The foster speaks . . .

This summer I adopted my first dog from TLAC.  While I was there, I picked up a “Keep Austin No-Kill” bumper sticker.  I decided that I would join TLAC’s foster program in order to help keep Austin no-kill.  Shortly after I completed my foster application, I signed up for the Project Starfish list-serve.  Within a few days, there was an announcement about a feline family of six who needed out of the shelter.

Of course I got them!  When I picked them up, TLAC loaned me a crate, gave me food, instructions and meds.  I was immediately thanked for fostering by wonderful Sarah Hammond, the foster coordinator.  The feline family had kitty colds and eye gook and were they were shy and/or spitting at me.  I had to administer meds and food so in no time, momma (Sydney) and three of the kittens came around.  They were so stuffed up they needed to be nebulized a couple times a day.  I moved the “friendlies” from the bathroom to the guest room.  The two kittens that were still shy got hand fed chicken flavored baby food 4-5 times a day.  Within 2-3 days, these two were also ready to move to the bedroom.  It was time for the fun begin.

The family was now well enough to begin rough-housing.  It had been a while since I had kittens and having a whole litter of kittens was really fun.  Play, eat, play, play, sleep.  They kept resting and recovering and eventually they weighed 2 lbs.  Uh-oh!  It was time to get fixed at Emancipet and get ready for Kitty Palooza.  Everyone came through and got shiny new collars.  The kittens were playing within a day.  Why did I ever worry about them?  Emancipet did a side-spay since Sydney was still nursing.  Who knew?  Sydney chewed through her stitches and needed surgery again the next day.  She got sent home with an e-collar, causing her to freak out and run into furniture.  Eventually, momma calmed down, wore her e-collar like a good kitty and learned to cope. 

Back to kittens!  It was time to get them to Kitty Palooza for adoption.  I was a little sad.  However, I figured it was part of my job description to get them healthy and adopted.  Day one, saw three of MY kittens to their new homes.  Day two, MY only boy got adopted, and later, I was there to witness MY favorite kitten (that I was secretly hoping wouldn’t get adopted) go home with a wonderful family with three daughters.   I left my crate at the shelter and went home to focus on momma.  

Sydney ate, came out for pets, but mainly slept for two days straight!  I guess having five kittens is tiring.  I took some pictures and posted a listing on Craigslist.  I posted three times and weeded out some responders.  Eventually, I got a really solid introduction from a person who introduced me to herself and her furry family.  I asked for references.  Everything checked out!  We made an appt. for a meet and greet and even though Sydney was shy, the adopter was still interested.  Kathy, the new mom, made an appt. to pick up Sydney on Friday after work.  Since then, I have had many updates from Kathy and Whimsy, a.k.a. Sydney.  It is great to know that Whimsy is in a great home and that she is loved.

The new mom speaks:   

I have always been involved in rescue and several of my pets have come from TLAC. So it was natural that I would turn there when looking for a new family member.  I love the Manx look and personality.  I fell in love with Syndey, now Whimsy, when I read about her on Craigslist.  Like so many, she became a mom too young, and then all her kittens got adopted, leaving her waiting.  I prefer adopting adult animals.   I corresponded with her foster mom, went over to meet her, was totally smitten, and arranged to pick her upon a Friday.   It has almost been too good to be true. Her laid back personality made it easy for her to blend right in with my 4 small dogs, and two cats.   She is very loving and follows me around like a dog, a classical Manx trait. We will never know how she ended up at the shelter, but it was very fortunate for my family that she did.   I look forward to years of companionship with her.

Written by Emily Wilson and Kathy Russell

Madden's Story

There actually was another Madden for about three days.  A Great Pyrenees looking puppy almost came home with us, but our landlord was on vacation and did not confirm approval swiftly enough with the shelter.  When we got all of our paperwork in, the adoption volunteer informed us that another family had adopted "our" dog.  I remember her saying something about we should be happy that he went to a good home with four little boys to play with.  Secretly, I cursed my landlord and those four little boys who had "MY" dog.

