What does it take to save an animal? A Tale of Two Dogs

Animals live 15 or even 20 years. Shelters and rescues aim to adopt animals to "forever" homes, yet there is a constant supply of animals being surrendered to the same shelters and rescues. Clearly, something doesn't add up! In animal welfare, people tend to measure success by the numbers, taking a short-term view: an animal placed is an animal saved. This limited view is often blind to the pitfalls in our system.

Dodi and Outlaw are beautiful, intelligent, and personable dogs who spent portions of their lives on the adoption circuit before coming to Home for Life®. Both dogs began their lives in loving homes.

Like almost every animal at Home for Life, they lost their homes and then circulated through the animal welfare system before arriving at our sanctuary. Their parallel tales illustrate how the uncertainties of a system that is captive to a short­ term view has left dogs and cats like them invisible and at risk.

Outlaw when he first arrived at
Home for Life; broken, ill,
blind and desperate.

OUTLAW
A five year old Australian Cattle Dog, Outlaw lost his first home at three years of age when his elderly owner was dying of heart disease and cancer. He was surrendered to a shelter to face his fate with his favorite toy, a bucket he loved to toss around playfully. The shelter found a quick placement for the playful and friendly dog, referring him to a rescue specializing in herding breeds like Outlaw. The shelter counted him among the saved in their quarterly tally, and so did the breed rescue when they found what they thought was a responsible and good home for the dog.

Dodi at Home for Life

DODI 
A Harlequin Great Dane, Dodi lost her first home at just 6 months of age, when she was surrendered to animal control due to epilepsy. She was facing euthanasia, but luckily a breed rescue stepped in to save her. The rescue group found a match for her and sent her off to her new home. The new owners had other Great Danes and were committed to providing a good home.

Outlaw's "forever" home was sadly, just the beginning of an odyssey filled with suffering and heartbreak. Instead of providing a stable and loving home, his new owner soon handed Outlaw off to someone else. The shelter and rescue that had handled the adoption were unaware of Outlaw's new circumstances. As far as they knew, he was enjoying a full life with all the opportunities that a committed owner could provide.

Dodi's adoption also turned out to be temporary . Her new owners found that she was too much for their household. After a year, they chose to entrust her to their pet sitter, who said that she knew how to manage Dodi's epilepsy.

Outlaw's third owner proved as unstable as the previous one. Within weeks, Outlaw found himself back in the cage of another shelter.

Dodi's new situation was a quick failure. The pet sitter was soon looking to unload the young dog. She contacted Home for Life and complained that Dodi had uncontrollable seizures despite being medicated, that she feared adult men, and ran away every chance she got. Crated for periods during the day, she went to the bathroom in her kennel and would spin, creating a terrible mess. The pet sitter called Dodi unmanageable and said that if Home for Life wouldn't take her, then she would end up being euthanized.

Home for Life considered Dodi's long range prospects: the 18 month old dog had already been in three homes. Given her large size, her chronic illness, and her negative rap sheet, it would not be easy to find a stable long-term placement for her. It was a big commitment given her young age, but that's the special role that a sanctuary fills. Dodi was accepted at Home for Life.

Outlaw's magnetic personality and appealing looks made him easy to place. The shelter where he had landed was soon drawing up new adoption papers and sending him off to yet another "forever" home, recording the placement in their quarterly data as another life saved.

Dodi settled in easily at Home for Life and began to build a social life with some of the other big dogs at the sanctuary. Her epilepsy was quickly brought under control, and she stopped having seizures.

Outlaw, meanwhile, was once again dumped back in a shelter. His fourth forever home had proven as temporary as the previous ones.

Dodi at the Masonic Children's Hospital Thanksgiving Party
Shown with a young patient and Vikings Quarterback, Sam Bradford

Dodi thrived at Home for Life. She was enrolled in the Renaissance program, one of Home for Life's community outreach services, where she built a solid working partnership with a student from Boys Totem Town School in St. Paul, MN. This young man helped her to overcome her fear of men, and in return, Dodi helped her training partner to develop self­-confidence and important skills in leadership and teamwork . With the young man's help Dodi earned her Canine Good Citizenship diploma, certifying her for participation in Home for Life's many other outreach programs.

The Invisible Animals 

Dodi in her role as a therapy dog

Dodi is now ten years old. It's hard to imagine that a dog weighing over 100 pounds could be an invisible animal, especially one with two different colored eyes and a flashy black and white fur coat. But this well recognized, well loved therapy dog nearly fell through the cracks to her death at just over one year of age, unwanted, overlooked and as far as her rescue prospects were concerned -  invisible. With the stability and individual care she receives, she has been transformed from an unwanted, invisible dog into a valuable member of society. She is now able to "pay it forward" through our community outreach programs, Peace Creatures®. She is a well-recognized and popular therapy dog who has provided solace and joy for nearly 8 years to hospitalized children at the nationally renowned Masonic Children's Hospital on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis. Invisible no more, she is regularly invited to the holiday celebrations hosted by the Minnesota Vikings for pediatric patients at the hospital.

Outlaw, the eminently adoptable dog, continued to move from home to shelter to new home to rescue for many more months. In just two years, Outlaw went through NINE placements in three different states trying to find his forever home.

With each placement, he was counted as a life saved. Somewhere between the quick hand-offs, he developed diabetes that went untreated. At last he landed in an Iowa shelter a badly broken dog, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. He was emaciated and blind from untreated diabetes ... and no longer adoptable . The good news is that Outlaw reached Home for Life in the nick of time and will never be put at risk again. He has truly found his home. His diabetes is under control, and his pancreatic endocrine insufficiency is now being managed by supplements and a special diet. Somewhere in the national statistics of saved dogs and cats, there are 9 tally marks recording Outlaw's painful journey through the system.

Outlaw smiling again!

