Protesting is the Easy Part

Carrying "Herbie" from a long transport into the store where he would be adopted several days later. 

Last August I started joining a weekly protest in front of a pet store here in the Denver area that sells puppies from commercial breeders. That's the nice way to say puppy mill. I'm someone who does her research, so I looked up the USDA reports from some known suppliers to this store. The numbers of adult dogs and puppies on the premises at times of inspection told me all I needed to know. These dogs were not frolicking in green meadows and sleeping in warm, comfortable beds. They were spending their lives in cages, producing puppies as fast as their bodies were able. I bought some poster board and my dad helped me make some protest signs. I showed up a few times a month at first, started making some friends and becoming more comfortable standing up for what I believed. As the holiday season approached, momentum built and we organized some all-day protests in shifts. Groups of dedicated volunteers stood on snow and ice in freezing temperatures for hours, holding signs in gloved hands. We didn't see very many puppies leave the store on those days, and the pet store was growing increasingly agitated by us.

Bringing the Spanish Galgo and Podenco Out of Darkness

This beautiful galgo photo is available for purchase in LHBGA's online fundraising auction

Warning: This post contains disturbing information about the treatment of galgos and podencos, the hunting dogs of Spain. I understand the inclination to look away, but I am relaying the facts as described by two rescue organizations who have seen the horrors with their own eyes and braved the heartache in order to show kindness, love and compassion to these deserving dogs that have only known cruelty and abandonment. Please read on and be part of the light that reaches these forgotten dogs of the dark perreras. 

For twenty years, I have been enamored with Spain, its people, horses, music and culture. For as long, I dreamed of traveling there and felt some almost preternatural connection, like the ghost of a memory, that told me I belonged there. I could see it in the Baroque curves of the Andalusian horse, feel it in the passionate verse and forceful rhythm of flamenco music. I was lucky enough to turn this dream to reality in the summer of 2013, spending two weeks in Andalucia and experiencing the glorious Feria in Seville, the exquisite Alhambra in Granada, the breathtaking cliff-top town of Ronda. I still think I've never recovered from having to come back from there - it was everything I'd imagined in my most elaborate fantasy and more. I answer unhesitatingly whenever someone asks me where I want to vacation or even live, but I am sad to say that learning about the galgos and podencos has cast a shadow over my love for Spain.

Far luckier than a podenco, a pet dachshund outside Seville's Alcazar, taken on my 2013 trip to Spain.

Since adopting Ruby and Boca, I've taken a special interest in street dogs and international rescue. I'm also admittedly drawn to ginger and white dogs with big, upright, triangular ears, and I've always thought that Ibizan Hounds were particularly stunning. I started following some rescue groups on Facebook that focused on rescuing galgos (Spanish greyhounds) and podencos (agile rabbit hunters). I think you can see why I've fallen for them, but what started as an aesthetic attraction turned into learning about the unspeakable treatment and disposal in shocking numbers by the very hunters they are loyally working for. Their plight has captured me with the piercing stare of those intelligent eyes, and I feel bound to return their gaze. I set up a small monthly donations to both rescue groups featured here, follow their monthly fundraising auctions, and one day hope to do more. I would love to travel to Spain and accompany dogs back on flights and ultimately adopt a podenco of my own. In the meantime, I reached out to rescue groups with some interview questions in order to spread the word about helping these extraordinary dogs. Following are the answers from Rain Jordan with Hound Sanctuary in California (RJ) and Amanda Patenaude (AP) from Love, Hope Believe Galgo Adoption in Illinois, both founded in 2013.

What are the breed characteristics of galgos and podencos?

RJ: A Galgo, aka the Galgo Espanol, which means Spanish Greyhound, looks a lot like a greyhound though it is not in fact a greyhound...there are differences. For example, whereas the greyhound, due largely to its being bred over time for racing, is a sprinter, the galgo is more of an endurance athlete. That is not to say that a galgo won't be a couch potato--who doesn't like a good couch, after all. While there are always exceptions based on the dog's previous life experiences, generally speaking, the galgo is a calm, gentle, relaxed creature. A Podenco Ibicenco, is essentially the Spanish version of an American bred Ibizan hound. Again there are some differences. For example, the Ibicenco is often somewhat smaller than the American Ibizan hound. It gets more complicated when you add the fact that there are many more subtypes of the Podenco Ibicenco, named after the region from which they originate. The podenco is a highly intelligent, sensitive, loving, and loyal creature. While s/he enjoys couch and cuddle time, many podencos can also be quite bouncy, energetic, and athletic.  