I think it took a few days for me to get over that, during which I did not take my daily after-work visit to the shelter.  I had some specific characteristics that I was seeking in our next dog, specifically a big and fluffy dog that would allow our golden to be the alpha.  Someone that could play with him, but also not compete for control or have any desire to retrieve his tennis balls.

When I finally got over missing out on the very rare Pyrenees pup, I decided to revisit the shelter and for the first time I went to the non-adoptable side where the found dogs are first held to be reunited with owners or unclaimed ones are being tested for behavior to move to the adoptable side.  And there he was in the very first pin.

He looked just like a Bernese Mountain Dog, which is a favorite breed of mine, but the label listed him as a Saint Bernard.  He was so very depressed that he would not come to the fence, and seemed to lay in a manner as if he would melt into the floor and disappear.  He was adorable, but he was not adoptable yet. I could not even play with him, because his demeanor had not yet been tested for safety with visitors. I talked to the agent about him, and discovered that he had been found by a family which had posted flyers in their neighborhood to try and find the owner.  After two weeks, they just could not keep him because they already had two dogs and three cats.  The notes on his file said that he got along well with all the animals and was a very good dog, but they just had too many pets already.  However, he had not had his behavior tests yet.

I came to visit him the next day, waiting for him to become adoptable and I happened to be there when the three evaluators came to check on him.  He was like a rag doll and looked to them with pleading eyes of depression.  I thought how hard it must be for him to go from a house of pets and family to a pin alone.  The evaluators filled out some forms but there were other tests needed.  I had to wait another day.

I went back the next day, because there is no way that a family of four boys were going to beat me to this pup.  And he was approved for adoption!  But, I had to wait for him to be neutered.  We got permission for my husband to come and visit and for us to spend time with him in his pin.  He stayed in the corner, but my husband kneeled down and called for him to come.  To this day, we still talk about that moment when this skinny pup came over and rested his head on my husband's knee and looked to him with pleading eyes. There was such clear communication, "Please help, I want a home." I teared up then and can do it again today, five years later.

So finally on the the 4th day, he came home with us.  Ever since then, he and our other dog have been best friends.  We take them on trips, to restaurants, and regularly to the park.  They are the perfect team, even when playing ball, because Madden never tries to get the ball.  Instead he plays defense, and tries to prevent Coach, the golden, from getting it.

I still have the photo from the website, showing him as a found dog.  We put it in a Christmas ornament and every holiday we retell this story and give thanks to the Town Lake Animal Shelter for helping us find him. I don't think he ever even was posted to the adoptable section of the website, because he chose me from the very first day that I saw him.  And, really, there was only one Madden that was meant for us.

Senior Bonsai finds a SAVIOR

I have been happily fostering Bonsai (a sweet, affectionate 16 YEAR old love) for several months.  She has been to a few Desperate House Cat Adoption events, but doesn't do well in that situation.  She is THE perfect kitty.  I had let it be known that I was committed to keeping Bonsai for the rest of her life if she was not adopted and pretty much thought that would be how things would turn out, which was great with me!

Last Thursday I received an email from Mr M., a retired gentleman who lives in Laredo. He and his wife were looking for an older feline companion for his wife, who has cancer.  They looked on the TLAC website, focusing on older cats, and found Bonsai.  The Desperate House Cat poster and beautiful photos of Bonsai caused Mrs. M. to fall head over heels in love with Bonsai immediately!  Mr. M. emailed TLAC.  A staff member gave him my email address, which got the ball rolling.  This husband and wife KNEW that they wanted Bonsai without even meeting her.  It was love at first (internet) sight!  I used the Foster to Forever adoption process, so all of the paperwork was taken care of easily and quickly.  Mr. M. and his son drove to Austin all the way from Laredo Saturday morning and we met in the Davenport Bldg. at 11:20.  Bonsai didn't quite know what to think, so was understandably frightened and apprehensive.  Mr. M. didn't hesitate for one second.  Bonsai is the cat that he and his wife wanted!  After just a few minutes, with prompt service from the office staff, I was able to give Mr. M. all of the paperwork that he needed and all was complete in short order.  He was ready to take precious Bonsai to her forever home.

