Save Dogs

forever sleeping

"I fall asleep in the full and certain hope
That my slumber shall not be broken;
And that though I be all-forgetting,
Yet shall I not be all-forgotten,
But continue that life in the thoughts and deeds
Of those I loved."

--Samuel Butler

The Pound

So here's the quick version of the story with Charlotte:

I went to the Downey Shelter with my friend Sherri.  In all, we bailed 8 dogs out and convinced one person not to put down their sick Chihuahua.  5 of the dogs went to a rescuer named Shirley.  Sherri kept a Chi mom and puppy.  I took Charlotte to my place.  I named her Charlotte because it sounds sweet and old-fashioned.

She is on her way to healing from scabies (sarcoptic mange)--and kennel cough.  I think she might have a problem with her hips because her legs bow out.

The shelters in Los Angeles are just awful places to be.  You have some of the sweetest creatures being forced live in horrible and dirty conditions.   

Charlotte was in a locked part of the facility that most people don't know is OPEN to the public (you just have to ask the attendants to unlock it).  Being placed in that locked section is a death sentence for most dogs.  Like Charlotte, their illnesses go untreated while they sit waiting to be adopted.  Her skin was calloused and inflamed because she got no medical care.  I guess from their perspective, it isn't worth it (monetarily) to treat dogs that probably will be euthanized.

I guess a part of me can't bear to write about the shelter dogs of LA anymore.  It seems that unless a person has some crazy dedication to animal welfare, then these stories become just another sad part of society that people are numb to.  I invite you to check out a local animal shelter that is government funded--just look at the ratio of animal "dumpers" to animal rescuers.  It's crazy that every time I go to the shelter, somebody is dumping off a dog or cat (or many of both) because of some trivial reason.

Even if you can't rescue an animal, just try going to the shelter.  If you can't bear to be there, then imagine how these animals feel--this is the last place most of them will see.  Let's help change that..but we can't make a change without understanding the problem.

--Jon

Diva Junior

Charlotte-35.JPG, originally uploaded by savedogs.

She's a mini-monster already, but I love her.

Mange Baby Charlotte

DowneyJanuary2006-6.JPG, originally uploaded by savedogs.

Here is my latest rescue from Downey Shelter.  More info to come...my computer is in the shop, so it's hard for me to post for the next couple of days.

Charlotte is just the sweetest--I'm treating her for sarcoptic mange.  The whole story is coming soon.

Jon