AP: We like to tell our adopters that Greyhounds are "book smart" and Galgos are "street smart"!  While a greyhound has lived a very structured life, a Galgo has had to fend for itself. They learn how to "survive" the best they can. Galgos are very clever and learn very quickly how to get what they want.  Their physical appearance differs in more subtle ways. Galgos are smaller in height and their frame is more narrow. they have longer muzzles. Their ears appear larger and set further back. their feet are a bit larger and flatter for better mobility.  Galgos come in different coat types: smooth, rough or wire, and a very few long, wire coat.  Galgos have a bit thicker skin than greyhounds.  
 

Skyler, a podenco rescued by Hound Sanctuary, before & after 

 
Can you explain the specific plight of the galgos and podencos?

RJ: The galgos and podencos of Spain are bred and raised as tools for hunters. They generally live outdoors or in dark, tiny bunkers, in barricaded-in junk heaps, or worse, on a short chain that is anchored to a piece of cement or some other fixed object. Usually there are many of them living together in very close quarters, and sometimes they are also chained to one another as well as to a fixed object. They are provided very little space of their own, little if any food, and little to no human contact. The females are often kept like handmaids, for year after year as breeding machines, then dumped in the perrera ("killing stations"), on the side of the road or worse. It is not uncommon in Spain to find living dogs--adults as well as puppies--tied up and thrown in trash bins. Training methods for these dogs vary, but often include methods such as tying them to the backs of automobiles and forcing them to run behind as the vehicles drive down the roads. If the dogs cannot keep up, they simply fall and may be dragged while their training mates keep running. If a dog is no good at hunting, or so good that s/he takes the fun out of it for the hunters, or eats what s/he catches, that dog will be deemed a defective weapon. Disposal methods may include abandonment on a strange roadside somewhere far away enough from the dog's bunker that the dog cannot find its way back home (these dogs are very smart and very loyal, so will try to find their homes, however unkind their owners might have been). Sometimes in order to make sure that the dog does not find its way home, the abandoner will break the dog's legs, blind it, or enact other horrible physical measures upon the dog to make it impossible for the dog to maneuver.  

AP: Galgos are only a tool to be used and abused by the galgueros(hunters). They are not considered worthy of "family pet" status. If the galgo gets injured or doesn't perform the way they are expected, they are discarded. Many are hung in trees. If they are hung high in the tree, they were considered good hunters and this is a sign of respect. But many are hung by a method called "piano playing". These are the ones that disgraced their galgueros and are hung so their back feet can just touch the ground. Many galgos are set on fire, thrown in abandoned wells, or severely injured to prevent them from hunting on their own. Even more are hit by cars. They are persecuted simply because they are galgos. Thousands of years ago, galgos were only owned by royalty and it was punishable by death for killing a galgo. Now, 40,000 to 50,000 galgos are killed each year.

Lottie & Lettie, podencos available for adoption through Hound Sanctuary

Describe a day in the life of rescue: 

RJ: There really is no one sort of typical day here. Sometimes we have fosters in and during those times it's all about working with the dogs, teaching them what living indoors is all about, getting the dogs to feel comfortable if they are nervous or scared, letting the dogs learn what it is to be truly cared for, photographing the dogs, and showing the world why those particular dogs are so deserving of a new life full of safety and love. Other times we are planning for the next dogs to come in, and that is a lot of internet time and communication with our overseas contacts. Sometimes--a lot of the time, actually--we have to focus on raising funds to pay for our rescue missions, which also requires a lot of internet time. 

AP: The galgos of LHBGA are mainly fostered in our home (as we have very few foster homes in our area) where they are taught "House Rules". We work on basic obedience and house breaking. Many of the galgos we adopt out have been on the streets or in a shelter for a year or more. Many are fearful of humans and we work hard to socialize them an help them over come some of their fears. Galgos are very smart and it becomes a learning experience for them and us! They love to play and run around the yard. Galgos are very vocal and physical players. It is not unusual for them to sound like they are fighting, even if there is only one galgo out playing! They growl at and throw their toys, and run, and run, and run some more!! But they are absolutely BIG cuddle bugs!