Lo and behold, Mr. M.'s son had ridden to Austin with his dad from Laredo because he was thinking of adopting a kitten.  After looking in AB, with the wonderful volunteer showing us all of the kittens in that building, we went to SB.  She showed him only 2 kittens and he fell absolutely in love with little Rein.  It was so heartwarming.  He has always been fond of cats and now that he was settled in his law practice and his own place, he wanted a cat of his own.  Once again, the staff made this process as speedy and painless as possible.

Rein and his new daddy!

There were so many "goose bump" moments throughout this process.  It is a PERFECT example of how every single person played such an important role in these 2 adoptions from folks who live 3 hours away--Maggie, who creates the Desperate House Cat posters; Alli and Rebecca, who take so many of the photos; the staff member who got Mr. M. in touch with me; Sarah, Joanna, and Carla who post helpful documents on the Project Starfish website; the volunteers who help "hands on" in the cat buildings; the staff who finalize the adoption process; the person who keeps the website up-to-date and user friendly--and everyone in between.  It is truly a community effort.  Without such helpful, giving people, I just know that things wouldn't have ended up as happily and stress-free for this family from Laredo or for Bonsai and Rein.

The Website that saved Bonsai

I heard from Bonsai's (now called Sophie) new family this morning.  She has adjusted very well and is giving lots of lovin' all around!  Rein is having a ball in his new home, plus entertaining his new owner!  A very, very happy ending for all involved.  Thank you, thank you ALL! 

The rewards of taking a risk!

Becoming a foster is one of the best and most rewarding experiences I have ever had. Being a busy college student, I wasn't sure if I'd have the time or money to help out in the foster program--but I'm glad I took the time to do it anyways! My first foster kitties were girls found at Threadgills. Since I love Threadgills, I figured it was meant to be, and I decided to take two. Bringing them home was nerve-wracking--They were a little bit sneezy and very scared, and my Siamese rescue Miso is finicky and I wasn't sure how he was going to react. As the girls grew and became healthier, Miso started to let them cuddle with him, and play.

 All three became fast friends, and watching the girls grow and come out of their shells was so amazing. I decided to name them Yoshi and Zelda, after my love of video games. I found an adopter quickly, and after one short month, they were in their new home. Saying goodbye was so hard, but so heartwarming. The family that took them was so nice, and I know they are in good hands. In short, I can't wait to foster my next kitties when the time comes. Saving a life by fostering or adopting is one of those things that you'll never regret. I encourage anyone who is interested to contact TLAC and get started!"

Kittens Before:

Kittens After:

"Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it."-Dalai Lama

Lane Garlock

Charlene Needed a Place to Crash

TLAC has meant a lot to me over the years. It's where my family got our first dog, Cindy, who we called Puppy her whole life, when I was 7. After growing up and getting out into the real world, I found that I needed some stress relief after teaching middle schoolers all day so I started volunteering at TLAC in Oct of '03. Flash forward a year or so and after deciding that teaching middle school wasn't for me, I was looking for a new career. Volunteering with the dogs at TLAC made me realize how much I loved working with dogs and so off to school to become a dog trainer I went.

After graduating and getting a part time job at a local kennel I kept busy the other 20 hours a week volunteering with the TLAC dogs and helping to make revisions to the dog program. Somewhere in all that my husband and I adopted a lab mix, Maggie, and a black cat, Sushi, to be friends for our resident boxer, Osha, and cat, Buster. Unfortunately the new additions didn't get along so good with the resident dog and cat at home but we made it work and while the dogs never did get along, the cats now like to sit next to each other, without touching, most of the day.

