I thought I would do an update on the little dog rescue that I started in July in response to the need that
People for Dogs expressed - that they were worried that people would want to surrender chained dogs to them and they wouldn't have anywhere to place them to - so I said I'd start a rescue so that the dogs would have somewhere to go.
To date we've rescued around 10 dogs and they've all been fabulous dogs - which is something that I want to show with this rescue - that once dogs become unattached to a dog house that they are just normal dogs.
We always hear that horrible statistic - that chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite than dogs that aren't chained - but it's my belief that once they become unchained - that statistic disappears - and I want to prove it with my rescue.
Ben was our first rescue - chained for 5 years in Preston - and he's an amazing dog who is so loved by his family now - you can see what a full member of his family he is - they even went and had professional photos done!
When I found Taffy she was chained to a trailer, not even a collar around her neck - she had a chain - which had to be so uncomfortable in the heat of summer and in the winter - but she was such a gentle dog - and obsessed with balls! Her new family loves her and started off fostering her - when someone else became interested in her they decided to adopt her because they couldn't lose a dog that they said was "so near perfect".
Buddy just arrived a couple days ago and was chained for 9 years! He is a gentle giant and missing a lot of fur because he's so itchy - but he's going to make someone a great dog - he needs to gain a lot of weight and his paws and head are a lot larger than his body - which means that when he fills out he's going to be a lot bigger than he is now - but he's so calm, and so nice - it's such a shame that he's been ignored for the last nine years, really a crime.
This is Roy, and this is the pit he lived in for the first 2 years of his life. He now lives on a farm having the time of his life - why would someone abandon a dog to this? How would you like to live like this? It's amazing how resilient dogs are that they can come out of this and be so forgiving and move on and be normal dogs - but they are.
Here are some of the other dogs we've helped - Tina - who was 8 months old when we took her in - below, that puppy pile includes a beagle named Angel who became Maggie, in the middle is Billy - a dog who was chained for 17 years! Can you imagine! At the top right is Nikita - a dog chained for 5 years - and at the bottom right is a dog named Thunder - who is a little different - he has been kept in a vacant house - which is a chaining of a different type - but he needed rescue regardless - and he's going to be an awesome dog too.
We have also paid for the neutering of dogs if the owner agrees to bring the dogs inside the home - so there's more than one way to unchain a dog.
The 24/7 365 days a year confinement of dogs is inhumane. We are not talking or targeting the dogs who are tied out while you put your dog out to pee, or for a few hours a day - we are talking about the dogs who have no access to water, shelter, or food and are SUFFERING.
The dogs who have abandoned in back yards in Nova Scotia and for whatever reason the NS SPCA doesn't seem to be able to help - those are the dogs we want to help.
We want the dogs that are not going to survive the winter. And we think those dogs are saveable - we think those dogs will make good house pets. A lot of people don't - but we do.
We have a letter that we can send to those dog's owners - you can read it at
http://nochainsalllove.ca/plea.pdf - you can print it out yourself and send it to the dog owner and hopefully the dog's owner will call us - or you can contact us through our website at
http://nochainsalllove.ca/ and we can send the letter to them ourselves.
We also have a facebook page at
http://facebook.com/nochainsalllove if you want to stay connected to us.
I believe the issue really boils down to money and tools. The NS SPCA appears to be very conscious of the resources spent on prosecution. It is extremely costly to prosecute a single case. We're talking thousands of dollars per case and obviously they literally cannot afford to lose any
ReplyDeletecases at all. If it boils down to a determination of what is " distress " , they are more likely to lose their case (and their money) if the animal is not apparently physically injured (although possibly considerably damaged psychologically). This may explain why apparently emotionally devastated animals may have several visits yet nothing happens. This is also likely why they are adamant that the provincial government should enact specific regulations about what is " acceptable " tethering.
You raise some excellent points here. I believe we are all aiming for the same goals but priorities can get muddled because of conflicting factors. Yet it doesn't have to be like this. We need to start with fundamental changes in attitudes (it starts with kids) and appropiate legislation that gives investigators a fighting chance to win and dogs a fighting chance to be free to enjoy life as dogs and not prisoners. - Mike Antonio
If the animal is not evidently bodily hurt (although possibly considerably damaged psychologically), This may explain why evidently strongly felt devastated animals may have some visits yet not anything happens.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Kopi Luwak
Great work that you are doing Joan, and thanks for showing us the positive outcomes for these dogs. I do agree with the post above that the fundamental change needs to start with children. We need more programs that pair animals with children, because they need to learn empathy. There is a program in the states that pairs shelter dogs with children living at a abuse shelters. They teach the children how to train and care for the dogs and the importance of training "force free" so that they can learn a different way of being. We need to get them young for effective change. I know it's hard to comprehend when you have been raised to be empathetic, kind and compassionate with great role models such as your father Joan. Unfortunately, so many just don't get that. I really believe there needs to be a program in the schools for this.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Marjorie that I was lucky that I had the father that I did - I guess I took that for granted that I learned the lessons I did - that every living thing is sentient and feels pain and deserves to feel comfort and happiness - no matter how they look or what they've gone through or how they present themselves now.
ReplyDeleteAnd I learned all those things as a child - from my father - I so wish he were here to be meeting these dogs - he would love them as much as I do - but children should learn the things that I learned as a child - that's for sure.
The world would be a much better place.
I have no doubt your Dad is looking down and smiling over your good works. I too was blessed with very empathetic parents who loved nature animals and who had such a good set of values. I have worked with those who didn't get this and many times it is like they are from a different planet to me.
ReplyDeleteI heard a CBC thingy this summer about a program in BC who teaches empathy in schools. Yes, totally agree that since we can't rely on all parents to do that, society needs to.
ReplyDeleteJoan, you are really making a difference. I respect and admire you for that.
I have been rescuing dogs since the 80s. Some people are so inhumane towards dogs. All the dogs want is to be loved, to become a part of a family. If someone wants a dog, then it is my opinion that they should put a fence up first, so that the dogs can run free and play, which is what they love and want to do. I still am rescuing dogs, and will continue to do so.
ReplyDeletePat