Outlaw is smiling once again, energetic instead of forlornly hanging his head in defeat and desperation. This summer, the cataracts (caused by the uncontrolled diabetes) will be surgically removed, and this 5-year-old dog will be able to see again!

Who was the dog that was truly saved? Was it Outlaw, who was adopted 9 separate times but never rescued? Or was it Dodi, who has lived in health, peace, and happiness at Home for Life for the past 9 years; who has developed her potential, built lasting relationships with people and other dogs, and  who has contributed to her community through Home for Life's Peace Creatures outreach programs?

What Does It Take to Save An Animal? 
Most people in animal welfare know the motto: "Saving one animal won't change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal." What many don't understand is that when an animal comes to a care-for-life sanctuary, our commitment is for the long haul. We don't turn over the animals through adoption, and we don't benefit from adoption fees, which often represent a huge portion of a typical animal rescue or shelter's annual revenue - as much as 35-90%. It takes more than good intentions and mercy to help animals who come to Home for Life. Lives once overlooked or fallen victim to indifference, meanness, cruelty and despair are restored. Our special cats and dogs have gone on to live happy and peaceful lives at our sanctuary, a testament to what can be accomplished when those who love animals and care about them work together!

At the time of our founding, almost 20 years ago, and contrary to current practice, Home for Life opened our doors to animals like Dodi, deemed to have little or nothing to offer. Today we still welcome cats who are feral or who are positive for leukemia. We welcome dogs even when they are unsocial or incontinent.

Today, in 2017, we care for nearly 200 dogs and cats at our sanctuary facility in Star Prairie, Wisconsin, located on 40 acres long the Apple River. Our dogs and cats have come to use from all over the United States and even other countries. With requests for help from all over the world, the need for sanctuaries has never been more urgent.

Outlaw playing at Home for Life

While Home for Life celebrates adoption of dogs and cats who truly find their "forever" homes, as a care for life sanctuary, Home for Life is uniquely able to help animals like Dodi and Outlaw when all alternatives are closed to them. Although these dogs seemed highly adoptable at points in their journey, that option became closed to them and recycling through the rescue system became pointless and detrimental. Their stories of hope, redemption, and finally a path to a new life would not have been possible without sanctuary, the Third Door, a Home for Life.

Why A Sanctuary

Some people have asked if a care for life sanctuary is needed in this day of animals previously overlooked for adoption finding homes. There are now stories of animals rescued and finding homes that would have never had a chance 10 years ago.  Is there a need for a care for life sanctuary like Home for Life anymore with so many rescues out there, and more animals finding homes?

In the animal welfare world, the adoption model is based on a marketplace paradigm - where animals are marketed and sold like any standard consumer goods - shoes, clothes, televisions and stereos, and cars. What many don't realize is that rescues and shelters derive anywhere from  35% - 90% of their annual revenue from adoption fees. For many dogs and cats, this marketplace model is effective in reaching a wider audience and potential adoptive homes. For others, like many of Home for Life's intakes, the model has failed miserably and put the lives of vulnerable dogs and cats at risk. It is for these dogs and cats that Home for Life was created.

Outlaw

Meet "Outlaw" a 5-year old Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog) who has had NINE(9) placements in his short life. He arrived at Home for Life just one month ago, on Labor Day 2016 - our volunteer met the shelter director of the Jasper County, Iowa Animal Rescue in Albert Lea, MN, south of the Twin Cities, then brought him to Home for Life.

He was born in Mesquite Texas on a farm, where he lived until age 3. When his elderly owner developed heart disease and cancer he was forced to surrender Outlaw to the animal shelter in Mesquite, Texas. This shelter had a good working relationship with a rescue, K911, run by a woman named Mary, who fostered out of her home, and who primarily focused on the working breeds - cattle dogs, border collies, Aussies. She is one of the heroes of the story, because if not for her, this dog would have been lost to the animal welfare "system," a victim through no fault of his own.

Mary's Texas rescue, K911, featured him on Petfinder and a young couple wished to adopt Outlaw as a companion for their other cattle dog, a female, They traveled to Texas from Arkansas and seemed like a good home - but their female didn't like Outlaw, so within 48 hours, the husband returned him. It was back on Petfinder for Outlaw; eventually his face captured the attention of another potential adopter: this individual was a trucker, mature, who traveled from Iowa to Texas on his route and really wanted to adopt Outlaw as a traveling companion and best friend. He drove his rig down to the foster home to meet the rescuer, and by all reports "seemed" like a nice guy, But ... appearances can be deceiving. Thankfully, the Texas rescuer had microchipped Outlaw, and insisted on keeping her contact information on the chip. Was she shocked and surprised when she got a call from the Jasper County shelter in the fall of 2015 - that's Jasper County IOWA - about a year after Outlaw's adoption, reporting that they had Outlaw. She immediately contacted his adopter, and this was no small feat - because ALL of his phone numbers which he had give the Texas rescue had been disconnected. Her original information on him was that he lived more than 50 miles from Jasper County Iowa so it was a mystery how Outlaw ended up at that Shelter. The Texas rescue tracked Outlaw's adopter down by extensive sleuthing through Google, locating his ex mother-in-law ultimately, who had nothing nice to say about the man, but who did give her his daughter's phone number. Leaving a message with the daughter of Outlaw's adopter, finally got the man to contact the rescue.

Outlaw today at Home for Life

He claimed that he had asked a friend to care for the dog, and apparently Outlaw had gotten away, and turned up at the shelter. But wait - there was a young man who had come to the shelter - NOT the trucker - claiming that Outlaw belonged to him, and with him he had Outlaw's vet records in hand, from yet another owner. (3 owners in play at this point) What?! 'The rescuer got busy making calls and asking questions - starting with Outlaw's adopter - and after the shelter talked with the young man who lived at home with his mom and was all of 21 years old (with 2 kids and a girlfriend) - the true story emerged: the trucker had sold Outlaw for $50 to a woman he knew, who in turn sold Outlaw, again for $50 to the young man. Outlaw escaped or wandered away from the young man's home. The Texas rescue director called and confronted Outlaw's adopter - the 50 year old trucker - with this information - and when faced with his "sale" of Outlaw and his lies, he hung up on her.