As I got busier at work, training dogs 40-70 hours a week, I found myself migrating back to volunteering with the cats. They need so little attention in comparison to dogs and it wasn't a continuation of work for me. All they want is a little attention or lap time and then they go back to taking their nap. I always wanted to just bring a book and sit in a group room with a cat on my lap for an hour or so!

I was suckered into fostering my first and only cat recently. Charlene had been hit by a car and broken both of her back legs. She needed to be on crate rest for at least a month after her first surgery on one leg and after that we'd see if she needed surgery on the other leg.

It was a perfect fit because we'd lost our boxer earlier in the year and I thought it'd be great to have a kitten to love on but who couldn't interact with our other pets who really didn't want to add another cat in the house. Charlene was a charmer. The minute you walked into the room she'd start purring and keep it up the whole 15-20 minutes she had out of her crate a day for snuggle time. Turned out that she didn't need the second surgery on her leg and she found her forever home a whole lot sooner that we'd originally thought, too bad for us! She never stopped purring and it was so hard to give her up that I think she'll be my only foster story.

I continue volunteering and will be forever grateful that I can give back to the animals when they need it most. I've met a ton of great volunteers through the years as well. I hope to pass on the joy of volunteering to my future children and continue helping animals at the Austin Animal Center for years to come!
Jennifer Rockenbaugh

Successful Adoption Story!

Hello!
  Just wanted to shoot ya'll a quick update about Fiona aka "Buffy".  We adopted her about a year and a half ago, and she is just an absolutely amazing addition to our family. 
Fiona/Buffy at the shelter:

We have two kids Dakota 6 and Willow 2 and she is  so sweet and gentle with them!  I've attached a couple pics to prove it!  Maybe they will help to disprove some of the "myths" about Pit Bulls :  ) 

We are currently looking for a playmate for her....we're adopting "Chancellor"!

Chancellor at the shelter!

Anyway,  we just wanted to thank you all for everything you do and for giving all of these amazing animals a second chance  :  )

Sincerely,
  Don, Eva, Dakota, Willow  & Fiona!

Purebred "Munchkin" Cat finds love!

My first adoption from TLAC was in 2011, which is amazing since I have worked as a tech since 2008. I adopted a male munchkin, until then I did not believe in the "myth", I had always heard of this breed, but had never seen one. Until one day, while doing a health check on all the cats in the stray cat building, I looked up and saw a kitty bunched up in the back of his box and thought that he looked sad. So I put on a pair of gloves and reached in to pet it, and to my surprise he had the tiniest legs I had ever seen on a full grown cat. Even though he had been at the shelter past his stray time, no one had placed any interest in him. 

I had a firm " no more animal's rule"  in place, but decided then and there that I wanted that kitty. It just so happens that my husband had ridden into Austin together that day, and when he picked me up at work that afternoon I took him to meet the "Bitty Kitty" as he is now affectionately called, and the rest is history. 


Whenever he is introduced to new people I am always asked " Where did you get such a strange kitty?", and I proudly say at TLAC. It helps get the message across that we do get full bred cats and dogs and they do make it up for adoption at the shelter.

Desperate No More!

A Desperate Housecats success story that particularly inspired me, as an adult cat foster, is the story of one of my oldest adult cat fosters - Poppyseed.

Poppyseed is a tiny (six pounds, full-grown!) long-haired solid black kitty, estimated to be about 10 years old, who was turned in to Town Lake by a neighbor who’d found her on his doorstep when some people moved out of his apartment complex. Poor Poppyseed had been outside so long that her long fur had become matted – she looked like a mess! But she is such a sweet and affectionate and peaceful kitty that she was selected for the wonderful Desperate Housecats adoption program. I read her plea and just had to help.

