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The Gabbs Dogs
Last May, Dama Louise Wirries passed away unexpectedly, left no will, and her family had to sort out the details of her estate more or less unaided. The scenario is nothing new, with the exception that her estate happened to include 144 dogs on a ranch in Gabbs, Nevada; one was pregnant, later bringing the total to 149. Further complicating the matter was the fact that the property was a rental. Wirries' last wishes, while not put into writing, were that her dogs all be euthanized, because certainly no one could give them the level of care she had provided.
That level of care included flimsy pens constructed with light gauge welded wire, houses made of hay rolls where more dominant dogs kept the others from coming inside, and for most of the animals, no human contact whatsoever. Many of the dogs were running free, or going from pen to pen at will. While the first 70 or so dogs on the ranch were spayed or neutered, as more dogs arrived, Wirries lost control of the situation and uncontrolled breeding began to take place, resulting in inbred puppies and an ever-growing, impending disaster. Only two things separated the nightmare in Gabbs from most other animal hoarding cases, that the dogs were not starving, and that Wirries' landlord and her family, most notably her niece, Linda Bailey, stepped in to ensure that an end came to the situation and the dogs found new homes. Euthanasia for 149 dogs was out of the question.
Bailey called the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, current home to the pit bulls confiscated from Michael Vick. They were unable to take all the dogs, but through their contacts with other animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States and California-based United Animal Nations, two organizations specializing in emergency sheltering, they were able to ensure that all of them got another chance.
Over the following months, the dogs went to no-kill shelters and foster homes a few at a time, and about a month ago, UAN took the 32 least social dogs to a temporary shelter in Reno, Nevada. There they were given individual attention from UAN volunteers at "Camp Reno", and one by one, the dogs came around, and were able to leave the shelter for adoption or fostering. By February 20, only a few dogs remained -- the ones that were going to need more time and a lot more patience before they would ever trust a human being.
There were Herbie and little Abel -- no one had been able to touch them since their arrival at Camp Reno, and Abel was so wily he hadn't even been successfully vaccinated. Itsy and Tippy were skittish girls that could be petted a little, but had a very hard time relaxing with people, and weren't making much progress. Then there was Dixie, who had simply "shut down"; she barely ate, barely moved, and didn't react to human contact, the overwhelming stress 'turning her to stone'. For these five, special dogs, typical shelters or foster homes were not going to work, so United Animal Nations called Olympic Animal Sanctuary to seek permanent placement for them.
Steve (and a documentary film crew) drove all day and most of the night through intense fog and blizzard conditions to get to Camp Reno. Once there, Steve took a few minutes with each dog to get a feel for their individual personalities and challenges to their socialization. He was able to pet Abel for a few minutes -- something no one else had succeeded in doing. One volunteer said that Steve's visit was the first time she'd ever seen Dixie prick up her ears. The dogs were loaded up and brought back to Forks. Here, they'll undergo rehabilitation at their own pace, and eventually be integrated into a larger pack. In their first few days at Olympic Animal Sanctuary, the Gabbs dogs have already made progress, especially Dixie and Abel. Steve's looking forward to getting them socialized so he can have his living room back, but he also knows that authentic, lasting rehabilitation takes more than a few minutes and a few jerks on a choke collar -- it takes time.
More on the way? Let's hope it's a false alarm, but Dixie appears to be pregnant, and a phone conversation with Linda Bailey confirmed that it's a strong possibility. Our vet will examine Dixie this afternoon and give us the verdict.
New lives, new names: Dogs don't distinguish between consonant sounds the same way we do, and the names Tippy, Itsy, and Dixie (especially the latter two) sound too much alike, so before they learn their names and things get too confusing, we need to come up with new names for the girls, and probably for Abel as well, whose name sounds a bit like one of our other boy's, Caleb. Check back for pictures of the Gabbs dogs, and once you've seen them, you can email us your ideas for their new names.
