yr, URI

Kennel 157

Casey, A497769

Intake 10/09, Female, 4 yrs, URI

 

Ling Ling, A498912

Intake 10/27, Male, 1.5 years,URI

Kennel 158

Mrs. Gray, A499323

Intake 10/23, Female, 1.5 yrs, URI

 

Gina, A498845

Intake 10/18, Female, 6 months

Not sure exactly what's wrong. Vet mentioned possible distemper

Kennel 159

 Bacchus, A499812

Intake 10/28, Male, 1.5 yrs, URI

I made a video for Facebook to bring attention to this sweet guy.

RESCUED!! YAY!! 11/12/14

 Nova, A500189

Intake 10/31, Female, 2 yrs, URI

She's covered in Bacchus hair. 

Kennel 160

Unknown
Came in right before we left, URI

Kennel 161

Autumn, 495712

Intake 9/19, Female, 8 mos, now Giardia

She keeps getting re-infected with URI, Giardia over and over

Kennel 162 - as of today, 11/14 Jet and Tawny are missing. Not on an adoption report that I can see and not on Petharbor.

Jet, A5000061
Intake 10/30, Spayed, 5 yrs, Giardia

Tawny, A499925
Intake 10/29,  Neutered, age unknown, Giardia

Nanook, A500699

Adopted

Kennel 163

Shazam A490282 and Slamball 490281

Still here with Giardia

almost 1 year old brothers

Kennel 164

Juno, A496459
Intake 9/16, Female, 4 yrs, Giardia
Juno has been in sickbay since 9/29. TVT and now Giardia

Joey, A497681

Intake 10/7, Neutered, 1 yr, Giardia

Kennel 165

Storm, A498817
Intake 10/18, Female, 8 years, Giardia

Unknown, 500479

Intake 11/3, Giardia, Possible RHLFx

There are no photos for the following dogs. These dogs are in D row near Arizona room. Too dark to take pictures and I was running out of time.

D48 - Lucy, A500029, HBC & Broken K-9

D49 - Pretty, no number, Intake 10/19, Female, no age, HBC possible numerous Fx

Diablo A496469, Intake 11/01, URI and Hematoma repair

Draco Malfoy A498169, Intake 10/13, Neutered, URI

D50 - unknown German Shepherd, Intake 11/06, 3 yrs, Male, HBC

unknown German Shepherd, Intake 11/07, Male, 2 yrs, HBC, possibly 3 legs broken

unknown Blue Tick Heeler, Intake 11/06, Male, 2 years, not sure but obvious eye issue

D51 - Casper A497519, Intake 10/07, Male, 1 yr, HW+ KC

Buddy A495937, Intake 9/21 Neutered, KC

Jimmy A496715, Intake 10/01, Male, Valley Fever

Unknown chi 500017, Intake 10/30, Female, no age, HBC

Unknown chi 500481, Intake 11/03, Female, no age HBC