What do you say to people who wonder why dogs should be brought here from another country when there are homeless dogs in the U.S.? 
 
RJ: I always appreciate that question because it is an important one to keep answering and letting more people understand.  But let me start by saying that we do also rescue dogs in here in the USA (in fact, we just rescued a little Chihuahua from an Orange County kill shelter), both locally and from other areas of the country.  We also work to help other USA rescues, and to do outreach to reduce the problem of homeless, abandoned, neglected, and abused dogs in the USA, and we will continue to do so as long as there is a need. The Spanish podenco and galgo plight was the catalyst for Hound Sanctuary's founding and will always be one of our projects.  It is, so to speak, my 'heart' project. It spoke to my heart and I had to help. It's that simple. But to answer the question more directly:  Rescuing needy podencos (Ibizan hounds) from Spain and bringing them here for adoption is actually helpful to the USA rescue community.  Hound Sanctuary makes it possible for those people who only want a specific breed [Ibizan Hound] to adopt a needy dog, and we make it possible for people who would love to have this breed, but who only want a rescue dog, to have the dog their heart longs for while still being a good animal-helping citizen by rescuing.  

AP:  I love when people ask this question because it opens the door for a discussion about their plight.  Yes, the US has a very large number of dogs in shelters and I am all for finding the right breed to fit your family and lifestyle. For some people, it is a Galgo. The US has laws against animal abuse that are truly enforced. In Spain, the majority of the ones that are there to enforce the laws are the very people hunting with galgos and podencos. Many times, the authorities turn a blind eye to what they see other hunters do in fear that they will make known the negative side of hunting with galgos. A Galgos life expectancy in Spain is 2-3 years old. If they have a female that is a relatively good hunter they may keep her for breeding. Galgueros will typically keep one male and 4 females through of off season in the hopes of one really good coursing dog. There are at least a hundred thousand registered hunters in Spain. Each hunter with at least 5 galgos. Now each of those galgos is pregnant and may have, let’s say 5 puppies. Can you see the numbers adding up? More than half of these galgos won’t live more than a year or two. There are no true numbers of how many galgos are actually killed each year. It is estimated to be 40 to 50 thousand. However, there are many galgos that just disappear and no one ever knew they existed. Their bones may be found in an abandoned well or wrapped in a bag in a garbage dump. In more rural areas they may be found hanging from trees. So, yes I do agree that there are a lot of dogs in need here in the US, but this particular breed are abused or killed on a daily basis. The Galgos that LHBGA brings to the US hardly makes a dent in the numbers in Spain. Our goal is to raise awareness and help make space for the next galgo to be rescued. Saving one Galgo may not change the world, but for that one Galgo, the world has changed forever!

Khaleesi, available for adoption through Love, Hope, Believe Galgo Rescue

What is the process for adopting a galgo or podenco from Spain for someone in the U.S.?

RJ: We recommend that potential adopters first complete the online application on our website. Once their application is approved, we can explore what sort of dog (personality, gender, breed, etc) the adopter is seeking.  Because there are so many podencos and galgos in need of homes, we can usually find what the adopter needs, within reason. The process is application, home check, personal interview/s, and reference checks, then execution of a strict contract that contains safety and care rules, and repossession and liquidated damages clauses for breaches of contract. The minimum adoption donation currently is $500 plus travel kennel cost. This amount comes nowhere close to covering what it costs us to bring one of these sweethearts to its forever home. 

AP: When someone is interested in adopting a galgo, we first have them fill out an application. After reviewing the application we contact references and their veterinarian. We then contact the applicant and discuss the galgos (personalities, requirements of a six foot fence or leash walking, type of galgo they are looking for,etc…). Then we will have an LHBGA representative do a home check. We encourage them to come and meet the galgos if they haven’t already. If they have a specific galgo in mind, we set up a meeting with the whole family, including pets. If we don’t have a galgo that fits with the family’s expectations, we will work with them and the groups in Spain to find the right fit. Our adoption fees are about half the cost of the transport, so $550.00. 

What can one ordinary person do to help the dogs of Spain? 