The Texas rescue, K911, was now out of business but nonetheless, Mary told the shelter she would take Outlaw back into her home and even offered to come to Iowa to get him. But the shelter had no recourse but to return the dog - the young guy's "property" - to him since he could prove the dog belonged to him.

Outlaw when received by Home for Life

When Mary of the Texas Rescue sent us the photos of Outlaw taken when she accepted him into her rescue from the Mesquite Texas shelter, it hurt the heart to see what he once looked like and compare it to the condition he was in when Home for Life received him - 9 placements and just over two years later.  (See the YouTube video from  the Texas shelter when Outlaw was admitted below:






Texas shelter youtube video of Outlaw below:

and More photos: )

It also hurts that he was abandoned to the fates with nothing but a bucket, and it was so hard to see the comments from Mary and the Mesquite, Texas shelter staff at the time of his surrender and their hope that he would be such a great adoption prospect and even excel in agility - and then to know what he went through and suffered - and through no fault of his own, given away again and again like a secondhand pair of shoes, or an old car.

Within a few months, in May of 2016, Outlaw was back at the shelter - this time because the young man's own mother turned him in - because the guy simply could not or would not take care of Outlaw. But now the dog was in terrible condition, emaciated, bony with a pot belly, It was
assumed sheer neglect was the reason, but veterinary work up revealed that Outlaw was an uncontrolled diabetic.

Unfortunately, the shelter's veterinarian was unsuccessful in getting Outlaw's blood sugars under control, and he became blind as a result of the uncontrolled diabetes. The rescuer, Mary of K911, now retired and not in business still faithfully sent contributions to Jasper County Animal Rescue to help with his care.

With the number of failed adoptions this dog has been through, passed around from Texas to Arkansas, back to Texas and to Iowa, sold (twice!) for what dinner for 2 at Perkins would cost, and now in frail health, the shelter in Jasper, Iowa asked Home for Life to help him. We spoke to Mary from the rescue in Texas shortly after Outlaw came to Home for Life to update her on his condition, and she is the source of his story up to the time he landed in the Jasper County Animal Rescue. She and everyone at Jasper County couldn't say enough about what a great dog Outlaw is - everyone is heartbroken about how this good dog has somehow fallen through the cracks again and again in his short life, and happy that he will now have a chance to have the home for life he has always deserved.

UPDATE:  Outlaw's diabetes is now well on its way to being controlled: he is on the correct insulin - Humelin N - and dose - 16 units twice a day.  We had a setback a few weeks into his rehabilitation at Home for Life, when it was discovered that he not only had hook worms, but also EPI and SIBO - Exocrine Pancreatic Deficiency and Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. No wonder he could not gain weight! We got to work with treatments for the worms and for the EPI and SIBO - both the diabetes and the EPI are chronic conditions for which Outlaw can be treated but never cured. But the hook worms and SIBO - can be addressed through worming and antibiotics and resolved. Just a month after arriving at Home for Life, Outlaw has gained over 8 pounds, and looks and feels like a new dog. He is on his insulin twice a day, and his blood sugar levels have stabilized. This care, along with enzymes and special food for the pancreatic insufficiency has restored his energy and happiness! Although Outlaw is still blind as a result of his diabetes, we hope to be able to obtain cataract surgery for him with a veterinary ophthalmologist at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital.

Above Outlaw playing with his bucket -- taken October 5, 2016,
30 days after coming to Home for Life

The before and after photos tell the tale - about how Outlaw was failed again and again by an animal welfare system which relies exclusively on adoption for all animals entering shelters and rescues. Nine placements and little more than two years after Outlaw was surrendered to a shelter by his elderly, dying owner, this young dog with personality and energy was left sick, blind and near death. Not every dog or cat will find a safe landing offered for sale - adoption - through the conventional animal rescue model, as Outlaw's story illustrates. Home for Life, a care for life sanctuary, operates outside of the marketplace paradigm, where animals are treated like standard consumer goods to be bought and sold. For our special dogs and cats, Home for Life offers a true home, where their health and faith in life are restored, where they are valued for the individuals they are, instead of the sale price they can garner, and where they will never be marketed, sold or given away again.

From Homeless to Home for Life: The Story of Rory

The Story of the year at Home for Life has been the rescue of Rory and her 10 puppies. A story that could have ended tragically instead has given hope and happiness well beyond the gates of Home for Life. 

On the morning of November 30,2014 on a cold and blustery winter morning (air temperature -3, windchill  - 25!) one of our staff members received an unexpected call at the gate. Home for Life's front gate has a call box so people can contact us up at the facility. A man's voice came over the intercom and said, "Hey! did you know there is a dog tied to your gate?!" He then hung up.

Rory's collar, the heavy hook that was used to chain her out and the new chain leash used

to tie her to our gate when she was abandoned

The staff on duty ran down to the front driveway to Home for Life's front entrance. There they found a starving, shivering, very scared and VERY pregnant dog tied to our fence.  On her gritty old collar- so dirty that the color couldn't even be determined- was a heavy hook.                                                  

What was interesting was that attached to the other part of her collar was a brand new  chain leash, with the tag still on, that had been used to tie her to Home for Life's front gate and fence. Our working theory is that a "Robin Hood" saw this poor dog's predicament; cold, starving, pregnant and chained outside with little shelter. This kind person freed her and brought her to Home for Life, knowing that we would take care of her. 

