Thanks for all the nice messages. Definitely better this morning and not nearly as purple as I thought I'd be. The shelter manager I was working with immediately doused me with antiseptic from the doggie clinic they have on site. She offered to wrap me up in pet wrap too, but I passed. I know how hard that stuff is to get off of dogs, I can only imagine how it would stick to human skin! I was just in the wrong place - we were loading up food donations and I wasn't even interacting with the dog that bit me . It was a big surprise to all involved as I'd had lots of positive contact with the dog and there was nothing going on to make her go off. All we can figure is that yesterday was just a weird high energy day as there were lots of altercations between the dogs throughout the day. A huge storm was rolling in that broke last night, so it could have been from that. In any case, the dog could have done much worse to me as my whole hand ended up in her mouth. If she would have really been going for me, I would have lost a finger. As it was, it's just two puncture wounds on the top of my hand and a bruised area on my palm. Doesn't even hurt today after my good sleep last night - so no harm, no foul. I wasn't planning on going in today anyway as Garfield (foster kitty) needs to go into the vet. By tomorrow, it should be good enough bandaged up that I can have a normal shelter stint and walkies. Regarding the 'why don't you adopt Carbon' comments, let me say that I know that they are coming from a really good place and I appreciate the sentiment behind everyone trying to pair me up. However, I'm on the tail end (hopefully) of a pretty big personal rough patch plus have had an unexpected change in my work situation, so it's best for me to take a break from the dog search for a while. I know that sounds vague, but just trust that I'm working towards getting myself sorted out so that I can be ready to find my forever dog or puppy. The volunteering is a big part of that plan and I'm really grateful for the opportunity to get some doggie love on a daily basis. Carbon is definitely one of the special ones who tugs at my heart and I'm trying to see what I can do to help him for the future while giving him some new experiences, socialisation and cuddles on a regular basis. Fostering is on the table, as is driving him to a new home the UK if that became an option. I am not considering adopting him due to my current situation but no one can say for sure what the future will bring. OK, that's all the heavy stuff sorted for today. Now I need to try to get Garfield my foster kitty into a carrier to go to the vet. I imagine that will result in much worse bites than a dog roughly 20x Garfield's size was able to inflict yesterday. If I survive, I'll be back with more shelter walkies news and photos.
Kitties + travelling box= hospital Glad your hand is ok but you know what to look out for after all your doggy adventures. It's hard when you're Being pulled in so many different directions for different reasons. I hope things settle for you soon. Id love to help with carbon but Moo really is my priority at the moment but I know you get that. If there's anything I can do please ask. Im sending lots of love and big hugs. Not from Moo obviously we are all beneath her notice, but Rory would cuddle you silly.
Have you got some really tough gardening gloves to deal with Garfield? You certainly don’t need any further damage after yesterday’s incident. I’m sorry to hear you’re going through a rough patch - you always sound so up-beat. Volunteering is excellent therapy, so I hope things take a turn for the better soon. Good luck at the vet’s!
Self-care is vital - you mentioned health issues in Germany last year so I hope this isn't linked, but most importantly I hope you get everything sorted You're an incredible woman, and we all want to see you well. And hey, getting your doggy fix through your shelters is a pretty good compromise, plus you're making a big difference to lots of dogs
Yes, absolutely. I know you were also getting some good-natured teasing on here about Carbon, but we all know that Her Royal Highness Miss Queen of Sass is your full time monkey butler job - and long may that be the case. Thanks, Granca. The volunteering is helping, as does sharing photos and stories of the dogs here. I'm really grateful for the Forum and the members. There are amazing people here. Thanks for asking, but no - not linked. I think the current stuff is mainly down to me letting myself getting too stressed and not taking care to eat properly and keep up my exercise and other other healthy routines. That's why I figured the dog walking/cleaning would be good - lots of exercise and doggie love at the same time. After a kitty interlude yesterday, I'm headed off this morning to the 'far' shelter so will get to see Messi and Charlotte. It's raining AGAIN today, so that probably means no walkies and a lot of messy and wet enclosure cleaning. I have to admit, I'm really not all that keen on the cleaning as I feel like an old stooped-over lady when it's all done. But on the bright side, going into each and every enclosure means interacting with all the dogs vs. only 3-4 for walkies, so that's good too. Last Sunday there was a little black boy named Harry - looked a little like a black Lab puppy at about 12 weeks old in size but he was about six months old so definitely a mix. I picked him up, sat on the stoop just out of the rain and we just sat there for a cuddle for a good 30 minutes. He just wanted to be held and snuggle into my arms. I looked for him when I went back last Thursday, but he'd been adopted and was gone. Not a big surprise as he was so sweet. Happy for him, a little sad for me as I was looking forward to seeing him again. Maybe I'll find another cuddler today - or i'll just brave the enclosure where two of the dogs only want to use my braid as a tug toy. That enclosure makes me feel like a superhero if I can survive cleaning it without losing any hair, clothing or body parts!