RJ: Well, it depends on that person's resources! If you are retired, you can contact us about volunteering to be a flight escort to bring dogs home to us from Spain, or you can volunteer to make, or collect items for our fundraising auctions. If you are a good networker, you could help a ton by spreading the word about us and asking all of your contacts to donate to Hound Sanctuary. If you travel a lot, you could donate your saved up air miles to us that we would then use to help pay for a needy dog's trip out of Spain and into safety here with us. If you have a particular skill or product, you can donate that--for example, we always need legal services, tax services, art/design, grant writers, fundraising professionals, marketing/PR professionals, media experts, force free trainers, T shirt printers/providers or other merchandise. Each one of you reading this has at least one special thing about you.  Ask yourself what that one thing is that could help, and how you can make that happen.  You are doing it not for me, nor for the sanctuary, but for each and every dog that comes through.  

AP: Many people ask how they can get involved and help the Galgos. Our first answer is to help spread awareness for the plight of the Galgos in Spain. The more people know, the more people protesting and shining the light on the issue, the pressure on Spain to correct the issue will increase. Many people that adopt a Galgo, suddenly become a member of a community of Galgo/Greyhound lovers!  If you can’t adopt, there are always ways you can help! We are looking for foster homes. We have foster applications on our website. Like our Facebook page and share posts of adoptable galgos. We collect donated items for the galgos of LHBGA and for the galgos in Spain (coats, martingale collars, leashes, first aid supplies, flea and tick preventative, heartworm preventative, as well as monetary donations). We always need sponsors to help cover transport costs and medical care for the galgos of LHBGA. If you have special skills such as sewing, graphic design, writing, marketing, accounting, these are great ways to help out.

Do you have a favorite rescue story?

RJ: Honestly, each rescue is its own beautiful story.  How can I pick a favorite?  There was Ibis, the giant Podenco Canario puppy (31 inches to the shoulder, barely a year old) who learned to use our refrigerator icemaker on day one. His forever mom calls him her PermaPuppy. There was Hero, the Podenco Ibicenco who was found in Spain with a broken leg; the kennel people warned us repeatedly that he was not going to be easy to deal with because he was so nervous and would not allow anyone to touch him--many times I was told I should take a different dog that was more friendly. He came in our very first group and I found him to be so sweet and deserving, definitely not the lost cause people had painted him to be.  And he let me touch him just fine.  There's Chai, a local Saluki surrendered to me by his owner because of seizures, he might even have been put to sleep had there not already been a signed surrender agreement in hand; a year later, he is so happy with his new family, and loved madly. Cloudy, the Podenco Pup of Many Surgeries and Flying Nun Ears, was found with broken legs and endured several surgeries in Spain, came to us with a plate in his leg; our vet advised he would need more surgery, yet his fosters loved him and adopted him anyway; he just had the plate removed and will be all better soon. 

AP:  I can’t really say I have a favorite rescue story, because they all hold a special place in my heart.  I can tell you that starting Love Hope Believe Galgo Adoption has changed my life! These dogs are my life and I love each and every one of them! We get stories from our adopters about the silly antics of their galgos. Whitaker, aka Damaris, came from Foundation Benjamin Mehnert in Sevilla, Spain. She was found tied to a tree with another galgo, left there to starve. She came to us and was adopted by a woman that is a lead investigator for animal cruelty.  Now, Whitaker is a certified therapy dog and goes to schools and acts as an ambassador for animal cruelty. Her silliness and confidence at home has helped her galga sister overcome her fears. She likes to gather all the dog bowls and put them on her mom’s bed. She also drags her own bed up onto her mom’s bed so she can be sure to sleep in ultimate comfort! She has learned to open the screen door to let herself and all the other dogs back into the house. Pipo, aka “The International Galgo of Mystery”, is a very active boy and too smart for his own good! Pipo learned a puzzle to in less than 5 minutes and continues to find new ways to challenge his parents. They also adopted a galgo named Janis and their dad “is just happy to no longer be the chew toy!” Then there is Rosendo aka “the wooly mammoth”. He is the rock star of LHBGA with his hair extensions and highlights, as we call them! Gemma is our most recent addition to the Patenaude gaggle of hounds. We adopted her from Baas Galgo. We met her during our last trip to Spain. She had only been there for 3 days and all she wanted was to be pet, she wagged her tail the whole time!  I could go on and on about these dogs, but until you experience them for yourself, you won’t get the full understanding of their love.