The dog was so frightened she would not walk up our long driveway, so we carried her.  Even with this extreme duress, she was still very gentle. She was a beautiful red color with soft brown eyes and ears.  We named her Rory after one of Home for Life's beloved paraplegic cats who lived at the sanctuary for  many years.

The next day, Rory visited our veterinarian who determined she was very close to delivering her puppies. Home for Life rarely has puppies let alone any pregnant animals at the sanctuary, so we had to quickly learn about all aspects regarding the care required for a dog who was about to give birth. The veterinarian found that her temperature was dropping- a sign that the delivery is imminent- and thought that she would give birth within a few days.

That very evening, December 1, Rory began pacing and became very anxious. We quickly prepared a birthing box- using one of the swimming pools that our dogs play in in the summer- and lined it with soft blankets and towels. Her first puppy was born at approximately 6: 30 pm that evening and 7 others followed  within the next 2 hours. Rory was very conscientious about cleaning them off and making sure they were nursing, but needed a little help from HFL staff serving as midwives for puppies 6, 7 and 8 as she was very tired. It's amazing she did so well in her condition and with the stress of being left at the gate in the freezing cold just a day before.

We thought she was done at 8 puppies, so left her to be quiet with her new babies. Upon returning just an hour later, we thought we were seeing things when there were 2 more puppies. We kept counting and recounting, but our eyes were not deceiving us. Rory had a total of 10 puppies: 7 brown like their mom and 3 spotted. 4 little girls and 6 little boys.

Rory was fed nearly 6 times a day in those first few weeks and cleaned her plate each time. She had to build her own health back plus take care of her 10 new puppies. We took great care of Rory, keeping her warm and well-fed. We supplemented her calcium (with TUMS!) and she did the rest. Fortunately all 10 puppies survived, and Rory was an excellent mom, keeping them immaculately clean and always well fed and content. 

Our puppies' weights were monitored every week to be sure they were thriving and all continued to steadily gain. By three weeks, we knew we were out of the woods with them and that they would all survive.   Once their eyes opened, and they could creep and crawl, we bought collars for each puppy. We used kitten collars- in 10 different colors- to help tell them apart. The collars had a safety latch so there was no danger of the puppy getting caught by his or her collar and not being able to get loose. 

When the puppies were 4 weeks old, it was time for their first official Home for Life portrait. They were not just a litter anymore but developing individual personalities as they became stronger and more active.  Photographer Mark Luinenburg captured the puppies and their mother Rory December 29, 2014.

Our hope  for each puppy was that we  would be able to find them a loving home where they would never face the harsh treatment and  neglect their mother had. Her life and those of her puppies could have so easily ended tragically, on the end of a chain, out in the  freezing cold. Instead, all 10 puppies survived, healthy and strong, and were eager to start their new lives. At age 8 weeks, we offered them for adoption along with a free spay/neuter, shots and microchip. Thanks to Fox-9 News, the Twin Cities local station, Rory and her  puppies were featured in a story aired January 9th here and on Fox affiliates in Michigan, Washington DC, Florida, Illinois and California!  The widespread interest in Rory and her puppies and their story of survival was a testament to people's longing  for good news and a happy ending.  

While they waited for their new homes, another adventure was around the corner for the puppies...

 PUPPY KINDERGARTEN!

After FOX-9  News aired a feature on Rory's dramatic rescue on their news program, Home for Life was able to find loving new families for three of her puppies. For  the remaining 7 pups, 2 girls and 5 boys, we wanted to do all we could to be sure they would make great companions when they did finally find their new families. They had the best food so they could overcome their tough start in life when their mother suffered with malnutrition while pregnant with them.  The puppies had their shots, and were housebroken - they  learned how to use both a litter box and a dog door to go outside. But we wanted to do more for them while they waited to find their new families. 

Home for Life was just starting the latest session of the  Renaissance program, a collaboration with the St. Paul School System and Boys' Totem Town of St Paul, MN.  Now in its 13th year, the Renaissance Program pairs younger dogs at the sanctuary with boys at Totem Town, a detention for juvenile offenders. The boys teach the dogs obedience with the goal of attaining a level achievement so the dogs can pass the Canine Good Citizen's test. The Home for Life dogs who have completed  the Renaissance Program  are then recruited for involvement in our community outreach programs, providing pet therapy to at-risk people of all ages in our community.

BY THE NUMBERS... 

In the Renaissance program, Rory's pups became part of our community outreach programs, Peace Creatures, where the love and care that Home for Life gives our animals is leveraged to provide solace and joy to at risk people of all ages-annually, Home for Life touches the lives of over 1,200 adults and 1,000 children and teens in our community through our  model pet therapy programs.

We had never incorporated puppies into a Renaissance session, but with seven little ones  who needed socialization and training, it was too great an opportunity to pass by. For the six weeks, our puppies traveled from Home for Life to Boys' Totem Town once a week to work with two different classes of kids- 20 students between the two sessions.  The kids  taught the puppies to sit, to come when called, to stay, the down command and helped the puppies  learn to walk on a leash without pulling- or chewing the leash! Besides learning puppy manners and basic obedience commands that will keep them safe and ensure they would be great  companions, the puppies received plenty of one on one attention and  lots of love from the students. It was so touching to see a tough teenage boy tenderly hold a tired puppy after the training sessions.

 What a win-win for the puppies and the kids in the the first "puppy kindergarten" of the Renaissance Program !!

Though it was time for the rest of the puppies to find their own families, it was certainly  tough to see them leave us.  

