Moving On...

Evening Blog People!

Again sorry for not writing. After Buddy, then I found out Bauer was also put to sleep. I lost my mind a little bit. So I dog walked but wasn't sure how I was going to write about it. Two sad blog postings in a row.

So Bauer. I loved you so much. I'm sorry for what happened. You were soooo LOVED and you have forever changed my heart for having known you. I think about you often and now even more.

Now I've been walking lots. We were lower on dogs and now we are back to FULL!!! All ranges of sizes and breeds. You want a little dog, we got them!!! You want a big hound?? Got that too!!! Puppies!! Yep!! Seniors!! Yes!!

One of my favourites was returned, Rayne. American Bulldog, pretty and was returned with a bad leg. I'm not even going to get into whatta duche bag this guy was. I'm happy she is back with GOOD people and getting the care she needs. She only gets slow walks. She is the destroyer of stuffies and loves to play dirty. She is sneaky, has the best grin and also best radar ears. While walking another dog, Harvey, I ran into Wendy (another volunteer) with Rayne. We chatted as the dogs sniffed the ground. As we parted ways, Rayne followed me instead. She realized she would get more outside time with Wendy and started following her. haha Wendy laughed at me, as she said 'She is one of your babies.' Which is true. You start getting favourites, I love dogs. But I love the meaty heads. So Pitties, Rotties, Bulldogs all types, solid dogs really.

    But after all the walking this morning, which was great. Lots of Walkers!! I had to go and spend sometime with my darling Rayne. We played, cuddled, I pushed her, she body checked me. She left me to go see what has happening in the front of the kennels so I took my leave. I went to go check on Lola, another American Bulldog who is older and soo so so bored of the spca. So I'm petting Lola when I hear the worst scream bark come from Rayne. I look over the wall and she starts jumping at the wall! With a BAD LEG!!! I left Lola, went back to Rayne. She was really mad that I left. She was like 'you are my people! No Lola!' So we played, cuddled some more then I got to leave.

On Stat holidays we can take dogs for the day, Rayne already got signed out. BOOURNS!!! But I'm taking Lola, just don't tell Rayne.

Once there was Buddy...

Still walking, do NOT worry! I couldn't give up walking SPCA dogs, kinda like giving up air. Just doesn't work. So in the 9 months I've been dog walking, I have seen many dogs come and go. Some stay for a bit, I like to think of it 'until the RIGHT home.' In the past week I had something new. New to me not to the SPCA. The SPCA had a dog dropped off by a weird man. The dog was over weight, like REALLY over weight. Not to mention didn't have any toys. First few days at the SPCA were tough. He was scared 24/7, mainly of men but still just scared.

      I came in and saw he was a level 2, due to being scared. So I decided to walk this furry marshmallow. He is a mix of Austrailian cattle dog, heeler and lab. Using a harness we were off on our walk. Now as much as I am a dog/animal person, doesn't mean I fall in love with every dog I walk. Almost but not all. haha No really, I love dogs for what and who they are but doesn't mean I want to take them all home. IN saying this, Buddy- I was calling him Chubby Bunny (watch the movie 'Just Friends')did not have my heart right away. We were walking, then he started to trot in the grass. He had the biggest smile. As it got hotter, him in his fur and extra poundage became a concern to me. He started eating grass and just flopped on the grass of some random front yard. The look he gave me was 'I'm done.'

       Managing to move him a couple more houses down where there was shade and cool grass, we sat for 20 minutes. As he cooled down, I patted him, cuddled him and made him my model for photos. He was smiles the whole time.