Sklyer, Hound Sanctuary alumni, in her forever home

I am so grateful for the tireless efforts of those involved in the rescue community in general, the compassionate souls who stand at the mouth of darkness and extend a gentle hand. They have witnessed what is painfully difficult to read. Without them, I would not have my perfect family of my brilliant Ruby and my breezy Boca. I am similarly grateful

to those who champion the cause of the hunting dogs of Spain, through networking, transport, rehabilitation and homing. Without them, many more galgos and podencos would perish without knowing love. Without them, forgotten dogs would be bereft of hope. While they are considered trash in Spain, many who have seen the fear fade and trust illuminate their eyes through rescue, fostering and adoption know that they are treasures.

What can you do to help galgos and podencos?

• Donate to Hound Sanctuary or Love, Hope, Believe Galgo Adoption


• Follow Hound Santuary on Facebook and bid on their monthly auctions, which are their primary source of fundraising


• Follow Follow Love, Hope Believe Galgo Adoption on Facebook - they also hold online fundraising auctions


• Follow Podenco Friends on Facebook - watch and share their touching videos of podenco rehabilitation in Spain


• Spread the word - share this post! 

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Be the Change for Animals: Waiting

I took these pictures in July, 2013 when I visited a local shelter. I already had my heart set on Ruby and had completed her adoption application, but I could easily have taken any of these sweet dogs. Sometimes I fantasize about raising that "perfect puppy", the one that comes from a responsible breeder with sound, stable parents and a loving, enriching environment for early development. I've adopted seven shelter pets in my adult life and I grew up with many more. Through Ruby, I have learned of the desperate conditions for stray dogs in other parts of the country, and through Boca I have learned about the plight of the wonderful potcakes and street dogs around the world. Knowing that I can walk into any shelter or visit any rescue site and see a dozen dogs I'd happily bring home, the truth is I will probably always adopt. Please consider the millions of animals waiting in shelters before you breed or buy, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Let's work together to change these numbers. Let's bring them - and keep them - home.

All statistics courtesy of ASPCA and HSUS and are approximate for the U.S.

Edited to add for clarification: I have no problem with loving certain breeds, and if people who do their research are looking for a specific dog for a specific job or sport, I don't fault them for choosing a reputable breeder. I think that people with young children are also good candidates for breed research and responsibly bred, purebred puppies. In general though, the average person looking for a nice pet should have no trouble finding one at a shelter or rescue organization, even when a particular breed is wanted.

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Be the Change for Animals: Save the Potcakes!

"What's a potcake?" I've been asked many times since adopting Boca (okay, foster failing). According to Wikipedia:

The potcake dog is a mixed-breed dog type from the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas. Its name comes from the congealed rice and pea mixture that local residents traditionally fed dogs. Although appearance varies, potcake dogs generally have smooth coats, cocked ears, and long faces.

According to me, a potcake is a sweet, loyal and gentle companion that is eternally grateful for being rescued from starvation, disease and danger on the streets, and welcomed into a home. Boca's temperament is wonderfully mellow and affectionate, and according to most of the people that I've connected with on a Facebook group I founded, Potcake Passion, this is not unusual. Potcakes are reportedly easy to get along with, sociable and happy. This article from Victoria Stilwell's blog explains how village dogs in Central America can set an example for the modern domesticated dog, and I think there is definitely something to it.

Some people criticize the importation of dogs from other countries into the U.S., and ask why we aren't rescuing local dogs instead. For me, compassion has no geography. The rescue group that sponsored Boca's trip to Colorado is the same group I adopted Ruby from. Colorado Animal Welfare League runs a mobile spay-neuter operation that travels to rural areas of the state as well as bringing in dogs in need from other states and The Bahamas. They work directly with The Humane Society of Grand Bahamas, where Boca lived for about a year after being a stray in Freeport. Below is my interview with shelter director, Tip Burrows:

On a recent visit to Colorado, reconnecting with former shelter dog Polly
(photo credit Tip Burrows)

How did you first get involved in animal rescue in The Bahamas?

By rescuing my first potcake as a tiny bush puppy in 1993!  I started volunteering on a regular basis in 1999 with the HSGB which led to a full time job in 2003.  

Can you describe the particular plight of the potcakes in The Bahamas?

Potcakes are still viewed as nuisances and pests by too many Bahamians.  While education initiatives are under way, and slowly beginning to have an impact, there is still a high level of neglect and disdain for potcakes. 