Home for Life did our best to screen potential adopters to find forever homes for the rest of the puppies.  Finding the right families for them was a challenge. Many were interested in the puppies because they were so cute but we wanted them to find forever homes, and not have them given up after only a few months or a few years.  The puppies- energetic hounds- would need plenty of  daily exercise and activity, ideally in a fenced area so they wouldn't follow their noses and wander away, or with owners who could devote  time to daily long walks. With their short hair, the puppies had to live in the house, as a part of the family, and not be  chained out on a stake or to a dog house as their mother likely was. They would  grow to be medium sized dogs and would have a loud baying "hound bark " like their mom so living in an apartment, a rental or close confines of a suburban neighborhood would not be a fit. We thought about sending them to a rescue or a shelter to be adopted out, but our staff had put their hearts into saving Rory and  her puppies. We felt their best chance to find the right home was with us. In the end, we were able to  find loving new families for a total of  8 of the puppies. The last two puppies continue to live at Home for Life for now. Rory, who was such a devoted mother, loves to have two of her puppies still near. 

On these summer evenings, she will often drag a dog bed out into the run so she can sleep outside and watch over her two puppies who have their own townhouse right across the driveway from where she lives in the main dog building. How sweet!  

 Even with all our effort to find forever, new homes for Rory's puppies, it's true that sometimes adoptions fail for a variety of reasons. The many calls and emails we receive each week reveal that many animals don't keep their homes. For this reason, Home for Life  put a safety net under all these puppies so  if their adoption failed for any reason, they could always be returned to us. No matter what the future holds, they will always have a home at our sanctuary. 

  As for Rory, at this time, our intention is to make her a permanent member of Home for Life, and perhaps train her in our therapy dog corps as part of our community outreach work. While several people emailed and seemed interested in adopting her after the news show aired, none followed up with the adoption paperwork and application. Before she came to us,  Rory had a "home" and they didn't treat her very well. She is lucky to be alive. As Cleveland Amory wrote in his book, Ranch of Dreams,  about the famed Black Beauty ranch, "It is not that we are selfish hoarders of  our animals. It is rather that so many of our animals came to us in the beginning, abused or ill used  that we do not want to take even the remotest chance  that such misfortune would ever happen to them again." 

  Who would have ever thought, on that  bitterly cold November morning when we found a scared, starving pregnant dog tied at our gate, that her puppies, born the very next day, would grow up  to give  so much? The story of their mother's rescue and the birth of her 10 puppies inspired people across the country. As part of Home for Life's Renaissance program, these little puppies, born of an unwanted, abandoned dog, have helped at-risk teens by giving them much needed love, a chance to express kindness and compassion and achieve a sense of accomplishment, maybe for the first time in their lives. And now, thanks to the teens' hard work and dedication, the puppies have become wonderful, well trained companions for the families who have adopted them.  

Saving the life of this one dog has impacted the lives of so many more- her 10 puppies, the many people hungry for good news and a happy ending, the kids who helped socialize and train the puppies and were helped in return, and the families that the puppies have joined. Their happy ending has  had positive consequences far beyond the rescue of one dog.  Instead of their lives ending on the end of a chain, on the ice in the bitter cold, Rory and her puppies have overcome this terrible start, because of your support, and will go on to have lives full of meaning and purpose- their story a testament to the power of good triumphing over  heartless indifference, cruelty and fear.

Whatever happened to River & Smokey?

Did you know that in the U.S., up to 90% of animals will lose their homes during their lifetimes? Most animals surrendered to shelters are just 2 ½ years old. Shelters and rescues work hard to find new homes for these animals, but only 24% of them get adopted each year. The adoption numbers for older dogs are much more grim, let alone for senior pets who are bonded pairs and hope to stay together. Statistics like these make clear how rare it is for a dog or cat to land in a stable, loving, lifelong home. Although older animals have a hard time finding a new home, age 8 is really middle age for an animal, who will still have half their life or more to live after that benchmark. But many shelters and rescues won’t accept a surrendered animal over age 8 or even age 6;they know that animal will be perceived as “old” by the prospective pet owner looking to adopt and will be difficult if not impossible to place in a new home. For an animal who is a senior and now surrendered to a rescue or shelter, there is the compounded trauma of losing their home and then realizing they are unwanted and likely not to get a second chance.

This spring, you may have read about two special senior dogs, one blind and one deaf, whose owner had lost his home after his wife died. He desperately wanted to find a new home for his boys, one that would keep the two dogs together. Their owner described how he acquired both dogs when they were just puppies:

“Smokey's mother was picked up by animal control when she was pregnant, so he was born into the +system. He came into my life when he was three months old. He turned blind about two years ago, but it hasn't stopped him from being a lovable guy. River was found floating down the Mississippi river, as a puppy. Hence, his name. They are both getting older, but are a great couple of dogs, and I so want to give them the opportunity to live out the rest of their days, together.

River and Smokey have been together since they were puppies. Now both age 11, the two big guys had become each other’s eyes and ears and relied on each other to navigate the world. Smokey, a collie/Doberman/Shepard mix, lost his sight about 2 years ago while River lost his hearing about the same time. Together since they were just about 3 months old, the dogs have forged a bond and are inseparable, depending upon one another to face the world: Smokey ears for River and River eyes for Smokey. Their story touched the hearts of dog lovers around the country, as their story went viral, and their owner desperately looked for a safe landing for his dogs before he lost his house.

The owner contacted Home for Life to help the dogs, but we were at capacity so, we asked him to hang on to them until his house was sold, in the hope we would be able to work them in a few months. But he worried that he was not providing the care and attention the dogs needed given his demanding work schedule and continued to look for a rescue to help his dogs.

We assumed that River and Smokey were going to stay with their owner until his house sold. Time marched on, and when we didn't hear back from the owner we lost track of the two dogs.

The next information we heard about them was about four months later, when a supporter contacted us via Home for Life's Facebook to see if we would take them. River and Smokey had landed with a local foster based rescue – Ruff Start Rescue of Princeton MN- and they were looking for a home for the two dogs where they could stay together. We will always be grateful to Ruff Start Rescue for taking Smokey and River in to their foster based program at this critical point. Had they not stepped up to help the dogs when no one else would or could, it is difficult to think what the outcome would have been for River and Smokey as older homeless dogs.