          SLOWLY getting back to the SPCA, poor dude was so chubby. We walked into the SPCA to a kennel full of barking dogs, thanks Diego you butternutter for starting it, and Buddy just barked back like 'we're barking! look all of us are barking' with a kinda doggy tap shoe dance. Once in his kennel, he drank water and became one with the nice cool floor. Grabbing a brush, I went to work to get as much fur off of him. Although I only got one side, he sat up (which took effort) got inches from my face. Gave me two soft kisses. Smiled. Flopped again to the floor. So I flopped with him. laying there for 15 minutes. You could say I totally fell for this dog. I couldn't wait to see how he would look, felt once the SPCA had him for a couple weeks. All the regular excerise, toys and food. I sent photos to my friends and my sister. My sister started on my brother in law, so once they moved at the end of the month and if Buddy was still at the SPCA they would look into getting him. Not sure if it was for them or for me. lol

     Sadly, a few days later I received an email at work, on lunch, that Buddy was put down. Nothing like crying at work on your lunch over a dog that you met once and didn't belong to you. He was so scared of men, previous owner must have abused him badly, that while out on a walk - he attack a man. Poor Man, he hadn't done anything but happen to walk by. With Penny and Cory by his side he was put down. It's not that Buddy was put down, it was what Buddy had lived through prior to the SPCA that makes me sad and angry. This was a first for me.

                                        At least he got TONS of love in his final days.

Life on a Leash is not a Life

It's been awhile since I blogged so SORRY peoples. There is a dog that I had to blog about. Also for some reason my paragraphs are mushed together. No idea why.

------Diego, sharpei cross shepard cross pittie cross god only knows. I came into the SPCA after being away for a bit as I was house/dog sitting. So many dogs were adopted in the time I was gone, new ones in their place. Needing to figure out who to walk, I helped out with the pee walks. (for those who don't know we try to run all the dogs outside asap so they don't have to keep their paws crossed)I noticed Diego then second I walked up the hall. If you know me, I have a serious weakness for pitties, rotties and any block head dogs. After Angel being adopted, I had to find my next favourite. haha!! I talked to Diego through the doors, he did a head tilt that was most amazing! Oh! I'm done for. ------Slapping my name down to walk him, I TRULY did not know what I was in for. I read his bio, LEVEL 2, 'pulls' 'nice' 'pulls'. My walk was *cough* challenging. Noticing Diego not looking at me at all, not smelling the grass or anything for that matter. Would not stop looking around. Every dog he saw he would lunge, get fustrated, pull backwards pull forwards, talks and talks. Didn't care for treats, oh lord. Got back to the shelter with sore hands. As I put him in his kennel, he headbutted me-gently. Heart melting... ------So he was crazed outside but a good in kennel. Grabbing a brush I went back in. Getting SOOOO MUCH fur off him, he kept trying to play. He would play by mouthing all over my arms, hands. Trying to replace my arm with a rope toy, he was not havin it. Mouthing me was how he knew to play. Not this rope thing. I would brush him, he would put his cement head in my armpit. It was adorable. Nicole, a very awesome girl who works there, laughed at me because all she could hear was 'no that's my arm, here play with your toy, no that's my arm, play with your toy, ouch, that was my nose, no arm, toy, ouch, awww you are so cute, no thats my arm here is your toy...' ------Later, making notes in the book o'dogs Cory (one of the main people of the victoria spca) came up and we talked 'Diego.' She informed me that he was chained up in a yard his whole 2 years of life. MAKES SO MUUCH SENSE!!! He's a dog that doesn't know how to be a DOG!!! The no eye contact, the excitment when seeing other dogs, not knowing to play with toys. ------Woke up the next morning, upper body totally not a happy camper. I laughed thinking 'who needs a gym.' ------My next walk was another day later. I took Diego for a good long walk. Gorge rd, tillicum back up to the spca. A walk that normally takes me 1 hours 25 mins, takes me 1 hour with Diego. :) I took Diego, then Smarties

who decided that she was only going to eat grass and refused to walk without a four legged buddy. Grabbed Diego again, walked another 40 minutes where he was actually smelling grass and marking. Which he didn't do at all our first walk. Got back to walk Bear, pretty shepard that walks amazing. At the end of my long walking morning I got a brush and headed for Diego's kennel. Where he was waiting with his head tilted. Again, heart melting.... SO MUCH FUR! This time he was more calm, just stuck his head in my armpit and let me brush. Tried again to get him to play with toys, but mouthing my arm was still way too much fun. ick. Another volunteer gave me a bone to give him, apparently he liked the bone but only if I was holding it. Double ick. ------Next day, so so so many walkers! Yay! Walked Diego again, this time was so much more a challenge than the day before. I started to think they replaced his water with red bull. Our challenging walk ended with me having blisters across both hands. All I could think was 'must email Jenn' (she is the trainer). I wanted Diego to relax, being so excited can't be good. The fact he didn't care about treats, I couldnt get his attention. Got a brush and went back to his kennel. He did something next that made my day. He brought me a toy to play with. I got so excited that he ran off and brought me two more toys!! He actually PLAYED WITH TOYS!!!! So I brushed him, then I threw his toys around and bounced around in his kennel with him. More I bounced more he played with the toy. It was WONDERFUL!!!