Why is it important for the dogs to be transported off of the islands for adoption?  

There are not enough suitable homes for potcakes on most Bahamian islands.  Suitable being a secure fenced yard and shade and shelter in the yard​ ​and a minimum of care and attention. HSGB's local adoption rate is between 7 and 10% of our annual intake of over 1400 dogs and puppies.   

What do you remember about Boca's (aka Lydia's) rescue and her time at HSGB?  

Boca was seemingly living on the streets and had been brought to our ​attention by a concerned resident as she was very skinny.  We were able to catch her and quickly realized she had recently had puppies.  We searched and searched for her babies and finally Boca herself led us to them.  She had found an extremely secure place for them in a wooded area, in a hollowed out indentation  beneath a tree where she could get to them but the pups couldn't get out.  

Boca was a most attentive mama dog and was also very accepting of us handling her and her puppies.  She obviously had been someone's pet at one time. Sadly, her six puppies did not survive despite Boca's and our best efforts.  Boca was an easy dog to keep - she got along well with all other dogs and was very friendly to staff and visitors.  

How does the recent regulation of international importation of dogs affect potcake rescue and adoption? 

​It will make it much harder in that we will now be required to obtain import permits which could take several weeks, and the vaccination requirements are much more rigorous including vaccinating for some things we never see such as corona virus and leptospirosis.  It also will mean we cannot send litters of puppies to rescue until they are six months old.  It will be a real hardship to keep puppies that long (space and fund-wise), not to mention that fewer rescues will take older puppies.  Private adoptions will be exempt, but our Operation Puppylift wherein we send sometimes dozens of dogs and puppies to various rescues, will be greatly affected, as it will be much harder and more costly and complicated to comply with these regulations.  ​

What can one person do to help the potcakes? 

​Adopt.  Foster.  Donate.  Volunteer.  Share stories and pleas on social media.  There are so many ways even one person can make a tangible difference!  ​

I will close with this video portraying one of the HSGB's large "puppylift" operations getting potcakes off of the island to rescues and adoptive homes in the States. Having picked Boca up from the airport this May and been kept in the loop about all of the stages of her journey, I know what a well-coordinated labor of love this is, and I thank Tip from HSGB and Lisa from CAWL for bringing her into my life. I will never forget Boca's scared little shape huddled in her airline crate, and the immediate trust she put in me. I don't pretend there were not countless dogs right here in my backyard that needed homes, but Boca needed us, and we needed her. 

Operation Puppylift April 2012 from Tip Burrows on Vimeo.

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Be the Change for Animals: We Add Up - An Interview with Ruby's Rescuer

As the quarterly Blog the Change for Animals event approached, I knew I wanted to feature Ruby's angel: the woman who spotted her, posted her to a rescue network and pulled her from a dismal southern shelter. 

Photo credit Angie V. Heringer

Angie Heringer is the one-woman force behind Arkansas Angels for Animals and her job is one many of us would struggle to stomach. Day after day she visits what can only be called dog pounds, scours the dark, dank, dirty runs and posts their inhabitants to a network of rescues - casting a line out for hope - securing a foster, adopt or rescue commitment so she can return to bail the animals out. They don't have long.

Photo Credit Angie V. Heringer

Below Angie answers my questions about her work: 

Please describe a typical day in rescue: Every day is so different. Today there is a little girl with a broken leg, found on the highway. She will be put down (she's in a vet office) if no rescue is found. There is a momma and babies that need rescue. They will go to the pound if no rescue is found. There is a kennel with six dogs. One kennel has two beagles. The momma beagle has a huge, basketball-sized tumor. She needs rescue. We rescued a beagle from a pound - no one knew he was blind, so we pulled him. He's in a temporary foster and we are trying to raise funds for surgery. We have 27 dogs that live in a trailer. We've pulled 12 so far and there are 15 left. We did a fundraiser and raised enough to buy 130 beds (animal rescue aid) that we provided to the pounds that needed beds - my heart really goes out to those, because that is the worst environment. I have over 20 dogs in foster, so it's continuous to juggling keeping up with all. We have an adoption event this weekend, so there is preparation for that. Someone called and said they had some dog houses, (which we desperately need) but it's over hour away. I had two calls this morning, dogs that need rescue. People call me everyday needing rescue for their dogs. Rescue is juggling and trying to save who we can.