After fattening the sweet little girl up for a week in a quiet, safe laundry room, the foster ccordinator arranged for a wonderful groomer to make a housecall and shave off all her matted fur. She was a new cat! Free to roam around the house in her new buzzcut, Poppyseed cuddled right up on my lap, and played with my own two male cats as if she’d known them her whole life – what an adaptable little cat! She was ready for her first adoption event after just three weeks of R&R. But wow – did she look funny!

Despite her funny fur, Poppyseed’s sweet and loving personality drew many admirers at the event. Within just a couple of hours, a family who was at the Center adopting a new dog (also and adult!) came in to see if they could find an adaptable cat to keep their new dog company. Poppyseed was perfect.

-- Jayne

Mobsters Steal Heart of Dedicated Foster Mom

My biggest reward as a kitten foster came when I took the biggest risk.  Our foster coordinator posted availability for two kittens from the “mean streets of Austin” she dubbed “The Mobsters.”  She described them as hissy and spitty and really needing attention.  Later it was revealed that they also had, well, digestive issues.  What could be more “adorable” than two kittens you can’t touch but will have to clean up after repeatedly?  Uh...  The poor guys sat there and had to be reposted.  I still didn’t speak up. 

I went down to the shelter a few days later, hoping for some cute easy kittens out of a large batch brought in by a hoarder — but brought home The Mobsters.  Oh, my.  Sure enough — I couldn’t look at them without them hissing and spitting at me.  They were skinny, sick and scared to death.  But I knew that their lives depended on someone being up for the challenge.  

I spent a very patient two days staying near them, frustrated that I was barely able to touch them.  Fortunately they were ravenous and were so distracted by food that I was able to touch them gently each time I fed them.  I scruffed them and they allowed me to pick them up, but ran away after I put them down.



Then — on the second night: miracle.  I scruffed one (“Domino,” dubbed for his all white fur marked by three round black spots), and held him close, then relaxed my hold.  He did not try to escape!  Instead, he suddenly nuzzled me, as if to say,” Oh, thank goodness you are here!  Where have you been all my life?”  Something resembling a weak purr tried to escape from him.  I think that motor had not run in a very long while.  This sudden display of affection moved me to tears.

Ace, the little tuxedo kitty, was a harder sell.  But a couple of days later, they both allowed me to hold and cuddle them — when they weren’t busy playing tag.  After that, they were my little buddies!  They stayed close by all day long, playing at my feet and cuddling when they wore out. 

I nursed them through their digestive issues and then through a week long bout with the dreaded URI.   They ate like mad and developed little pot bellies.

They also LOVED my dog, Jazzy, and could not get enough of him.

After three weeks, they were fat, healthy, and very sweet.  I took them back to the shelter, confident they would be adopted quickly.  And another stroke of luck for them — they were adopted by a wonderful family who vowed to spoil them rotten.  And given that their last cat lived to the ancient age of 25, I have no doubt about that!

Ace and Domino were two reformed Mobsters who stole nothing but my heart.

Oscar's Journey

Within two weeks of moving to Texas I came down with a major case of homesickness.  I knew I needed to keep myself busy to settle into my new home, and had always wanted to get a dog of my very own.  So I found myself down at Town Lake Animal Center one Sunday, "just to look."  When I saw my furry pooch Oscar, I knew I wasn't going home without a new best friend of the canine variety.

Oscar had been adopted as a puppy from TLAC in 2007. Here is a picture of him and his littermates.

When he came in as a stray in 2009, shelter staff did their best to reunite him with his adopters but every lead simply turned up a dead end. After over a week, they never came to the shelter to look for him. Oscar had been abandoned

After I brought him home and we settled into to the swing of things, I couldn't stop thinking about the rest of the dogs that I had left behind at the shelter.  When the nagging feeling didn't subside, I signed up to become a volunteer.

It's been almost two years since I've signed up to be a volunteer at Town Lake, and I can honestly say that it is just the beginning of a great journey.  Being a part of this community has been so much more than providing relief and attention to the dogs waiting for their forever home.  It has become my passion - being a voice for the companion animals in our great city, and providing them with a second chance when they need it the most.  It's tough work, and it can be an emotional roller coaster, but every time I see one of my foster dogs bound into the car with their new owner and hardly glance back at me, I know it's more than worth it.