-----Jenn is going to help me, Diego basically needs someone to get his attention but bouncing around and making loud noises. Hey if it helps him walk a little more sane, I'll do it. So if you see a crazy lady jumping around the streets with a tan pretty dog near the SPCA, wave at me.

A Day with an Angel...

Good Friday was AWESOME for many reasons. One of the big ones was I got to take Angel, Rotti cross, for the day. I was so excited the night before, it kinda felt like the day before your birthday. Waking up to a text message from a friend, I hoop to the shower and got ready. Leaving boyfriend still in bed with the cat.

Once at the spca, I talked to the co-ordinator about taking Angel and taking her name off the walk list. Getting Angel, full of beans and trying to hug me, kiss me, on leash was (as always) a fun challenge. Got her outside as her paws must have been crossed. She did her business and was happy to go wherever I went. Going to the car I realized I had no idea how she was going to be in the car. Lucky me she is SO MELLOW in the car. Plopping in the back seat and looking at me with 'okay, now what?'

Drove to my parents house out near keating cross rd. My parent's dog, Maxx, has some issues with other BIG dogs. After some growlish moments they were fine. They sniffed around, played with toys and flopped in the sun. My Mom and I took them for a nice long walk. Angel and Maxx got to eat grass, sniff new smells, Angel barked at a horse that really didn't care that she was there. Angel was really really interested in the horses. We walked about just over an hour and the puppies were pooped. Got back to the house where they slopped water and as my Mom calls it 'squished spiders' flopped on the patio.

My Mom asked me to load music onto her iphone, which I did. Angel becomes my second shadow. At some point she went into the kitchen, beg for food-never works on my Mom. I hear snarls and growls. I run into the kitchen, thinking Maxx has eaten Angel. To find my Mom laughing. Actually it was ANGEL!!! She decided she had enough of Maxx pushing her around. My Mom said she could see every tooth in Angel's mouth. So maybe not Angel but Alligator. Not bites but just a show. She looked at me with her wiggle bum and smiled.

Next we picked up my boyfriend, Jake, and went to his parent's place. Everyone loved her. She was such a cuddle monster. I fell asleep on the couch with her sleeping on my legs. Although she was having just too much fun and everytime she heard anything she would get up to investigate.

I decided to bring her back, that was so difficult. So then I walked her again the Saturday.

Reasons to walk...

There are many many many reasons to volunteer to walk dogs at the SPCA. One of the reasons that hit me today was my Mom's dog Maxx. He is a big 110 pounds of black dog. At 5 months he found himself wondering the highways in the interior of BC, alone, before someone picked him. Landing at the SPCA. He was sent to Victoria SPCA, where my Mom fell head over heels. What hit me today is all the care he got before my Mom adopted him.

He was vetted, fed and watered, loved, cuddled, walked, sheltered. All by the SPCA and volunteers. It really hit me today that we, volunteers, are giving your future family members tons and tons of LOVE. As it hurts to think why my Mom's Maxx was wondering around alone at 5 months but he was found and cared for before Mom got him. Whom she spoils. I have a doggy brother, not just my Mom's dog.

Today I walked Angel again, yep she is STILL THERE! I don't get it! Yes I have leash burn on my hands but only because she wants to PLaY with all the dogs that she pulls. She is socially inept. I know people who are too. (you know who you are) She is sweet! She is the first dog since I started walking that will walk in front of me, stop and want cuddles. As we were walking, I was talking to her. Yes I'm THAT kind of dog person. She looked at me, jumped her top end lightly into my arms for hugs. So I stood there hugging her back. A lady with a baby stroller had watched the whole thing. She says as she walks by 'that is easily the sweetest thing I've seen today' smiles at us and continues. I've never had a dog stop walking for hugs and cuddles. So yea she pulls when she sees a dog but purely for excited play. She is a goofball. She will be someones perfect pal. She needs a family to be with, run with, play with. I'm still shocked she is still there.