What is the specific plight of animals in your region of the country? The hounds in the pounds. So many sit there, sight unseen. Never heard. Never touched, never to get out of those pounds. Only two ways out: life or death, rescue or euthaniasia. It breaks my heart that this was almost Ruby's fate. 

Why should people consider adopting a rescue dog? Because we know that for every dog you "buy" one (or more) dies. If you adopt, you save that ONE, and open space up for another one that would have died if no space. So it's a 2-for-1: save a life, and really, 3-for-1, because they come into your life and save your life!

Photo credit Angie V. Heringer

What is the hardest thing about working in rescue? Sadly, the people. Angie sees the worst-case-scenarios, the most unimaginable cases of abuse and neglect, and yet she carries on and maintains a goodness in her heart that spills over in obvious delight when she unites an animal with its foster, adoptive, or rescue home. 

What is the most rewarding thing about working in rescue? The dogs. Seeing them change from lifeless to FULL of love. Amazing to see how appreciative, how loving, how giving, how "forgiving" these sweet fursouls are - amazing angels.

What are three things that people can do to help animals in need?

1. foster

2. transport

3. adopt (if you cannot adopt, sponsor)

Photo credit Angie V. Heringer

What do you remember about rescuing "Foxy Roxy" aka Ruby? The shelter where Ruby was at was one of the worst I've ever seen. Her eyes pleaded to please please get her out. Sometimes people will take the ones the sit in back and seem to have given up, but I also look at the ones crying, barking, pleading...please get me out. They see the ones who pass down that hall, they are not being adopted. Worse, some of the pounds I visit euthanize right there in front of the others - in the kennel, or right outside the door. Then they lay there. These dogs know. .. they are next. Ruby/Roxy was one of the Plain Janes - so many like her, jumpy - look! look! Luckily, she was a med/small and we had space for that size that day. We pull in hopes a  rescue will step up or if one has stepped up. We (Ruby) got lucky. Lisa with CAWL saw that love in her eyes, that something special and said "We'll take her." Ruby, a Plain Jane? THANK YOU Angie, THANK YOU Lisa. 

Photo credit Colorado Animal Welfare League

Here in Colorado we boast a 90% live-release rate overall from shelters, and that is what enables local rescues to bring in dogs from areas of higher need, which is just what happened with Ruby. Colorado Animal Welfare League saw her picture among the many desperate, pleading, endearing faces and had her transported to Colorado where she was fostered by a loving family and listed on their website. 

What can just one person do? Angie emphasizes that we add up and encourages spay/neuter, rescue and adoption. I can't thank her enough for what she does every single day, and especially for the day that was the first step on Ruby's journey to her forever home with me. 

If you would like to sponsor Arkansas Angels for Animals, PayPal donations may be made to spayneuteradoptrescue@gmail.com. 

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Be the Change for Animals: Making the Decision to Shop Force-Free

Recently I read a post over at My Imperfect Dog about the pervasive presence of aversive training tools in online and brick-and-mortar pet retailers. This led me to do a lot of research of my own and to immediately begin to make changes in my consumer habits. With a sinking heart I found that I'd been promoting one major online retailer with monthly product reviews who offers page after page of  "e-collars" (a quieter way to say "shock collar") and invisible fencing alongside sickening copy that tries to make humorous light out of physical punishment. The language disguises the fact that these devices cause pain with descriptions of "harmless static" and appeases any feeling of guilt with references to "fur babies" and "parents" and "love." The more I looked, the more I found these devices everywhere, offered by almost every major pet chain, along with hundreds of reviews from customers who were satisfied with the "sweet revenge" and "attitude adjustments" that their purchases offered.

 

I read heartbreaking stories about dogs who had been trained with an invisible fence system who were terrified to leave the house, about a pair of dogs wearing remote training collars whose owner mixed up the controllers and was unknowingly shocking the crated dog instead of the dog in the field. Arguments are made that in the hands of experienced trainers and with well-adjusted dogs, these tools can be used effectively and without undue distress for the dogs. These arguments do not address the numbers of inexperienced people reaching for these tools for fearful or anxious dogs with behavior problems ranging from jumping on visitors to barking, using them without precision of timing or clarity of association, and potentially creating lasting psychological damage.