The Two Dogs with their former owner this winter 

The rescue assigned the two brothers to a foster home in Bloomington, and attained publicity via many news and internet outlets including KARE 11 news. 

On the feature story that aired on KARE11, the foster  pledged that Smokey and River would remain together forever whether that meant they stayed in the foster home or found a new adoptive home. Watch the Kare 11 video.

Unfortunately, this pledge could not be fulfilled when the foster home did not work out for Smokey and River. Smokey was alleged to have chewed some woodwork in the foster home, and then the foster accused the two dogs - who had been comrades and friends for over 11 years - of fighting with one another. She gave the rescue less than 24 hours to remove the dogs from her home. The rescue had no other foster homes available and had no choice but to put the dogs into boarding - in separate kennel runs.

Home for Life learned of the two dogs’ latest predicament after a volunteer from the rescue contacted us, recognizing that the dogs were deteriorating in the boarding kennel, losing weight and becoming depressed and despondent. They had no future and no prospect for another foster home let alone for adoption.  River was having trouble walking without pain, and there was talk of putting him down. Smokey was physically better off but was lonely and afraid, without his brother in the unfamiliar setting and unable to see.  We decided that the two older dogs deserved to have a safe and peaceful home -together- for their last years, and this time decided not to pass up the second chance to help them. The two dogs came to Home for Life late this summer.

It's hard to think of how alone an animal must feel when they lose their home: an animal surrendered by their owner or separated from them via circumstances is never more vulnerable, forced to rely on the kindness and mercy of strangers for their survival and any hope for a future. Animals who come into a rescue or shelter from the same household are often separated to make them more "adoptable”, where one of the individuals seems like an easier placement. This tactic to obtain a new home for one of the animals at the expense of the other who may be less appealing disregards the friendships between these family members. Now an animal has not only lost their home but their best friend as well, a blow they may never recover from, whether they find a new home or remain behind, unwanted.

Sanctuaries, as true homes to their wards, honor the bonds and friendships among their animals. Certainly having the opportunity to observe our dogs and cats over time has confirmed that animals form strong alliances and close friendships just as we do, mourn when their treasured friends pass away and rejoice when they are reunited with a long lost comrade. Animals have long emotional memories, and never forget their loved ones be they two-legged or four. Dogs and cats kept as pets seem to be valued only insofar as they have a relationship with a person but their friendships with other animals are just as important a part of their well-being and quality of life. Yet so many animals are socially isolated from others of their own kind and are very lonely even with attentive owners. Animals of the same species have an unspoken understanding, and those who are friends have an even more profound connection. We feel fortunate that, as a care for life sanctuary, we can provide a rich social life for our dogs and cats and the opportunity to foster the touching bonds between pairs of animals that have found their way to us.

Although their foster home claimed that they were aggressive with each other, River and Smokey have been well behaved at Home for Life and seemed relieved and grateful to be reunited. They have their own townhouse at the sanctuary. Both dogs needed and are now on medicine for arthritis, and they are so much more comfortable. Both have gained weight, and their coats are shiny and healthy. They both were recently groomed and look handsome and loved the “spa experience”.

New collars for the dogs: for River: hearts, for Smokey: hugs and kisses, both from Dogla of Gig Harbor, Washington

Now settled in at Home for Life, their  life at the sanctuary is nothing like the years they had with their family  but is just as fulfilling as they enjoy new found canine companionship, the freedom to go outside when they want, plenty of daily activity and superior food, vet care and grooming. The stimulation of the daily activity, exercise, and companionship from humans, dogs’ friends and many new experiences keep the dogs young at heart. Their life is much different than when with their prior family but the essential qualities that create a quality home for any animal are present at the sanctuary: loving care, a place to belong, companionship, safety and security.

River

Smokey

Home for Life believes a place can be created for animals that may be overlooked for adoption but who still can live a quality life and that these animals include the senior pet.  In theory, older animals are “adoptable” or “place able” but these definitions matter little to a dog or cat who can’t find a home and is out of options. An animal is not “adoptable” if no one wants them.    Older animals have the capacity to hope for better days ahead, and inspire us with  their ability to live in the present to make the best of all that is good in their lives. If they can enjoy any aspect of their life, those qualities are what they focus on. . Animal welfare needs to create safe harbors - sanctuaries- for senior pets which offer quality and loving care for those cats and dogs( and other animals too!) who want to live and can live even if the next chapter of their life can't be in an adoptive home.. Our senior animals know that each phase of life is precious and that a home can be defined in many ways.

You can meet Smokey and River in person at our upcoming Fall Gala, the Fancy Feast, November 19, 2013 at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Minneapolis. Our other special guest will be Temple Grandin.  More information and reservations are available here: http://www.homeforlife.org/events.htm

Thoughts While Shaving about Sanctuaries

Ed Note: the following article was written by Don Jones and appeared in Home for Life's Winter 2005 newsletter. Providing for beloved pets upon a caretaker's death is concern all petlovers share. Many of Home for Life's animals came to the sanctuary when their owners passed away and family or friends were unable or unwilling to care for them.

Don personally visited several life care facilities and shelters around the United States, including Home for Life. Based on his visits and observations, he suggests several criteria pet owners can employ when evaluating a facility. His article,even though a few years old, is more relvant than ever for anyone concerned about the fate of their beloved pets should they no longer be able to care for them due to disability or death.
_______________________________________________________________

About a year and a half ago I decided it was about time I updated my estate plans and create a living trust for the disposition of my assets after I died. Of particular concern to me was what would happen to my dogs. I had no relatives or friends who would take them, especially since there might be several and I wanted them to stay together. But just because I died I did not think it right that my dogs should die too (be euthanized or put to sleep). And yet that is what happens too often to an animal when its human dies or becomes incapacitated. No one wants the animal or will take the responsibility for it and thus it is turned over to the local animal shelter to find it a new home. This almost never happens, especially for an animal over three years of age. And so after a few days the animal is euthanized to make room for more discarded animals.