If you are in the market for a big dog, medium dog, husky crosses, newfoundland crosses, one eyed dogs, strong dogs, come on down to Victoria SPCA!

an Angel of a dog

This blog is OVERDUE! haha I will be going walking again this week. Thursday and Saturday. Also I'm off next week and I'm sure I'll be spending time with puppies at the SPCA. (I say puppies but its what I call all dogs of all ages)

I want to write about a darling girl named Angel. Although I don't like the name, really Angel? To me it's kinda up there with the typical names like Shadow or Missy. (sorry to Missy who is another dog at the spca) Okay moving on... Angel is a GREAT dog!! I know I say this about most dogs, but she was around kids and dogs as she grew up. She's about 2 years old now. Super friendly but dog socially disfuctional. She barks at other dogs, not to scare them or get them to leave, she wants to PLAY!!! Oh my nothing gets her attention when another dog is around, until I put a cookie in front of her nose. She is also very happy to do what you want her to do for a COOKIE!!!!

I walked her a week and half ago. Worked last weekend but I'm looking forward to seeing her Saturday IF she hasn't gotten her forever home. She is definately a girly dog. She is so pretty, needs to fill in a bit but she is girly. She much rather cuddle you than anything else in the world. I thought she was going for my pocket full of cookies but no, she just wanted loving. We walked for a hour and a half, came back to make sure all the dogs were getting out.

Played with puppies, actual puppies. Well not played, I sat on the floor in the sun and had a couple just hang out with me. Which is what they needed.

Later I took Angel back out. She would look behind her, at me, with a big smile. How someone hasn't adopted her yet, blows my mind. She would be great as a family dog or as a doggy companion. Emailed a few people on her. She will be someones perfect dog.

Big puppy and little Gentleman

Friday, I walked crazy amounts in pouring rain. Buckets AGAIN. Not many walkers showed due to illness and water allergies. haha Before I walked any pups, I ran into the dog gym to play with Breezy. The pittie x. She is FEISTY, strong, beautiful and a complete suck. I LOVE her. She is a GOOF. She ran around with me, bouncing around. I sat on a stool where she almost knocked me over with kisses and hugs. After that it's tummy rubs! Where she flops between my feet and bares her tummy. I gave her tons of tummy rubs but had to leave to walk other dogs. I want to walk her but I'm not Level 2 walker. Although don't think I'd have too many issues with her. But if she is still around when I'm trained on level 2, I will be walking her as much as I can. haha I love her. She reminds me of my Mom's dog Maxx. Not in colour but in soul. Head strong, physically strong, could look scary to someone looking at them, need strong humans to be their pack. Maxx, mellowed a bit now, but he was a handful for years and still likes to 'push' but he's awesome. Just like Breezy.

I walked Milo. Rotti x shepard 9 months old and was already close to 70 pounds. People thought he was full grown, you should have seen their faces when I said 'oh he's only a puppy at 9 months old.' haha I was GREAT. Jaws hit the ground. We walked/bounced around for an hour. I brought him back so I could check if there were more walkers, more dogs that still needed out, etc.

Cuddled little guys Bambi and Thumper. Bambi managed to get her nose in my pockets without me noticing, getting lots of cookies.

Freddy won me over. Shy little man, but a wonderful mellow walker. He was a joy to walk. Little Gentleman walking. Didn't pull on leash, once he got tired he started to smile. I sent my boyfriend a picture, Jake loves the little dogs. He asked if our cat was bigger or smaller than Freddy. I think equal in size. Right up Jake's alley for dogs. I'm completely shocked he is still at the SPCA. He's 5 years old and shy, but once he knows you are going to walk him- you become his best friend.


We got back and another walker had Milo back out because he needed more. She got back and I took Milo AGAIN. This pup could go forever. His paws were HUGE.