Posted on February 26, 2008 | Link
Toby and Cooper
The dogs appear to be pit bull/Rottweiler mixes, but they are most likely a mix of several breeds, and may have different fathers; street dogs rarely produce litters from a single father. "Spike" had been hit by the car, but upon closer inspection, the injury to his left hind leg was not life threatening if he received veterinary care. "Copper" had a large abscess on his right cheek and a smaller one on the top of his head. Both boys were very afraid of men, so Steve spent a few hours gaining their trust; Copper gave him a fairly serious bite on the hand for his trouble, but he was able to get the dogs into the truck and take them back to the Sanctuary. They both went into surgery the next day: Spike had a tendon repaired and a drain installed in his leg; Copper had a drain installed in his cheek and the mass removed from the top of his head. The mass looked at first like a sebaceous cyst, but it was discovered that it had a stalk beneath it and quite a bit of compacted hair inside it, so it was sent out for biopsy. It is not expected to be malignant.
Steve likes to give the dogs new names to go with their new lives at Olympic Animal Sanctuary; Toby seemed like a more suitable name than Spike for a dog with such a sweet face, and Cooper was just a typographical error on his rabies certificate, but it suits him. Both boys will recover from their surgery before they are neutered; they have slept a lot so far, no doubt relieved to be out of danger for the first time in their lives. The brothers are making good progress and coming out of their shells, but a long history of violence makes them non-adoptable, and separating them would only add to their trauma, so they will remain at the Sanctuary for life. Toby and Cooper have already become friends with little Lupe, Ginger, and Lily, and over the next few weeks they will be gradually integrated into pack life, culminating after they are neutered, when they can be accepted by the other males. (Even the dogs don't put up with un-neutered males around here.)
Battle-scarred and traumatized after so many years of abuse, Toby (blk/tan) and Cooper (brindle) thought the camera was a gun until Steve left it on the floor and stepped away for them to investigate. These boys have a long way to go, but they're already making great progress, and loving human attention for a change.
Posted on January 6, 2008 | Link
Charlie
Charlie doesn't like to sit still; this is the only picture of him that turned out.
Posted on November 28, 2007 | Link
Halloween Crow
Steve observed a small crow being attacked by several other crows on Russell Road, and it became apparent that the bird could not fly. Steve and two volunteers captured the crow and it was transported to Greywolf Veterinary Hospital in Sequim for treatment. No injuries were found, and it is unknown why the bird was being attacked, but it sustained damage to its feathers that made it unable to fly. The crow appears to be otherwise healthy and will be sent to Northwest Raptor Center for rehabilitation.
Posted on November 1, 2007 | Link
Micah
Micah is a quiet, sensitive two-year-old, but he is settling in well at the Sanctuary. He gets along with dogs, especially females, and enjoys running around the yard, sniffing and marking his new territory. Steve is spending a lot of time with him, helping him get comfortable with his new surroundings, and accustomed to new experiences, like riding in the truck, and interacting with pushy pit bulls.
Wolves and wolf-dog hybrids are extremely popular in the United States; it is estimated that up to 100,000 of them are born in captivity in the US every year. Despite their popularity, they are not well suited to lives as pets. In the case of wolf hybrids, breeders have no control over which wolf traits and which dog traits the offspring will inherit, and there are no guarantees as to the resulting animals' temperaments or how well they will cope with domestic life. In most cases, wolf-dogs maintain a strong hunting instinct, and they eventually learn to kill smaller animals if given the opportunity. They also tend to be great escape artists, either by digging under, jumping over, or simply chewing through fences. This makes them a poor choice for a pet, and a major liability, in areas where there are cats, small dogs, livestock, or children.
At Olympic Animal Sanctuary, our fence is eight feet tall with 45-degree top arms to prevent animals from jumping or climbing over the top. To prevent digging under, we placed an 'apron' of buried fencing mesh around the perimeter of the yard. And in case of chewing, we use a special high tensile fencing mesh with a higher breaking strength than the heaviest chain link, and even if an animal does manage to bite through a wire, the fence won't unravel like chain link, so the dog (or wolf-dog) would have to chew through several wires to escape, not to mention the cedar boards on the other side of that. Frequent perimeter inspections are conducted to check that no damage has been done to the fence, and strategic plantings ensure that as time goes by, the yard will become increasingly escape-proof, as trees and bamboo prevent access to the fenceline, and their roots make digging out virtually impossible.