Thus I began a search for an animal facility that would provide lifetime care for my animals should I die or become incapacitated.

Giovanni, an elderly italian greyhound who had a close
call that nearly cost him his life: when his owner died. None
of her relatives would take him and he was nearly put
to sleep before a vet was able to refer him to Home for Life
Gionvanni 's photo taken at HFL by Mark Luinenburg
with Genevieve, and HFL staff member.

I started with a publication I had received several years prior entitled “2000 No-Kill Directory”. From this I compiled a list of potential shelters/sanctuaries that the listing said “Accepts Retirement Pets with Endowments” or “Care-for-Life”. From this list I deleted any facilities that did not have at least 50 dogs or that had not been established for a number of years since most animal shelters/sanctuaries fail in their early years due to lack of financial support, and then what would happen to my dogs?

I also contacted the American Humane Association (AHA) and, after discussing my needs, they sorted their extensive data base and provided me a list of organizations that had indicated “no-kill” and “sanctuary” on their application to the AHA.

Another source I used was the web site www.saveourstrays.com/nokill to obtain a list of such organizations by state. This web site also has links to some of the organizations.

Now I had names of more organizations than I could use practically and so began the process of whittling it down. I was only interested in sanctuaries, as opposed to shelters, so let me give the official definition of each:

Shelter: The term “shelter” means a facility which is used to house or contain animals and which is owned, operated or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or other non-profit organization devoted to the welfare, protection and humane treatment of animals. The primary goal of the organization is the adoption of the animals by third parties.

Sanctuary: The term “sanctuary” means a facility which is used to house or contain animals for the remainder of their natural lives in happiness, good health, cleanliness and satisfactory comfort thereby ensuring that the animals live a full and normal life, and which is owned, operated or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or other non-profit organization devoted to the welfare, protection and humane treatment of animals. An animal sanctuary does not include facilities that house or contain animals primarily for the purpose of adoption by third parties. Further it does not include organizations that euthanize animals at any of its facilities for other than humane reasons when the quality of life of the animal has deteriorated such that the animal’s pain and suffering are perpetual and irreversible.

For the first cut I eliminated those facilities that were listed on only one of the resource lists. Then I selected those that had web sites believing they would be the more financially secure ones) and reviewed the information provided on the web sites. But this was only partially successful since each web site presented the best picture of the facility and sometimes with limited specifics.

Now came numerous telephone calls to each of the remaining facilities. At first I was disorganized and thus obtained different information from each shelter or sanctuary contacted. Subsequently I generated a standardized list of questions to ask. Among them were:

• Where do the animals come from?

• Total number and types of animals and number that will remain for life
• Description of the facilities including animal containment or enclosures, heating and A/C, access to the
outside
• Description of location of facility and amount of land used
• Source of funding and major expenses
• Number of employees (full and part time) and volunteers

I also requested of each person I contacted, names of other facilities that might meet my needs, and I asked to receive a copy of their newsletter.

John, a supporter of Home for Life, had raised and shown standard poodles as a hobby but after he retired from the show ring, John wanted a canine companion to go on walks to get his exercise, and wanted to give a good home to a dog who might otherwise not get a chance. He adopted Candi from the Humane Society,when she was about 18 months old. John knew that as a large black, boisterous mixed breed dog who had already had two homes, Candi would not be easy to place if something happened to him. The year before he died (suddenly of a heart attack) John contacted Home for Life and arranged for Candi to come to us if something happened to him. Candi now lives at Home for Life where she has plenty of dog friends and space for her abundant, joyful energy. Candi is on the far right in the photo on the right.

Surprisingly what I learned from all this communication and literature is that there are almost no facilities in this country devoted to providing lifetime care of animals. Almost all are geared toward finding the animals a new home and do not voluntarily accept animals that are more than 3 years old because it takes 10 times the work to find a new home for an older animal. It looks much better on the balance sheet to say you adopted out 2000 animals in a year (even though they be the more easily adoptable young ones) rather than to say you adopted out 200 animals in a year (even though they be the harder to place older ones). Go into any SPCA or other animal shelter in your area and see how many dogs older than 3 years are on display for adoption.

The limited space goes to the easily adopted young ones. Some have no physical facilities themselves, instead using only foster homes.

Since some of the shelters/sanctuaries remaining on my whittled down list were within a days drive of my home, I decided to visit some of them (and it gave me an excuse to make a trip).What I found is that no matter how much information one thinks they have about an animal facility, an in person visit is absolutely essential to get an accurate picture of the facility and its operation. The web site, the literature and the information gathered by telephone present the facility in only the best light. I have since made 2 more trips to other parts of the country (except for New York and New England) and have visited 25 animal shelters/sanctuaries in 11 different states (CA, MO, NC, NE, OK, PA, TX, UT, VA, WI,WV) which I thought might provide quality long-term care for animals, and to educate me and satisfy my curiosity about animal facilities in general. Generally what I found confirmed that most do not have facilities or the capability to provide lifetime care for animals (even though they claim to be no-kill) and thus tend to be very selective and accept only those animals they believe are adoptable, the younger, healthy ones. They are shelters, not sanctuaries. In all my research I have found only a handful of true sanctuaries for dogs, 4 of which I have visited.

I found the people running all the facilities I visited extremely dedicated to the animals, putting in untold hours day and night, weekdays and weekends because after all this is a 24/7 job. But in too many cases they are one person or one family operations and I was concerned what would happen to the animals should something unforeseen happen to that key caregiver. Generally too they are not financial managers or fundraisers and thus the facility constantly struggles to raise the money and pay the bills. They want to care for every needy animal they come across without giving appropriate consideration to the resultant financial implications, and thus they may risk the care of the animals currently in the shelter/sanctuary.