The only thing that made me roll my eyes was the RAIN. I have no problem with rain, but why the WIND with the RAIN. Takes 30 min in a hot shower to become human once more. TOTALLY WORTH IT, TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!!

Walking in the Pouring Rain

Yesterday I walked in the pouring rain. It was windy and buckets of water were smashing from the dark sky. I was in many layers, jeans, pj under the jeans, fleece socks, shirt, hoodie, rain jacket and hat. This was NOT enough for what I was walking in. Good thing I love dogs.

I walked Jenny, a real spca special. Normally I'm good at figuring out what breed a dog is. Jenny was a sheppard, maybe heeler? Who knows, she was AWESOME. She had a litter of puppies, they were all adopted. She was so serious at first but then her puppy side started to show. She bounced, she wanted to run with the runners. Also all dogs were her friends and wanted to play. It didnt matter that it was pouring rain. She kept one ear up and one ear down and walked with a mission. I talked to her along the way and she would look at me like 'I know I'm cute.'

We got back and I grabbed her a towel, she acted like a big puppy when toweling her off. She danced around, hopped about. I gave her some cuddles, she walked all over me. She got Adopted a few hours later.

I went and cuddled another puppy named Lola. She was a pittie and she was a sweetheart. Her little wrinkly face would make you melt. She had a cast on her back leg, not sure why- most likely a surgery. There was a note on her kennel for cuddles not walks. So I got into her kennel and she walked right under me when I was at a half sit. I laughed and she wiggled.I threw myself onto the other wall. I sat down and suddenly she was eatting her food. She just needed the company. She ate most of her bowl and fell right to sleep. I took a photo because my sister loves pitties. Now she is in foster to adopt.

Next on the list was Dolce and Cooper. Cooper had a bad bad life before the spca. But another dog named Dolce seems to have taken him under her wing. (Paw?) She is very protective of him. I had to take my hat off as Dolce doesn't like hats. I got Cooper and another volunteer got Dolce. Cooper was so scared. He didnt want to walk outside. Looked at the rain, looked me like 'are you kidding me?' but he got outside. We walked and Cooper and Dolce were super goofy. Cooper started the play dance with Dolce. We just danced with them too. Trying to stop the leashes from tangling. We got back and Cooper was a different dog. He was rolling around on the blankets, I grabbed towels and he was still bouncing around. He was such a different dog than when we left.

Before I left I cuddled Breezy. At very pretty pittie cross. She is a level 2, she is STRONG. I'm not allowed level 2 dogs yet, I will be going for level 2 in another month says Jenn the trainer. If I can walk my mom's 110 pound beasty dog, I can handle Breezy. So I cuddle her after she's been walked. She jumps around so happy. I sit and she rolls on me. I mean she ROLLS on me. She gets on me and rolls. She slides off and hugs my leg so I can't leave. Right now she is one of my favourites.

Getting home, I was so cold. It took over 30 minutes in a hot shower to become normal but it was one of my favourite walking days ever.

Puppies! oh my!

This is just a short blip on PUPPIES. Walking dogs tomorrow night and I'm sure I'll have tons to write about.

I've been asked/told several times about the PUPPIES. As much as I turn into a goofy ball of mush when I see puppies at the SPCA and want to cuddle them- I don't. Wanna know why? Can't believe I wouldn't hug and cuddle these furry fluff balls? Well here's why...

They STINK to high heavens!!!

Think about it people. These adorable balls of fur are not house trained. They poop and then they run, sit, roll in the poop. Right there is why the SPCA is looking for old towels because of the continuous bath times.

So cuddling the puppies is only do-able AFTER bath time. Which is not when I'm normally there.

Plus as I have been told by one of my good friends, 'there is nothing wrong with them. You only like defective dogs.' HAHA Sad but true. I like the blind, 3 leggeds, one eye missing, missing fur, cones of shame and the old. Keep the puppies, I'll take an older pup anyday-anytime

2 new things

Bauer got ADOPTED!! I'm HAPPY but I also totally cried my eyes out in the car after I found out. He went to a home with another rotti, he got a sister! They play and get along. The adopters emailed the SPCA and wrote that everyone was getting along. They had him OFF LEASH and that he was playing with a bunch of dogs at a park. I couldnt be happier. As much as Bauer melted my heart and I wanted him, that he went to a GREAT home. Really couldnt ask for better adoption for Bauer. (still cried a BUNCH)So that happened last Friday.