I also read some articles by "balanced trainers," those that are not opposed to using physical correction if the situation warrants it, just to see if I could be at all swayed. Whatever justification is used, I still could not imagine a scenario where I would willingly and deliberately cause pain or the fear of pain to my dog today. The science of positive reinforcement training is undeniable and its message is becoming more and more widespread. Here is an excellent explanation of why balanced training can create a spiritless or shut-down dog from the Smart Dog Blog. If you have the stomach for it, Eileen and Dogs has collected side by side video examples of dogs being trained using shock collars vs. dogs being trained using positive reinforcement. It doesn't take an expert to determine which dogs are enjoying the training sessions.

I asked my local force-free trainer - Laura McGaughey from Delightful Doggies - who has been a wonderful resource in outlining a plan for Ruby's reactivity, to provide a statement about aversive training tools, and here is what she had to say:

Electronic collars, prong collars and choke chains are tools that work using positive punishment and negative reinforcement methods. In my professional opinion, they are more harmful than helpful in training. A dog's throat is a very sensitive space, and I believe that anything strapped to a throat shouldn't be used for administering punishment or corrections. The trachea and thyroid gland can be affected, and harsh corrections can yield even worse damage; e-collars have also been shown to have a lasting psychological effect on dogs, causing them to be more anxious and fearful. Is this what we really want, when we have better options?

It is extremely important to always keep the perspective of the dog in mind, and to use the most humane tool possible for training. I believe that we should always weigh our choices carefully and put humane treatment at the forefront of how we interact with our animals. When we work with our dogs to help them make the right decisions and be reinforced, rather than coerced, we can lead happy, full lives together built on trust. And that's what makes training awesome and fun for both dog and human!

  
Another quote from Plenty in Life is Free by Kathy Sdao, resonates deeply with me:

Imagine if our primary goal for each dog-training lesson, class or consultation was to increase the comfort and joy of every creature in the room: dogs, human students and trainers.

Comfort and joy. This is what training and communication means to me, from starting my own horse to teaching a new trick to Ruby, and the heart of why I have embraced positive reinforcement training. It will come as no surprise that I am strongly opposed to the use of aversive training tools such as choke, pinch and shock collars. I don't need articles like this one to convince me. Having a sensitive dog like Ruby has made me even more aware of every training decision I make, and I would much rather exchange a currency of treats than one of threats. This puts me firmly on one side of the spectrum, and there are of course many on the opposite side who have no problem with incorporating fear, discomfort and pain into their training regimen, justifying the means to the end. Results-oriented trainers with guarantees, people who believe dogs are merely property or workers who must earn their keep. These are not the minds I set out to change, but rather those of dog owners somewhere in the middle, the new owners, the desperate owners, the ones who simply don't know and reach for a pinch collar because a big-box pet store employee suggests it (like I did years ago with my first dog), or because that's the first thing they see on the 'Training' page of an online retailer. 

Amazon UK has recently taken pinch collars off of their website and the Kennel Club UK is urging a ban on shock collars. While large corporations will not miss a handful of customers, we do have power as consumers, we do have a collective voice amplified by our spending. For my part, I will no longer be doing product reviews for any company that sells or manufactures choke, pinch or shock collars. I will write letters to retailers explaining the withdrawal of my business. I will not patronize the big-box pet stores which offer aversive collars on their shelves, instead supporting independent local businesses and smaller chains like Kriser's which promote reward-based training. 

Jessica and I have begun compiling a Pinterest board of retailers that do not carry harsh aversive training tools, and her post details the steps you can take as a consumer to vote with your shopping habits and the communications she's had with some retailers. Pet-related spending hit a record high of $56 billion in 2013 - that's billions of dollars of influence. I urge you to examine your training values and your shopping options and determine if they are in harmony. Let those retailers who choose to carry choke, pinch and shock collars know that you'll be taking your business elsewhere and why. Take the time to thank the stores that highlight treat bags and clickers in their training aisle - shop with the power of positive reinforcement. 

Every day I am learning more about my own training philosophy and how to articulate it, and ultimately I would hope that every person asks themselves how they can do better by their dog. Choosing where to spend my pet budget and spreading the word about these choices is just one small way that I can be the change for animals. If you'd like to join us, please grab a badge, share the #forcefreeshopping hash-tag, and help say no to aversive training tools. 

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