SHELTER TAILS: Romeo

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

All is Well

It doesn't take much to care and to apply yourself for another being. Check out this story (and watch the link to YouTube) about Cora, the very lucky dog who was rescued by a patient and extremely determined person from Hope for Paws. I remember this group from the video shown on their home page, of the little white dog that was petrified and wouldn't let anyone near her. That dog got saved, with some patience, and it looks like the man adopted her!

All is well with Little Romeo, and the other three boys are getting over their irritation at a new little one being brought home. When a pack of dogs is used to one another, and each other's movements and mannerisms, and someone new comes in with their new movements and mannerisms, there is an adjustment period. This hasn't been bad at all. It's provided a lot of laughs. This morning I had four dogs laying on me when I woke up.

Going to see Miss Olive today and taking her to the park with her new coat from a fan. Dixie isn't quite as needy as Olive so I don't usually take her to the park, but on a long walk in the kennel neighborhood. I bring chicken and liver treats for the dogs in the puppy room there, who are normally on their way to their rescue situation and are usually pretty thin. The kennel, NYC Top Dog, has become a non-profit organization instead of a company. Pedro Rosario, who runs it and whom I cannot say enough good things about, is known far and wide as a strong advocate of the animals. His entire kennel is made up of dogs that are in between a shelter situation (or something worse) and a rescue situation.

Blogging will be light the next few days, but I do plan a post on the various organizations that are worthy of your support. There are many doing some great work, like Hope for Paws.

Thanks for your readership. I hope you all find this blog informative.

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Meet Little Romeo

The adoption went super-well. We brought my dogs into the bedroom, kept Romeo on his leash, and had George off his leash in the living room, where Romeo was, since he does better that way when meeting new dogs.

The initial meeting when very well. Romeo was suitably deferential to the other three dogs (who are all rescues). I took my dogs out of the bedroom and into the living room, on their leashes, and did the close-but-not too close thing for about a half hour. There were no big skirmishes until late in the evening and at that point it was Romeo who lunged at George, who walked too close to Romeo while he slept in his bed (or actually, one of the other dogs' beds). George is a bit like Oscar the Grouch but he's easier with other dogs than he used to be. Romeo started the argument and George pinned him to the ground. Feisty yorkie! I bet Romeo will be more careful going forward.

Overnight he slept in his bed (again, another dog's bed) and stayed there all night till I walked them at 6:30am. We're walking them about every three hours right now till he gets used to his routine. When he first got here, my Mom kept his leash on him and walked him throughout the house. He peed on everything. It took us a few hours to realize he thought he was being walked! Since being off-leash in the house, he has only marked one area - not again since - and no pooping inside (even though he had slight diarrhea, which happens when dogs are nervous at being switched from one situation to another). It's already cleared up and now he's on a regular walking, pooping, eating schedule.

All is well. Here are some pictures of the adventure yesterday. Mom is so glad she got George a companion, and I am so glad this guy got out of the shelter. He was NIPPY there because he was afraid and I was afraid for his life because he couldn't get placed. One rescue already said no to him. And here he is, now, a bundle of happy joy and good nature.