Last night I walked a litte senior pup named Angelina. She is a goofy little dog I was asked to walk for 20 minutes. She was so GREAT! She walked wonderful but man if she wanted to smell something- nothing was making her move. She was the boss when I walked her. She also didnt like the busier streets so I ended up carrying her like the queen she is, for a couple blocks. She snuggled right in. Getting back to the SPCA, she walked me back to her room. She is living in one of the offices in the front of the SPCA. We cuddled, she hopped into her bed and I was dismissed. :P

Later I found out she has a horrible past of being a puppy machine. Also she was in horrible medical condition. The SPCA vet had to remove teeth, remove metal from her stomach and get her fixed. You would never know the brutal way she had been treated when you meet her. For a dog that has this amazing stillness about her, she does tell you stories with her pretty, big brown eyes.

Memphis, what can I say... My friend, Karen, walked with me last night. She fell in LOVE big time with a tiny little man named Memphis. Of course she made me walk him. I tend to go for the bigger pups, although volunteering at the SPCA has truly made me start liking the little guys. He was HILARIOUS!! Walked so fast that every once and awhile he would kick out his back legs. His big batty ears told us when he was happy, he didnt like the wind, also he wanted to run with the 'BIG' guys.(2 other SPCA medium sized walked by) Karen was laughing pretty much the whole time. He was a character. We had cuddles at the end. I had to toss a cookie on his bed so I could get out of his kennel. He was not wanting me to go. (which is sooooo hard to leave when that happens)

Karen later sent me a couple photos. I had to give in. Karen made me walk him but I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it.

Don't TOUCH my dog!

Last weekend I was volunteering. Got there a bit early and helped with pee walks. (pee walks is grabbing dogs and taking them out to pee and bringing them back. Grabbing another dog etc etc) I wrote my name down for Bauer. As my boyfriend calls it, 'my hour with Bauer'.

Did a few pee walks, enough volunteers were there to start the walks. I went to get Bauer and he was gone. So the head person of the volunteers that day told me to grab a leash and go out and get him back. I did. No where to be found. I was ANGRY so so VERY angry. Couple different reasons. Bauer was the dog I was trying to adopt. Due to a transfer to Sidney for work and over all cost, I didnt. I want a better life for Bauer than sitting in a condo for 10 hours a day. Another reason I was blood boiling mad was that I wrote my name down for Bauer. Helped with pee walks, to then not get 'my dog'. Jenn the trainer at the spca was worried because she didnt have any clue as to who had him. I figured it out after a few minutes. A guy from my training, one number off my volunteer number, had written his name for Mafasa but took Bauer. Mistake? Probably. Mafasa, howling away, got walked by another walker once we figured it all out.

I ended taking Dodger. Which I'm actually SUPER GLAD I did. Poor guy got neutered the Tuesday before. As I was walking Dodger/bucket head, he started to sit down. Walk a bit more and sit. Walk a bit more, whined, we headed back to the spca.

At the spca, I tried to fix his cone. He managed to rip it almost off and he was going for his stiches. Noticed I said 'TRIED', yelling for anyone around to help me. I couldnt stop him from licking and fix the cone of shame. haha I decided to tell the lady who works there, sorry I can't remember her name to save my life- she does everything for dogs, clean kennels, feedings, medications etc. I hopped into Dodger's kennel and cuddled. Smacking me with his cone, he sat on my lap. Turns out Dodger blew his stitches and got a infection. He got meds. I cuddled him for over an hour. He needed walks but cuddles just had to do.

So DONT STEAL MY DOG, but I'm kinda glad you did. ;)

Love Hate Relationship with People

Small little blip about the hard side of spca. As a walker I see so many dogs that were not taken care of. Whether it was not getting vet care or just not caring enough to be a GOOD owner. To me, dogs and cats are family members, actually any pet I've ever had as been family. (even the lovebird that copied the phone ring and would repeat it at 5am) While talking to my manager today about some of the dogs I've seen she said 'wow that must be really hard.'