So, I’d like to personally thank my little mutt, Oscar the Dog for showing me an opportunity to become a part of something so important, meet some great and wonderful people in Austin, and get to spend some time with some really great pooches!

(Attached is a photo of Oscar from his recent therapy dog graduation from Divine Canines!)

Regards,

Sarah Herman

A snot slinging good time!

About a year and a half ago, I was ready to adopt a new cat.  Town Lake was the only place I considered going, because adopting at TLAC really does save an animal’s life.  On the website, I saw a picture of the cutest cat in the world, so I went in to meet him.  His location was noted as ISO-1, which I learned was where staff and volunteers care for the sick cats.  After looking at all the other animals, I got taken over to meet this little guy.  He looked at me with big blue eyes (one all infected and gooey), rolled over to ask for a tummy rub and I fell in love.  Frankie is now the king of my house and the kitten of my heart. 

Frankie! Who lost his eye to an infection but us still so very loved!

When I was ready to start volunteering about a year after I adopted Frankie, working in ISO-1 was something I was very interested in doing because I was so grateful to the volunteers who had worked to get Frankie well.  I got a crash course in administering breathing treatments, monitoring eating habits, force feeding cats that have stopped eating, and record keeping.  The ISO-1 volunteer group is responsible for special care for as many as 20 cats at a time that have upper respiratory infections.  Shelter life causes URIs to spread quickly through cat buildings.  Having a unit like ISO-1 makes us able to save hundreds of cats a year.

Kitties getting a nebulization treatment at TLAC

I expected to enjoy working with the cats, and I expected it to be rewarding to see cats get well and move on to happy adoptions.  It has exceeded my expectations, though.  I hadn’t realized that there are so many wonderful cats in the world, and I’m grateful to get to spend time when they need love and care the most.  There’s not much better than hearing the name of a cat that I helped nurse back to help get called over the P.A. because it’s being adopted. 

What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy the people that I work with.  Every day that I’m at TLAC, I get to work with the caring staff.  I could never have imagined the amount of work that the vets, vet techs and animal care staff do to care for these poor, miserable kitties.  I love also that they solicit and respect the thoughts of the volunteers about the condition of the cats.  The volunteer team is wonderful as well.  I’ve made a few extremely good friends who encourage and inspire me with their humor, sensitivity and dedication. 

The other day someone stopped me in the shelter’s parking lot to thank me for volunteering.  My response was “Oh, no!  Don’t thank me!  I’m so lucky that I get to do this!”  I really am lucky, even on the days that I’m up to my elbows in canned cat food and cat snot.  It’s the best volunteer job I could imagine.

  

Desperately Sweet Pitty Momma and 4 Tiny Puppies

Sometimes I just get a sense that the posted family is meant for us. That’s how I felt about this family from Red Rock who had been found by the side of the road. Up to this point in our fledgling fostering career, we had only hosted cats and kittens. I was hesitant about our ability to take on dogs and puppies with three dogs of our own, two of whom were senior citizens and one of whom was struggling with cognitive disorder. Could we do it? You bet!!! Far be it from me to turn my back on Pitties in need. We are a Pitty-partial family. Our youngest is an APBT who we couldn’t be more in love with or more proud of. So…off to the shelter for more Pitties!

But these weren’t ordinary Pitties. These were Pitties with contagious sarcoptic mange and serious worms and big, bloated bellies. These were practically hairless Pitties. These were Pitties who were so sweet and lovable that I wasn’t sure we wouldn’t join the ranks of foster failures!  