A bittersweet day at the shelter today. First - rain. A lot of rain. That meant a lot of cleaning and not a lot of walking. But I got my cuddles in with what I think of as the 'medium' puppies. There is group of six all in one enclosure, two podenco littermates and the rest a mishmash. The other puppy pen with the dozen or so min pin/bodegueros gets more attention because they are tiny (4-5 weeks) and adorable, but I like the older ones better. One is a little blue pit girl who is just to die for. I like to try to give her extra cuddles because I really wonder who else wants to cuddle a pit bull. Such a little sweetheart. Charlotte is doing aces. Her dead fur is finally all out and what is left is no longer nasty and greasy. Now it just feels like normal lovely mastin fur. Also she is not longer weeing blood, which is a big relief. She was due for her operation next week for her mammary infection, but it's been postponed as they discovered a second tick-born illness she needs to recover from. I actually think it's good that she has a little more time before her op, as she gets stronger every time I see her. I just adore her, as does everyone else who volunteers. To borrow a term from @SwampDonkey , we are all Charlotte's monkey butlers. Three new dogs came in today. One was absolutely stunning purebred chocolate doberman puppy - only six months old. The owner brought him because he said the dobie was scaring his two yorkies. Very unlikely as the dobie seems very afraid of other dogs, so they put him in with the most timid of the small dogs (min pins and bodegueros). Even in that pen, he's the most timid. But I think there's really reason for hope with that one. I was cuddling a sick little min pin in the same pen and the dobie came up to me and crawled under my legs. He wanted a cuddle too and was so gentle about it! I bet he'll be doing much better by the time I got back on Thursday. The big news is about Mr. Messi. Messi is my darling and the reason I came to the shelter in the first place. He is really just a big baby, only 11 months old. He was originally adopted from the shelter as a tiny puppy after being found alone in a field, but the family brought him back five months ago because he was "too stupid". Well, we all know that Messi is as smart as tack so the truth - I suspect - was that he grew to the size of mastin and that was a shock they weren't ready for...despite him clearly being a mastin cross pup when they adopted him. Sigh. Anyway, just last week, a Danish shelter volunteer put him on a Danish rescue group's website and he is already on reserve for a new family in Denmark! It's not a done deal as they still need to do a home check, but can you imagine Messi strutting through the streets of Copenhagen? I will miss him so much and have already had a big ugly cry over him, but I'll be so happy for him if this works out. So everyone cross their fingers that Mr. Messi will get his flying wings for a forever home. So without further rambling, here are a few photos! Oops, can't get the photos to post here, so will try a new post below...
Here's Mr. Messi looking regal... And looking very silly while trying to do his own version of 'play dead' for treats... Here's little podenco Max, Charlotte's pen mate who also goes on walks with us... And finally Ninja soaking up the rare ray of sun today. Ninja is the 'shelter dog' and the only dog who has free run of the place, both inside and out. No one can recall what her proper name is, but she earned "Ninja" because she could escape from anyplace they put her. Finally they just let her be the Queen of All She Surveys, re-christened her Ninja and now she is everyone's darling.
Max's coat looks very much like Chi's. It's somewhere between the normal short-haired and the wire-haired version.
Messi is indeed a handsome devil with a sweet soul to match. He's a hard one to let go as I did give very serious thought to adopting him myself. But I think if the Denmark thing works out he will be much happier in a more stable home environment than my weird lifestyle can provide and being the Doggie King of Copenhagen would suit him down to the ground.
Yay Messi! Paws crossed for Copenhagen! Does the shelter do home visits for all prospective owners, or just the overseas ones? Ninja is just glorious, what a dog. Poor wee Dobie pup, something in the milk ain't clean about that story. Hopefully he finds a perfect forever home soon.
I asked about this and was told that they don't do home visits for local Spanish adoptions, they just don't have the resources. This is one reason I'd be much happier if Messi went abroad as the Danish organization does do home checks. From my own fostering experience, I'm a big believer in home checks. Also I have to think that if you're willing to adopt a dog and commit to transporting him all the way to Denmark, you've got a good heart. I agree. From first impressions, I'd say it's more likely that the yorkies picked on him and not the other way around. But whatever the story, I hope he gets someone who takes some care with him and doesn't just stick him in a garden as a handsome guard dog. He needs some tlc, that's for sure.
Today I introduce Bodeguero Paul, who is Carbon's pen mate and came with him from the kill station to the refuge where they are now. There is something very special about little Paul and he and Carbon adore each other. Today was the first time I walked them together and while it was slow going, they had a ball. The only thing I begrudge Paul is that he taught Carbon that fresh cow patties are lip-smacking good and then I had to make sure both of them steered clear. I wasn't entirely successful and then..."Berk!" Anyway, I had a rather ick day otherwise and these two were the absolute bright spot in my day. Paul walks Carbon: More Paul being charming: Vampire Paul (aka Ultimate Bitey Face) And a close up version because I can't resist...
Hah I'm not surprised you made slow progress, Paul is not very focussed Gosh he's cute as a button, reminds me of Senor Toby/Alf. No wonder they perk you up
I will always be a big mooshpot for Bodegueros thanks to Toby. Paul is easy peasy in comparison, but yes - he has that special Bodeguero flair for paying attention to everything and nothing at all.
They’re great together! I love Carbon’s resigned expression towards the end of the first clip when he sits down with very much a look that says, “Well, we’re clearly not going anywhere...!”