Yea it is. If people could stop being so horrible to animals, that would be great. In the meantime, we have the BCSPCA. So yes, as many stories make you hate, loath and generally make you want to hunt down and 'harm' these people. Remember there are the GOOD owners, GOOD people at the BCSPCA that are working hard to make the lives of these animals better. There are the volunteers that walk dogs in rainy monsoons, collect fruit tree branches for bunnies and snuggle kitty cats.

On one side we have the horrible owners and on the other is EVERYONE ELSE. We will win.

Go Volunteers!

Today was a rainy rainy RAINY walk. The nicest thing about tonight was that so many VOLUNTEERS. The Victoria SPCA has the smallest amount of dogs I have ever seen in my 4 months. Tonight there was a volunteer for every dog. As I walked Bauer through monsoon weather, hoping that I didnt have to go back out even though I would. Got Bauer back to the SPCA to find all the dogs were out! Some walkers were coming back as I toweled off Bauer. Bauer loves getting toweled off. Also on a side note, Bauer is no longer coughing. Yay! Me -on the other hand, I was wearing rain gear and I was still damp. But at least not soaked through like other nights.

With the SPCA having so few dogs- it feels like as soon as tomorrow, we will be slammed with more dogs. The BCSPCA kinda seems to do that. When one shelter gets low or has a run of adoptions, the shelters that are full or not having such luck with adoptions send dogs to another shelter. Makes sense.

Sad but Happy

I walked 2 dogs today. Winston and Storm! Winston being a dog that has been posted on before. Great over all family dog, needs training but very smart. He also was very 'humpy' last week but wasn't this week, which is so GOOD!! Haha!! He had been fixed last week but only a few days before. He gets excited and happy when been taken out for a walk, gets a little mouthy. NOT bite but he will put your hand in his mouth and lick. Gross but at least it wasn't biting. He walks wonderful and every dog is his friend. I enjoyed walking him so much, but he went and got ADOPTED today!!! YAY!! But boo. Totally selfish to want a dog to stay at the spca when they can get a home, I'm completely aware. I'm happy he has a home tonight and hope it stays his whole life. He was fun. I'm sure there will be another dog soon that will pull my heart strings just as much. Actually I can 100% bloody guarantee that there will be another dog. :)

Storm, little poodle cross. I don't have background on him, I know he has been at the spca a few weeks. Another volunteer said to me while walking how much better he is looking. He was a great little walker. Walks with a mission. Although the photos I have of him don't show it, he has a great little face with nice chocolate eyes under all that fuzzy fur. He greeted me with a happy wiggle when getting into his kennel. Everytime I bent down to pet him, he snuggled me. While walking he would look up at me with a kinda 'we are going this way? okay!' then walk.

Today was a day with wind, rain, a house boat mashed into the bridge and I loved walking with the dogs every freakin' minute.

Dog Happy

I walked 2 dogs today. Bauer and Winston. My first hour is with 'my' dog Bauer. Everyone at the spca keep calling Bauer 'my dog' as I was looking into getting him last month. I walked him and it was nice but he is getting more agressive towards other dogs. This happens with dogs that have been there too long. Also poor Bauer has gotten kennel cough. Poor little (big) man. The SPCA has a few cases of kennel cough. A few days before Christmas the Victoria SPCA received 30 dogs. All smaller breeds from a puppy mill. They came in with kennel cough. Got meds, got adopted. Kennel cough is a tricky and annoying thing. One dog gets it and within a week a couple dogs will have it, then several etc etc. So as the original dogs that had it are healthy and gone, the remaining dogs are coming down with it. Poor puppies.

Winston. He was a wiggly dog in the kennel near the door. I walked by him a few times. He would wiggle and whine for some attention. After walking Bauer, I looked to see who else needed out. Winston was the only dog left, he had been out for 40 min which isnt long enough for a shelter dog. I grabbed a leash and out we went. He is missing most his fur!!! Poor guy. I dont know his background, his 'owners' (using that loosely because whoever does that to their dog isn't an owner) just dumped him at the SPCA. Regardless of his background, Winston is so HAPPY!!!