Are you prepared to spend thousands of dollars on fencing and landscaping, endless hours on behavioral conditioning, and provide an appropriate, safe, pack framework for a wolf hybrid, not to mention complying with zoning, building codes, and animal welfare laws, and dealing with concerned neighbors? Few people have the time or resources for that responsibility unless they're willing to make it a full-time job. If you think you can handle it, we suggest spending some time volunteering at an animal sanctuary before you take the plunge and find you're in over your head. If you still think you can provide an appropriate home for wolf hybrids after that, maybe you should start a sanctuary of your own -- there is no shortage of wolf hybrids in need of rescue, and instead of buying them from a breeder and perpetuating the animal welfare crisis, you can save them from euthanasia, or worse. But unless you're willing to make it a full time job for the rest of your life, or at least until retirement, please, please find another way to have animals in your life; these animals need your total commitment.
Micah relaxing indoors
Posted on October 27, 2007 | Link
Clyde
Clyde was only six weeks old at the time of his rescue -- too young to be away from his mother, but there was no other option. He was reasonably healthy, with the exception of a tapeworm infestation so severe that the worms were actually crawling out of his anus and up onto his back. He was treated for the worms, and is now doing well.
Clyde's litter mates are a perfect example of the problem with "free to a good home;" it may not seem like marketing, but it is, and it markets to people's impulses. People take home puppies and kittens without thinking it through, where an adoption fee might have deterred them long enough for their better judgment to kick in. The other problem with "free to a good home" is that the term "good home" tends to be highly subjective, and in most cases the quality of the animal's destination is never verified. Some owners are not financially or psychologically capable of caring for a pet; some are not allowed by their landlords to have pets; some are simply looking for animals to abuse. Dog fighters routinely use "free to a good home" animals as 'blood bait', or in the case of pit bull puppies, they may be trained to fight. While the person giving away the puppies or kittens may have the best of intentions, the reality of the situation is that few people are equipped to find good homes for an entire litter, and the animals' fate is left to chance. The best option for placing puppies or kittens into good homes is to turn them over to an animal rescue organization or a humane society; these organizations can screen potential adopters, require that the animals are spayed or neutered before adoption, and follow up on the animals to ensure they are being cared for properly.
Thinking about letting your dogs or cats have a litter? Please don't do it! It is our stance that as long as we are euthanizing millions of unwanted pets every year in the United States alone, the worst thing people can do is keep breeding more of them. Even if you can find wonderful homes for all of your puppies or kittens, think of the shelter animals that could have been adopted instead. For every puppy or kitten you sell or give away, there's one in a shelter somewhere that didn't get adopted, and was killed by lethal injection. It is true that puppies and kittens are a joy, but that joy comes with too high a price. We urge all of you to spay and neuter your pets; you'll help combat pet overpopulation, and your pets will also live longer, healthier lives.
Posted on October 25, 2007 | Link
Feral Cats
Steve and a volunteer trapped five feral cats at Forks Mobile Home Park; the park is infested with cats, which destroy property, knock over trash cans and spread garbage around on the ground, and continue to reproduce unchecked. Two adult cats and three kittens were trapped, along with one pet cat that was released. The kittens will stay at the Sanctuary, where they are currently being treated for respiratory infections, and learning not to fear people. The adult cats were spayed/neutered and released.
Sterilizing and releasing feral cats is a proven method of reducing feral cat populations over the long term; when cats are euthanized or relocated, new cats simply move in from the surrounding area and the population is not impacted, but when the cats are released after sterilization, they continue to defend the territory against newcomers, without producing any offspring. Gradually the population declines; there will always be a few cats in the area, but the population will remain small and manageable.
We hope to be more involved in feral cat spay/neuter/release projects in the future, and have discussed making it a regular part of the Olympic Animal Sanctuary's activities.