Robin, left, with friend Kobi, a paraplegic cat came to Home for Life after
his owner was moved to assisted living by her family due to advancing
alzheimer's. Robin a cat with a wonderful temperment but
would have never found a home as an incontinent paraplegic;
Robin was shot with a beebee gun by neighborhood boys when only 2
years old. His owner had the foresight to enroll him in Home for Life's
Angelcare Program so that he would be safe and well cared for even if
her health did not permit him to continue to live with her.

Animals need daily human contact and some of the facilities were significantly understaffed in caregivers. Considering the daily work necessary for feeding, washing dishes, pooper-scooping, bathing and toenail clipping, transporting to veterinarian or elsewhere, et cetera, in my unschooled opinion a caregiver should be responsible for no more than 30 dogs. For cats it could be higher since generally they do not require so much constant and personal care.When you visit a facility, check some of the animals’ general health, look at the length of their toenails, try to get an estimate of the time each animal has human contact on a daily basis. Are the dogs walked daily or played with by either a caregiver or a regular volunteer, and if so, for how long.

Another factor that weighed into my evaluation of the animal facilities is whether the animals are housed alone, in pairs, or whether there was communal housing. Of course there are some animals that are aggressive or who want to be alone, and thus there can be a logical rationale for such a situation in limited cases, but it should not be the general rule. There was a German study that concluded that most social confrontations between dogs housed together were settled by the use of behavioral rituals, that keeping dogs in groups led to a significant reduction in barking, and that communal housed dogs were more human friendly and thus adopted quicker and returned less often. Single housing may be acceptable for a limited period of time, but it is not a situation I would want for my dog for the rest of his/her lifetime. Dogs are social creatures and want regular contact with their kind.

Two other factors went into my evaluation of the animal shelters/sanctuaries. The first were the buildings themselves. Some of the facilities kept the dogs outside all the time with only an igloo or covering made of scrap lumber even in cold winter (Virginia) or hot summer (southern California) with little, if any, shade. Others did not have air conditioning (Oklahoma). In a few cases the inside of the building was dark and dreary with insufficient windows; I wouldn’t want to work there, much less live there for the rest of my life. It is recognized that each state has its own minimum requirements for the care of the animals, some being much stricter than others. But I was reviewing these facilities to determine where I would want to have my animals live when I was no longer able to care for them.

The second factor is whether or not the animal had ready access to an outdoor area. I found it was much more common for cats to be able to access a screen room than for dogs. Again it somewhat depended upon whether the facility was a shelter or a sanctuary. As a shelter where the stay will hopefully be short, direct access to the outdoors is not so important. But for long term or perpetual living I think it is imperative for the dog to be able to go outside at his/her leisure.When provided, dogs generally were able to access either an outdoor concrete pad (typically 4 feet by 8 feet) or a large yard (either covered with small stone or grass/dirt). Obviously the latter is the better for a dog. It allows him to have the room to get exercise as he wants and needs it, and if the fencing between runs is underlined with concrete, he will wear down his toenails while walking on it. Some will be concerned with fence fighting, but most shelters/sanctuaries I visited did not find that a major problem. In fact the dogs seemed to use it as a form of social interaction. You may be told that the dogs are walked daily. Don’t believe it or the walks will be very short. This will require more people (and associated cost). And what about in bad weather?

During this review process I discovered 3 books which provide much useful information and which anyone interested in providing for their animal when they are no longer able to, should read. These books are:

“All My Children Wear Fur Coats” by Peggy R. Hoyt

“PerPETual Care” by Lisa Rogak
“When Your Pet Outlives You” by Congalton & Alexander

Each of these books provides extensive information on such subjects as finding a caretaker both temporary and long term, estate legal planning including wills and trusts, trustees, financial planning for the pet, backup plans, references to related articles and internet sources, and lists of some long term care sanctuaries. I have visited only a few of them and therefore cannot endorse them or vouch that they continue to have a suitable long term care program. Some of them require a significant endowment contribution before they will accept your animal into their facility, and thus you must contact them directly for more information. I have taken the liberty of abstracting from these books and other sources the names of some sanctuaries. You can obtain a copy of my chart at my email below.

The Humane Society of the United States is one other resource that can provide some perpetual care information. Finally the veterinary schools at Purdue University, Kansas State University, and the University of Minnesota have endowment programs that will find a new home for your animal, but they do not have care facilities themselves.

In conclusion, then, if you are seeking to make lifetime care plans for your animal should you no longer be able to care for them, first read one or more of the books referenced above. Then decide if you are willing to have your animal adopted into another home. Contact your local SPCA or other animal rescue organization to see if they can help. If instead you want to locate a lifetime care sanctuary, contact those in the attached list to determine if they can satisfy your needs. Visit the facility you select; I cannot emphasize this too much. And take pictures and notes lest you forget some specifics. I have hundreds of pictures of the 25 shelters/sanctuaries I have visited. From my own visits and observation I think you will find any of the following sanctuaries, in alphabetical order, deserving of your serious consideration for perpetual care of your dogs or cats. This list is not intended to be all inclusive or deliberately exclude other worthy sanctuaries which I might not have visited.

• College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University,College Station, TX (Stevenson Companion

Life-Care Center)
• Home for Life®, Star Prairie,WI, (Angel Care Program)
• SPCA of Texas, McKinney, TX (Life Care Cottage)

**Don Jones worked for over 25 years in private industry on military electronics, primarily in the Boston area. He has also taught 7th-12th grade mathematics. Over the past 40 years, Don has enjoyed the companionship of as many as 5 dogs at a time, primarily shelties, one of whom earned her CDX in obedience contests, where she usually came in first. Don is retired and moved to the mountains of North Carolina about 12 years ago. You can reach him at donsdogs2004@yahoo.com.