Walking him, full of beans, was fun. When he wasn't trying to hump me. The SPCA had him fixed earlier on in the week. When he is happy, he tries to hump, when he doesn't want you to leave the kennel, he tries to hump you again. He is a lab cross shar pei. Has funny little ears and wrinkly skin. But lab nose and lab tail. He was a sweetheart to walk. I sat in his kennel for half an hour, where he laid on top of me and fell asleep as I rubbed his ears and face. People walking by would stop and tell me how I'm such a dog person, one with Bauer and two with Winston. I really do need to win the lottery so I can buy a place for my future dogs, oh and my boyfriend.

Lottery

I need to win the lottery so I can adopt the blind rotti and the old, arthritis fill american bulldog. Why do I fall for 'defective' dogs? Heaven forbid a blind, one eyed, three legged, senior dog comes in. haha I joke but I know it's 100% true!

Senior Dogs

Today I walked my Favourite Blind-ish Rotti, Bauer. But I also walked a new dog, Mufasa. An american bulldog, 12 years old. No idea why he was brought in, our info book was MIA this evening. What I could see was an old dog who was a little fat, has arthritis, nails were too long and was unhappy at being in a shelter. My heart broke a little. Our whiteboard* in the volunteer room it says 3 walks x 30min due to arthritis. Normally dogs get an hour or more walk in the morning and again at night. So I decided this sad looking pup needs out. I grabbed a leash and got him. Arthritis! This dog dragged me for 4 blocks, downhill and uphill. He relaxed a bit after 15 minutes of dragging me around like a rag doll. He would sneek in a smile, not long but it was there. He randomly he would pull me into bushes or across the street. He is a great dog so it KILLED ME as soon as he realized we were headed back to the shelter he would stop walking. Suddenly this 50 pound, 12 year old, senior dog was like a 300 pound elephant. Not moving. I talked to him, tried to bribe with treats. Na-da. So I ran him around. He was running and it was okay. I got him back in his kennel. Sitting on the ground of his kennel, I didnt want to leave, he looked at me and went to the door. He did not like being there. Not angry, just old and should be in a warm home. I'm not really sure if he ever had a warm home or normal walks. Senior dogs should be in a warm home, be fed, get cuddles.

Please adopt senior dogs whenever you can. I know I will be.

MeL

*Whiteboard in the volunteer room, two whiteboards that are sectioned into the kennel numbers, what dogs are in them, if they are housetrained, Level 1 or 2 or have any other issues. Issues like 'dont like other dogs' or 'arthritis' or 'at vet.'

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to my sister, Alisha!! Again so sorry you got sick after dog walking in the rain.

Volunteer Guilt

Even though I volunteer, normally several hours per week. I feel so SO so guilty when I don't make it in. Just saying 'make it in' makes me go blah. I havent been in a week. Guilty. I've taken time to myself, how dare I. haha But seriously, before writing this I checked the spca webpage to see how many dogs were there. Why I havent gone is, I needed to catch up on sleep. Lame I know. Starting a new location for work and I dont want to be sick. Getting rest, eating normal health food etc etc walked my Mom's dog etc. Last time I went walking, the rain went sideways. Soaked through 5 layers of clothing & jackets. Poor sister, who came with me, is still sick. (Happy Birthday Alisha and sorry you got sick)

I've talked to other volunteers, us 'regulars' seem to all feel 'the guilt'

Does the guilt make us better walkers? better volunteers?

Don't You Want to Take Them All Home?

Simple answer. No.

Yes they can look sad in their kennels with their big puppy eyes. Remember most of these dogs have it better being in a kennel than what their lives were before. Yes it would be the best thing EVER if all the dogs would have ideal homes. Kennel pups get regular food and water. They get 2 walks a day. They get toys, beds, blankets, training, cuddles, vet visits, meds, brushing and baths. So as much as I love the dogs, they do have it pretty good.

There will always be a dog or two that I want to take home. ALWAYS.

Hey There ;)

This is Bauer, 75% blind rotti. He is a BIG SUCK and is a typical rotti. He has a genetic eye problem. He has lenses that shift and creates cataracts. His Left eye is completely blind, his right is about 50/50. This does not set him back. He is a couch potato and lap dog at 75 pounds.