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