Tales From the Front

As a school teacher of some 30+ years, I have heard lots of excuses -- excuses for late work, no work, late to school, absent from school, why you hit him, why he hit you, etc. ad nauseum. Rescues hear excuses too, only theirs all have to do with why a dog can no longer be kept by the family it knows and loves. Actually, there are three that rescues hear all the time.

1) My child (husband, wife, great aunt) is allergic to the dog. Never mind that the dog is seven years old. It has to go because of allergies. Now I know that allergies develop after repeated exposure to an allergen, but this length of time seems a bit much. But it makes giving up the dog a medical emergency and who can resist helping a sick person?

2) It is jealous of the new baby and might bite it (or has). Sometimes there is a little truth to this excuse, but it usually means dog and baby were not properly introduced. The owners forgot the dog is a pack animal. The dog feels alpha to the baby and acts accordingly. A smart family would start preparing the dog for baby's arrival. Then supervised visits and regular attention to the dog would ease the change in the family hierarchy.

3) We're moving and can't take the dog. It never ceases to amaze me how people who have had a dog for years can suddenly give it up. Again this excuse is sometimes valid as when an elderly owner enters a nursing home or when a divorce causes a total change in life style. Too often, thought, it is just a convenient way to dump an unwanted animal.

In Secondhand Shelties latest report to me, five dogs were given up because the owner was moving and three because of a new baby. Excuses, excuses. And I didn't believe any of them.

Three Rivers SSC of Greater Pittsburgh is a new club to most of you but they have a very active rescue. Their feature dog is a one-year old shaded sable named Sassy. In her first home, the children put a rubber band around her tail. The lack of circulation left Sassy with a three inch stub--which wags just fine. The children's father kicker her and broke her leg or hip. Receiving no medical care, she was given to a second family. This time the man ran over her with his car and again she received no medical care. A family friend called the local humane society because the new owner was going to shoot her to end her misery. The friend was told to call Marylee Jones of Three Rivers Rescue. Because of the expenses, they knew Sassy's rehabilitation would incur, a board meeting was held. They voted to save her. Carol DeMoss and Linda Urbanek picked her up and Linda fell in love with Sassy. By the way, the man would not provide the name of the breeder or the owners.

The first vet estimated surgery at $2000. A second vet recommended they see Dr. Pardo at Pittsburgh Veterinary Surgical Services. He offered to do the surgery for $750. It was decided that the leg would have to be amputated at the hip. He also determined the injury was at least three weeks old, not three days as rescue had been told. Because Sassy was doing so well after the operation, she was discharged to Linda Urbanek's care the day after surgery. All recovered, Sassy runs well on three legs and leaps on the couch with ease.

The total bill was $768.60 with $103.60 for the first vet visit and X-rays and $665 for the surgery. This wiped out the club's rescue fund. Donations received from members and friends helped a bit. Buttons were sold as a fund raiser while the balance came from the club's own treasury. The deficit will have to be made up with more button sales. Was all this worth it? Just ask young Sassy who despite her earlier handling by mankind is friendly, outgoing and looking forward to a long, happy life.

I am very happy to report that the ASSA has given me permission to establish a rescue fund to help clubs with special need dogs like Sassy. They have given me $1000 seed money and hope others will donate regularly to keep the fund going. Sonia Carringer (Abbotsford) has already pledged $300 in memory of Geordie and Cynthia. The Board has given me the heavy responsibility of deciding when, how much and to whom monies will be paid. A regular quarterly accounting will be made to the ASSA treasurer since the account will have the ASSA name on it, indicating their support. This fund is to help in emergencies, such as special surgical cases like Sassy or if a rescue finds itself taking in large numbers as when a puppy mill is shut down. It is not to be used for day-to-day expenses. The Rescue Network Coordinator will have the final say on how the monies will be used. I am in the process of developing some guidelines and application forms now. This is a great step forward, showing the parent club is recognizing the need and value of rescues. Now we will need regular annual support from all you fanciers so we can keep the faith.