Posted on October 25, 2007 | Link
Chow
The chow did very well at the Sanctuary for about a week and a half, but then Steve located the owners and hesitantly returned the dog. It turned out that he had escaped the same morning Steve found him; according to his owners, he had chewed through metal siding during a thunder storm. This did not explain the long-term wear on his teeth, the greasy, matted fur, or the fleas. The owners expressed concern that the dog would be too cold without his fur, but said they could not keep him inside because he "hates cats." Steve had already exposed the dog to cats and found that he really liked them, but simply didn't know how to behave around them, and if they ran, he chased -- the same response almost every dog has.
We can't steal animals from their owners, even though sometimes we'd like to. It was clear that this chow was not being cared for, but legally he had to be returned. We will try to keep track of the dog and make sure that he does not return to the same state of neglect he was found in, but there may not be much we can do without an animal control officer in the city of Forks.
It was heartbreaking to return the chow to the people that took such poor care of him; we hope that we can follow up and ensure he is better cared for in the future.
Posted on October 18, 2007 | Link
Mikey
Mikey is a case of a good natured, totally adoptable pit bull that truthfully doesn't need to live at the Sanctuary, but with so many pit bulls in need of homes, and so much misunderstanding about the breed, there are few options, so we decided to keep Mikey here, rather than letting him drift from one home to the next, or end up being euthanized in an animal shelter somewhere. He's part of the family now, and he's not going anywhere.
The 'nature versus nurture' debate is one that often arises when discussing pit bulls, with one side claiming that the dogs are bred for aggression and violence and can not be taught anything else, and the other claiming that environment is the sole factor in a dog's behavior. While proponents of the breed insist that the dogs are bred to be loyal companions, not killers, their own argument defeats the 'environment only' stance -- if a dog can be bred to be loving and loyal, then certainly it can also be bred to be violent and aggressive. Several of the dogs at Olympic Animal Sanctuary are mentally unsound as a result of their genes, and no amount of rehabilitation will completely reverse the effects of generations of irresponsible breeding.
That said, the vast majority of pit bulls are not naturally vicious, and they are no more territorial than the average herding dog. Environment is an important factor in the dogs' temperament, which is why with careful conditioning a pit bull can make a loving companion, and on the other side, why dog fighters torture their dogs to heighten their aggression and fine tune their 'fight or flight' response to stress.
We do not recommend pit bulls for homes with children; their single-mindedness and unique physical attributes make the occasional 'slip-ups' that all dogs have potentially more severe. In other words, all dogs bite under the right circumstances, but the way that pit bulls bite is a little different and can be more serious. But for those with the time and space (and no small children), and the commitment to animal welfare, a spayed or neutered pit bull might be the perfect companion, and animal shelters all over America are full of dogs like Mikey. Consider adopting one if you're able; you'll be saving the dog's life and enriching your own.
Click the images to enlarge.
Mikey at home with the pack -- the morning grazing and sniffing ritual.
Posted on October 10, 2007 | Link
Lupe
After about twenty minutes of talking quietly to the dog and giving her some beef jerky, Steve was able to get a leash onto her without being bitten too badly, and she was off to the vet around the corner for shots. She met the other dogs traveling with him without incident, and made the trip back to Washington with no problems.
Lupe is a feral dog, or a 'pariah dog,' which means, depending on which scientist you talk to, either that she is the descendant of domestic dogs that reverted to living wild, or she's the descendant of wolves that never took the last step into domestication -- wild dogs that have lived on the fringe of human society for thousands of years, eating our leftovers and picking through our garbage. In the southern United States, pariah dogs are often coyote hybrids as well, and a dog living in the west Texas desert almost certainly has some coyote ancestors.
Lupe is small, weighing only about twenty pounds; she is a little underweight, but she is eating well now that she's out of the truck and on solid ground at the Sanctuary. Despite her size, she is getting along well with the other dogs, and even though she is a wild dog, she has quickly taken to human contact, and would prefer to spend most of her time sitting on someone's lap. When she's not demanding attention, she loves to run around the yard, and she can really move!
As soon as she has settled in completely and her weight is where it should be, Lupe will be spayed and microchipped; she'll never have to scavenge for a meal again, and she'll have all the socialization with dogs and people she ever wants.