My family came home with a small arsenal of medications. I had to write it out for myself to keep it all straight. After getting them settled, I headed to the store. Raw, pureed pumpkin for diarrhea or constipation, plain yogurt with live cultures for intestinal strength, and Vitamin E and C for immune building. I immediately started them on a semi-raw diet. I should have bought stock in ground turkey! I even finely chopped raw kale for some greenery. My own dogs joined me in the kitchen twice a day watching me fill five bowls with my culinary delight wondering if there were any leftovers.

Since Mom’s skin was in the worst, scabby shape, I added zinc to her diet and rubbed her down with Vitamin C oil with lavender every day. She loved the spa treatments and willingly submitted to my homeopathic efforts to combat the mange.

One of the puppies was behind the 8-ball right from the start. We did everything possible to help him turn the corner and thrive, including separate nursing time with mom where he didn’t have to compete with his siblings and syringe feedings of Pedialyte to boost his fluid levels, but in the end the TLAC vets decided that it was in his best interest to let him go. We had “Mijo” for one week, and we were devastated to have to say good bye so soon.

All three puppies and mom have since found homes, but I think about them all the time. I have loved every single foster animal that has spent time in our home, but this family really stuck in my heart. We worked so hard to get them healthy and adoptable. “Emmy Lou” was a role model to all mothers, and the babies were so much fun to watch. It was a complete labor of love, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Bunker's Amazing Story!

I became a first time adopter from TLAC this year as just before Christmas, 2010, I lost my 8 year old husky.  Friends and family encouraged me to wait and grieve, enjoy the freedom of sleeping in mornings and my time being my own.  Admittedly, I was enjoying it, but after a couple months passed decided it was time.  Initially I was overwhelmed with options, between TLAC, APA, AHS, breed specific rescues, etc.  Decided to focus on TLAC and had many fits and starts where I think the TLAC adoption counselors thought I was incapable of making a decision or not serious, but they were so patient, answered my multiple calls and emails, never made me feel bad for putting a hold on a dog, then releasing it, and so on.  Throughout several weeks of almost daily visits, there was a German shepherd mix in an adoption kennel that seemed hopeful but used to being ignored.  The kennel info sheet might have scared people off; he was a 5+ year old stray, heartworm positive, intact, in dire need of a dental, with a nasty case of hookworm.  The adoption counselors told me that he hadn’t had any interest after a month in the shelter; volunteers said he was the kind of dog often unnoticed since he was a little bigger, a little older and looks like lots of other mutts.  

I felt sorry for him and would take him out during my walkabouts but never really gave him serious consideration.   Then one day I visited and there was a different dog in the kennel; turns out he had been moved to quarantine due to kennel cough.  Poor dog couldn’t seem to catch a break and I decided he just might be the one.  So, after a few more fits and starts and a terrific evaluation by a canine behaviorist, Bunker, formerly Gabriel, A591920, came to his forever home.  It’s now been almost 6 months.  He’s healthy, happy and thanks to the great programs at ATA, has successfully completed heartworm treatment and teeth that once told a story of a tough life are now pearly white.  Bunker's new life is outings to dog parks and pet friendly stores, the occasional day at the office and this Christmas he'll get to experience winter in New England. A member of an informal neighborhood dog group, he's becoming Mr. Social and is a fixture in our living room window seat ,  with  his canine buddies coming  to the window or door to greet and rub noses as they walk by the house with their owners.   While every now and again there seems to be a little bit of inner turmoil of to run or not to run when he's had the unplanned opportunity, something click that regular meals, soft beds, treats, and belly rubs are much nicer than living as a stray. This is definitely an adoption success story and we both thank TLAC for all they do for the animals of Austin!

