Real World 101 - Lesson 13

“Oh, yeah, they put puppies down too,” I broke the news to the young man hired to do yet still more fencing reinforcement for Rasta’s “Big Dog” yard.

“But they’re just babies,” the young man said, gazing at Rasta’s newest rescues, three more pups from the Valencia County shelter pulled from death row. 

I confirmed then a thought I’ve long had in the back of my mind, most people just do not know or realize the reality of the city pound or county shelter.  I remember as a kid my mom telling me that she’d take the remaining kittens to the pound and being they were so cute they would find homes.  Maybe they did find homes, then again, perhaps not.  Well, here we are forty years later and mothers and fathers are still telling their small children: “we’ll leave them at the shelter and they’ll find homes ‘cause they’re so cute’," “because they’re just babies,” “because who can resist a kitten,” and so forth. 

Cash: 4 months old, 2 weeks in the shelter, owner
surrender, time was up....

At some shelters a box of kittens or puppies dropped by a family are simply labeled “owner surrender.”  In the world of rescue that can mean those animals are placed on death row immediately.

Sometimes on Rasta’s page, people complain about the short notice in the life or death of a dog, often this happens because their owner has surrendered them.  Shelters don’t tell the owner when they leave their animals that they have twenty-four to forty-eight hours before they’ll be put down, or in some places even less.  I suppose this truth isn’t spoken because then people would be more inclined to just leave that box of puppies on the side of the road or behind the store or dump their dog or cat in a rural setting.  But, hell, people already do that. 

Why are we so afraid to educate people, to tell them the reality of the ways of the world?  In raising my daughter, of course, I’ve often been told you have to teach your children for adulthood, prepare them for the “real” world.  Well, here it is, shelters put down puppies all the time, brand new babies, days, weeks, sometimes just hours old.  Shelters are over run and strive to be kill free, but again with people not taking responsibility “kill free” is often just plain “unrealistic.”  Perhaps more would take responsibility if actually told the truth.  

Rasta’s Rescue has removed 13 puppies from death row at just one shelter in New Mexico.

  

August: Puppies, a Pinto, Princes, & New Friends

Updates From a Lil’ Rescue Ranch

Oh, we are crossing our fingers tight for the big Red boy, in hopes of him finding his forever and most loving home.  He’s been staying with his foster mom, Kate, since narrowly finding his way out of the shelter system in Los Angles via an avenue of great dog lovers who determined this boy needed a second chance.  They were right.  He’s smart, ready and willing to learn (after years of neglect), and really as Kate says just a big lap dog.  Rasta’s is proud of Red, grateful to Kate and Red’s fans, and happy we could help in his journey.  Applications for adoption are out—this is very exciting for Red!!!

Our loving Dancer rescued seven years ago has been diagnosed with Cushings, a condition which impairs his body’s ability to maintain weight.  His meds arrive via UPS on Monday and hopefully they will do the trick.  Dancer is well into his 20’s and a dear loving member of Rasta’s permanent residences.  He’ll have to receive the medication the rest of his life, but considering all that he has given us the cost is superfluous in comparison.  Dancer lovingly cared for the young rider on his back since she was merely seven.  He allowed her to learn and they share that special relationship that happens between a little girl with a passion for horses and a princely spirit who just wanted to be loved.

Ms. Chloe is on the mend after her second bout with colic.  Seems our little blind Pinto likes to eat sand.  The paddocks are not particularly sandy, but she somehow manages to find it.  We will be moving her into a different pen in efforts to correct this.   Colic can be life threatening to a horse and of course Chloe forever holds a special place in our hearts.  She was rescued shortly after the loss of Rasta, the beautiful Shetland pony whose spirit inspired all that has followed.

Many have come in the wake of Rasta, most recently the pack of seven pups, who today get to celebrate the wonder of a little rescue ranch willing to go the distance.  We’re double securing their little yard, have temporarily surrendered Chandon’s studio to their needs, and will be preparing them to find their forever homes.  After rescuing them, we discovered the promised "Freedom Train" to Colorado, may not be the freedom we would hope for concerning these pups.  Preparation for forever homes is a huge emotional and financial investment, but abandoned dogs only get so many chances to be the best they can be.  This preparation involves putting weight on them, getting fully vetted including: another round of shots, micro-chipped, heartworm tested, and, of course, spayed and neutered.  The option exits to send them off to another rescue, but we’ve seen too many dogs who suffer separation anxiety from being passed from shelter to shelter, rescue to rescue, foster home to foster home.  This won’t be an easy task for the three regular caregivers on the ranch, but it will make a tremendous difference in their lives.

As much as I would love to go on with stories from the ranch this morning, I have some administrative (hate that word) tasks that must be done, some fencing to buy, and some money that needs to be found, ASAP.  There’s a little donate button on this page and if you could help we would so appreciate it.  Every dollar counts and we know times are tough for many out there, but even the smallest gift makes a big difference.

This month we’ve watched Rasta’s likes grow on Facebook and received special notes and stories from many.  Thank you for sharing your love for animals with us, your missing of loved ones, and hopes for changing the future of many. 

Sincerely,

Shawn, Chandon,  & Lilli