Click the images to enlarge.
Lupe loves to run.
Lupe (left) and Isabella
Too fast.
Posted on October 1, 2007 | Link
Gull
Steve and some of the dogs were at Hobuck Beach on the Makah reservation, where two young men were up on the rocks with a pellet gun. It was unclear what they were shooting at, but a short while later the dogs found an injured gull in the shallows. The bird had a small amount of blood on its leg, but may have had more injuries that were not apparent. The gull was taken back to the Sanctuary for the night, and an appointment was made at Greywolf Veterinary Hospital for the following morning, however the bird did not survive.
Posted on August 23, 2007 | Link
Injured Deer
Steve was on his was to Port Angeles to trade in a Honda Civic and pick up a Ford pickup he bought earlier in the week. About fifteen miles north of Forks, he saw an adult mule deer lying on the side of the highway; her head was up, but she seemed dazed. He pulled the Honda over and approached the deer, who did not react to his presence even when he touched the back of her head. She had most likely been hit by a truck, but had only a few scrapes to show for it. Steve got her onto her feet and pulled her across the highway, and put her into the back seat of the Honda -- not the best vehicle for transporting a deer, but it would have to do. He drove her to Greywolf Veterinary Hospital in Sequim, where she received medical treatment and is expected to make a full recovery under the care of Northwest Raptor Center.
Posted on July 13, 2007 | Link
Gary
Steve found a black cat in Bogachiel State Park, and determined that he did not belong to any of the campers there. No missing cat posters were found in Forks or the surrounding area. The cat was very friendly, and seemed to lack any fear of human beings; he was not a feral cat, and looked like an easy meal for coyotes. He also had signs of an old injury involving a few broken ribs that have healed and do not seem to cause him any discomfort.
Because the Clallam County Humane Society is overloaded with animals, as are other local rescue organizations, Steve elected to keep the cat at the Sanctuary. 'Gary' is a little testy with the other cats, but he is slowly coming around. The dogs quickly learned to leave him alone. He loves people, though, and enjoys climbing on the cat tree or relaxing in the window where he can watch the dogs from a safe distance.
Posted on July 3, 2007 | Link
Kittens
A woman was giving away kittens in front of the Forks grocery store; Steve was unable to convince her to take them to the Humane Society and let them handle their adoption, but seemed to make some headway in terms of encouraging her to have her female cat spayed. Steve took one kitten back to the Sanctuary.
Update: Cleo is getting along well with the other cats at the Sanctuary, and thriving on her new, all-natural diet.
Posted on June 30, 2007 | Link
Sparrow
Steve nearly ran over a sparrow in the middle of the road near the Sanctuary. The bird was in shock, probably from being hit by a car, but there were no apparent injuries. He picked up the bird and allowed it to recover in the van while he did some shopping, and released the bird later that day. He observed the sparrow flying, eating, and bathing in a puddle.
Posted on June 11, 2007 | Link
Another Petco Turtle
Another turtle came in from Petco, this one missing a few toes and part of his tail, making him undesirable as a retail item. We want Petco to stop selling animals, but we also know that isn't likely to happen, so we're willing to maintain a working relationship with them if it means that we can get the occasional reptile or bird off the market and into an appropriate living situation.
You can urge Petco to stop selling animals -- write to their corporate headquarters and tell them that their philosophy on adoptions for dogs and cats should be extended to reptiles, birds, and small mammals, too. Email Petco at AnimalsFirst@Petco.com, or call them at 1-888-824-PALS.
Posted on May 30, 2007 | Link
Critterhaven Iguanas
Yesterday two green iguanas from Critterhaven, a farm animal sanctuary that is closing in Sequim, WA, were relocated to Olympic Animal Sanctuary's new location in Forks. The move went smoothly and both animals are adjusting quickly to their new view. Both iguanas are eating well and enjoying their leafy greens and vegetables, as well as some new things they may not have had before, like cactus. They'll remain in their old cage temporarily, but we're looking forward to building room-sized enclosures for these two big guys. Once those are built, we'll be able to accept female iguanas, which can share the enclosures with the males after they've been spayed.