Making it up for Tubbs

Tubbs became my dog when he was hit by a car and his owner decided that they did not want to pay for his medical care.  I begged my sister to help me take Tubbs to the vet and with her support Tubbs was all fixed up and mine from then on. 
As a student working for pennies it took me months to save up for his first vet exam. Having no previous pet owning experience I had never even heard of heartworms and of course Tubbs had them.  I was angry, sad, embarrassed and guilty all at once because there was no way I would be able to pay for the treatment.  Every time he would look up at me so sweetly I’d apologize to him in my head for not being able to do more than hope that he would be negative within a year of dosing heartworm prevention.  In the face of his fight with heartworms, at age 8 Tubbs was diagnosed with stage V lymphoma. All I could do at that point was give him steroids. Although difficult, I will always be grateful for that last week I got to spend with him. 
I can't explain how hard it was for me to say goodbye.  My gut gets tight even now as I write about it.  He brought so much happiness to my life and all I could do was hope that my best efforts as pet parent were enough to return the favor.  I told him as he lay motionless on the floor that I would be a better pet owner the next time around.  I promised him…

That was 6 years ago.  Making good on my promise to him I started by working at a non-profit vet clinic where I learned a lot more about proper medical care for pets.  I regularly fostered and still do.  I adopted both of my dogs Betty and Lala, and I am proud to report that they are happy and healthy.  I’ve even used Big Betty as an education tool for a classroom full of 3rd grade Brownies.  Thanks to her they now know that adoption means saving a life and heartworm prevention/testing is vital. 

Here I am now, currently working at TLAC.  Despite being one of the most difficult jobs I have ever had, I love what I do.  I am proud to be here in Austin where we are making a true effort to become a no-kill city.  The goal itself seemed impossible just a couple years ago.  With grand efforts by those in the animal welfare community and the hard work of shelter staff I see a light at the end of this tunnel.  Until then, I am still here making it up for Tubbs.  I began working in animal welfare because of him.  Who knew it would become something that fit me so perfectly? Maybe he did.

Thank you to my Bubbahs for helping me become a better pet owner and an animal advocate.  Love ya.

Volunteering Changes Lives!

I began actively volunteering at TLAC almost four years ago because I lived in a tiny apartment that didn't allow dogs and I was desperate for a "canine fix". Volunteering has been such positive experience for me despite the fact that my heart was badly broken twice when dogs I'd fallen in love with were euthanized. People always ask how I can volunteer at the shelter and not be totally depressed. I tell them that for many animals, the shelter is the best life they have ever known - consistent meals, humans being kind to them and (FREE=) health care. After a tough day on the job, nothing beats hanging out with adorable animals who desperately want your attention. I have volunteered with aid organizations in many developing nations and can honestly say I have never felt as needed or useful during my many volunteer experiences as I have at TLAC.

Taking TLAC's Trail Dogs on runs around the lake is the main reason I have now run two marathons! Helping the pups burn off excess energy motivated me to keep running for far longer than I was naturally inclined, so I owe my marathoning to them.


"JR", adopted from TLAC!

In November I finally succumbed to the charm of a shelter pit bull mix and adopted him. I am an extremely satisfied customer!

(The attached photo is a picture of TLAC alum Lizzie and I after a run).

Sasha finds an angel

The Way Home

By Joyce Martin

December 2007

I saw you through the chain link fence so sad and all alone

I wondered if you’d come to me as I offered you a bone

You slowly backed away from me not sure of what to do

And then you found the strength and courage that I had seen in you

I took you from the kennel even though you were afraid

Trusting me that I was there to make sure that you were saved

We walked a bit to see if you could keep up with my pace

But not so sure you would by the worried look on your face

We found a quiet place to sit away from the barking and noise

At first you would not look at me but then you heard my voice

You sat there so quietly as I stroked your matted fur

I think you saw the kindness in me even though you were not sure

I took you home with me and gave you your first bath

You ran and shook and were so silly you made me smile then laugh

I knew there was a happy dog underneath the mats and dirt

And all it took was words and kindness for you to become alert

So now you have a safe place to rest until you find a home

And soon the right family will come along to call you their very own

The tears will come softly as I see you walk away

But in my heart I know that you are safely on your way

Be happy my sweet foster dog your dreams have finally come true

It’s time for me to go again to save another like you