Okay - true confession time! Im not crazy about adoption days! Which is odd because some really amazing things happen on these days. Last week, for example, a dog whose life started out in terrible circumstances went into a great home for a trial adoption at our Larkspur event. Theres no denying tears were shed, because this particular dog would probably not have survived in any other circumstance other than a group like ours where the time it takes to bring him to adoptability is not an issue. Having determined that KCs fears would not manifest as aggression, we were going to do whatever we could to help this sweet dog build trust and get a terrific home. Today, we finalized the adoption for another very tough dog - TAZ - named for the Tasmanian Devil she reminded us of. This small pup has a temper, theres no other way to say it, and was so reactive to certain triggers that we had doubts at times that she could be safely adopted. But after time in one of our foster homes and then screening possible adopters very carefully for their ability to handle the outbursts, we sent her off with Katie and her dog Clementine for a trial. We kept expecting her to come back with a note saying I am just too much trouble! But instead, its clear that her new adopter is in this for the long haul, and that TAZ is becoming a happier girl the more she learns and accepts the boundaries set by Katie. And Katie learned that wrapping TAZ in a towel and holding her during one of her outbursts helps shorten them and then all is forgiven. Today, we also adopted out 2 of the kittens together, who were being given away out of a box in the parking lot of the shelter in early July. They went home with a great family who have a gentle golden retriever and were not expecting too many problems with these kittens who have been fostered in a home with dogs. As our PAW FUND mascot dog ECHO shows, introducing cats to dogs early and safely can mean a really good relationship between these species. But when you adopt a dog into a home with cats who have never experienced dogs before - please please be so vigilant. Your existing cat comes first, dont compromise their safety just so you can get a dog. So, why arent I crazy about adoption days? Because these critters mean something. Every one of them. And when you pass the leash to a new person, when you watch them walk away and they turn their head to glance back in bewilderment, it is one of the hardest things to do in this business. It is such a bittersweet moment. The desire to see them go to a great life, and the knowledge that at least in the short term, they are confused, even afraid. Adoptions are a natural by-product of the work we do, many of the animals we have available are owner surrenders directly from the community, even if they pass through a shelter for a short time. But it isnt easy. Thats for sure. And its why at PAW FUND we are so very careful in how we place the pets whose lives literally are in our hands.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 00:38:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015