Still think an iguana would make a good pet? Think again. Iguanas need a broad variety of produce for proper nutrition, it's expensive and it's not always easy to find. They are messy, and their enclosures must be cleaned daily. Older males are often aggressive; they whip their tails and can deliver serious bites -- this is one reason so many of them end up in rescues. If you plan to keep males and females together, you may be in for a surprise when your male gives the females so much 'attention' that he ends up injuring or even killing them. An artificial iguana can be a surrogate target for the hormonal male, but if the females aren't spayed, they will still breed. And don't think you'll be able to sell the babies -- the market is flooded, not to mention the time and effort you'll put into the whole mess will far outweigh any potential profits. And get this -- juvenile iguanas, particularly captive bred ones, often waste away and die because they lack beneficial bacteria that they obtain in the wild by eating the feces of adult iguanas. Are you prepared to procure iguana poop for your babies?
And these are just a few of the issues with iguanas that are being cared for properly; now imagine the issues that arise from improper care, which is what the vast majority of captive iguanas receive.
We recommend that if you want a pet, you adopt a dog or cat from your local humane society. If you want a reptile, consider volunteering for a reptile rescue organization in your area first -- learn what captive reptile care really entails, and if you're still interested, start a small reptile rescue in your home, and keep animals only if they fall within your skill level, and only if you can provide them with lifelong care.
We believe that wild animals should stay wild, including all reptiles, but when that's not possible, captivity is the next best thing, so long as the animals are cared for properly in an environment that far exceeds their basic needs. We oppose all buying, selling, trading, and commercial importing and exporting of reptiles, as well as all captive breeding, except in cases of critically endangered species that are bred by legitimate conservation organizations for release into their native habitats. Many people claim they're breeding reptiles and other animals to preserve the species, but most are not part of any legitimate conservation program, and are simply breeding for profit and using conservation as an excuse. Don't be fooled.
Posted on March 18, 2007 | Link
Ginger and Lily
Steve received a call from the Director of the Friends of Forks Animals about two pit bulls that had been running at large, killing poultry. Her neighbor had sent her sons out after them with BB-guns, and at least one of the dogs had been shot with a BB. Steve found the dogs that night but was unable to catch them. He later talked to the neighbor and learned that she had purchased shotgun ammunition and was planning to kill the dogs if she could catch them in the act. Calls had gone in to the Forks Police Department and the Clallam County Humane Society, so these two dogs were 'wanted fugitives'.
Steve found them again three days later and was able to get them into the new Sanctuary building, where he fed and leashed them. These two girls can really move -- they were easily covering as much as 15 miles a day. They may have come into town from La Push, Beaver, or even farther away.
Neither dog is even part pit bull, although at first glance it's clear why someone would make that mistake. Ginger is more than likely a Catahoula leopard dog/Akita cross, with beautiful, blue eyes, and Lily looks to be a border collie/yellow Lab mix. Because of their 'criminal records', these two will have to stay at the Sanctuary unless they are claimed.
Update: the dogs have not been claimed and will be permanent residents at Olympic Animal Sanctuary. Ginger has significant behavioral issue to overcome, particularly when it comes to getting along with other female dogs. Lily was spayed and is recovering normally; Ginger was already spayed. Both dogs have been microchipped.
Posted on March 18, 2007 | Link
Injured Cat
Steve was called to pull an injured cat from a culvert. The animal had been hit by a car and suffered a serious head injury. He was able to get the cat out, and deliver it to the Friends of Forks Animals, who in turn took the cat to Safe Haven in Sequim, where it received excellent veterinary care.
Update: The cat was named 'Speedy' and quickly became one of the favorites at Safe Haven. It was thought that he would make a recovery, but after about a month of treatment, Speedy began to have seizures and lost virtually all motor control, and had to be euthanized. According to the veterinarian who performed the procedure, he was purring up until he passed. This is the unfortunate reality of letting cats roam free; we're just happy that Speedy could die in a warm, loving environment instead of in a damp culvert.
