There is nothing more frustrating than being on the wrong side of a locked door! Our front door sticks once in a while but yesterday was beyond sticking - it actually locked itself! It is a very good thing that Dave doesn’t put away his tools after using them - I found a crowbar on the picnic table. Of course I had jiggled the door, banged it, jiggled and banged it together - all the simple things that one does when encountering a stuck door. But this one was locked. Some of the dogs were still inside and they were howling - “Mom is outside and can’t get in - make noise to help!!” So I started using the crowbar. This is a very tough frame and lock. But it was no match for a frustrated rescue mom. It finally gave up and let me in and the inside dogs out. It doesn’t lock anymore but who in their right mind would walk in here unannounced?
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
July 30, 2006
�It's strange how rainy weather quietens all the dogs. They were so quiet during the evening I had to check and see if some were missing! Other than the mess the muddy paws bring in (that's what mops and pails were invented for), I really like the rain. The recent hot wave just about did me in. It is so nice to feel cool again. The dogs are much happier too. They were resting all day in patches of shade and only playing when the sun went down. No fun trying to rest with dogs noisily chasing each other in� the yard! But they had to release all that pent up energy. I have found that dog food plays a big role in keeping a multi -dog household peaceful. We have found that a lower protein keeps the peace while the super premium foods reve them up so that they squabble a lot more. This is just my own opinion. With only one or two dogs the super food is regulated - they don't tank up on it because it tastes so good. You can regulate how much you feed them. We have a large communal dish and free feed here. The thinner or shier dogs are fed seperately to ensure they get enough to eat or have the super food to gain weight and energy. We don't run a “shelter” per say as most dogs that come in here are not sheterable. They have never been in a building let alone a house, they never even had a home. A lot are born outside, are played with as puppies (it keeps the kids occupied - live toys) and then left to their own devices when the new pups are born. They are chased, damaged, scared souls when they finally get their break and are picked up by animal control. Each dog is brought into the veterinarian and examined for temperament, disease and all the other health issues. They are then vaccinated, dewormed and if old enough spayed or neutered. We then pick them up and start their rehabilitation from stray to family pet. Our facility is based on giving the dogs as close to a real home atmosphere as we can. They live indoors, have open crates, dog beds or old chairs to sleep on. They have a regular flooring� (lino) to walk on. We spend all our days with them. They do have a doggie door to go outside in the side yard and another one that is closed at night that goes into the main 2 acre front yard. They learn basic manners such as potty outside, sit for treats and they learn their name. We use the “bucket of bones game” for that one. The dogs come running when they see the doggie cookie can! They learn quickly that they have to sit to start the game. Then I say a name and give that dog his cookie. It sure is amazing to see a dozen dogs sitting in a circle waiting their turn for a cookie!
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