Posted on February 28, 2007 | Link
Petco Turtles
On closer inspection, one of the two turtles has a seriously deformed shell; this is fairly common with captive sliders, and shouldn't be a problem. Such deformities are common due in part to the reckless, large-scale breeding of these animals. The United States exports about ten million red-eared sliders every year, and funnels many more into the domestic pet trade. Those sent overseas are usually destined to be eaten, while others are used for laboratory experimentation. This careless trade has led to the accidental or intentional release of sliders in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world, where they compete with native turtles for food and nesting sites, and thereby contribute to the decline of a number of endangered species.
While sliders are cheap to buy and can be found in most pet stores, their proper care is costly and complicated. Aquatic turtles produce a large amount of solid waste, and their shed skin can clog most aquarium filters. They require ultraviolet light and a basking area with plenty of heat. They are susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, and nutritional deficiencies can lead to a number of health problems, including the softening of their shells. They also bite and scratch, making them a poor choice for pets, especially as they grow larger.
Posted on February 27, 2007 | Link
Wayward Dog
Steve found a German shepherd mix standing, shivering, in the middle of Division Street in Forks. She seemed to be in a trance. The dog had a collar and tags, so the owner was called and wanted Steve to just let her go and find her way back home. He refused and made the owner pick up the dog. She was very underweight, which the owner claimed was from running around town all day, and because she was part greyhound. This explanation does not hold water: dogs are built to be endurance runners and it does not cause them to become emaciated, and healthy greyhounds are packed with lean muscle, not malnourished.
Further investigation uncovered the fact that the dog was indeed going hungry; she had been found earlier the same day by another concerned citizen who fed her everything she had in her refrigerator, which the dog hungrily consumed.
The dog's owners put her out every day when they go to work, and they take her inside at night when they get home, despite having a large yard that could be fenced. Low-quality dry dog food is left out for her to eat, but we believe it is being eaten by neighborhood cats, other dogs, or crows. Since Forks Police Department will typically not issue citations for dogs running at large, there is little we can do about this situation but catch the dog when we see her and make the owners come pick her up.
Posted on February 23, 2007 | Link
Hawk Rescue
Steve transported a red-tail hawk to the Northwest Raptor Center in Sequim. The bird apparently approached a man on foot while he was out working in his field, and he picked it up and put it in one of his chicken coops. He fed the hawk raw elk meat until it could be transported to a rehabilitation facility. There looks to be an old injury on one of the hawk's legs, preventing him from opening his talon without considerable pain -- possibly a gunshot injury. The bird is old and in poor condition, but may recover. At the very least, he will pass under the care of the staff at the Raptor Center, and not in a soggy field in the rain.
Posted on February 13, 2007 | Link
Caleb
A call came today from a sanctuary volunteer regarding a 'vicious pit bull' that had taken up residence on a man's porch by the Forks airport and would not let him in or out of the front door. The dog had been there three days with no food, and only rain water to drink. Police were called but were unable to catch the dog.
Steve Markwell and the volunteer responded and were able to put a leash on the dog in under five minutes; he was not aggressive -- simply very afraid. Steve recognized him from a few months earlier, when he received reports of the dog running at large, knocking over trash cans and chasing small children, presumably wanting to play, but still scaring them. The dog had spent the first year or so of his life chained up behind a trailer with no interaction with other dogs and very little interaction with people. He didn't know what he was or how he should behave. After a few minutes with the sanctuary dogs, he seemed to understand that he was 'one of those' and began to behave more like a dog.
It is believed that the dog was abandoned at the airport, as the Forks animal shelter is located there. However, with no funding for animal control and no animal control staff in Forks, the shelter is not staffed and is normally empty, and no one would have been there to catch the dog and check him into the shelter. Having been described as an "aggressive pit bull" to police, the dog now has a 'record' and is unlikely to be adoptable, regardless of his actual disposition.
Update: Signs were posted about a found dog, but no responses came in. The dog, now named Caleb, will be a permanent resident of Olympic Animal Sanctuary, and is getting along very well with the rest of the pack. He's vaccinated and microchipped, and scheduled to be neutered.
Posted on December 10, 2006 | Link
