WE NEED HELP IN TEXAS

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

The current state of the economy has hit the animal world very hard. ...So many doodles without homes! Seems it's that way all across the US and Canada! The entire face of the animal populations in the shelter system has changed dramatically in the last few months. Where we once saw half starved and pittiful strays we are now seeing many that were obviously former pets - fat, healthy and so confused to find themselves in a shelter environment. I know many of you will find this hard to believe, but the majority of these dogs have been turned in to the shelters by their owners!

THE DRRC and IDOG are collectively working together to rescue doodles all over the US and Canada. We currently have a very serious need for volunteers, fosters and transport in TEXAS. There are so many doodles turning up in shelters across Texas that are in need of our IMMEDIATE attention, intervention and assistance in order to avoid euthanization. We have so few resources in those areas.....We are looking for volunteers who would be able to foster and/or transport. Would anyone in Texas be interested in helping us save these doodles? ,

http://doodlerescuecollective.ning.com/group/doodlesinneed

Please let us know...

You can contact Karen (Karen and Jack), Lynne( LynneNJ) and/or myself here on DK directly if you are interested in volunteering. You will also be required to fill out an IDOG volunteer form. The link is provided below.

http://idog.biz/IDOGRRR/IDOGRRRVolunteer.html


Thank you all so much!

Jacquie

[Tricia, Shiloh, Fenway & Tessie]

Jacquie,

The other day you friended me here on doodlekisses and I saw your posts on the dire need here in Texas, it broke my heart. I live in the Austin area and have one labradoodle already. I saw the post about the three puppies in Lewisville (about 4.5 hours from me) I called them a few times yesterday and discovered that a group from Carrollton Texas was ready to foster the three brothers....but I felt the need to rescue one of them myself. My daughter and I drove there today and picked up one of the puppies, The Carrollton group was coming probably tomorrow to pick up the other two. The little boy we picked up is super smelly, matted,hungry and absolutely scared to death. He was fine on the drive home and we have given him a bath...it will take more than one to get the smell out. Honestly, I have never rescued a dog before, my labradoodle came from a wonderful breeder and was highly socialized when we got him. The shelter today just kept talking about how unsocialized the puppies are....all I know is he is scared. I welcome any and all advice that you or anyone reading this can give to me. The shelter estimaed their age to be about 12 weeks right now.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Tricia .....First I commend you for rescuing this doodle boy and congratulations on the new addition to your family.....the other boys are now safe in foster homes tonight thanks to IDOG....I will email you my number privately and I am happy to help in any way that I can....

To start, I suggest an immediate visit to your vet first thing in the morning...Your new puppy has come from unknown origins plus has been in a shelter environment. There may be health concerns because of this..Not meant to alarm you but it's important to have this boy checked by a vet and cleared of certain illnesses that are common in a shelter environment....For example it is common for dogs in shelters to develop "Kennel Cough"...It is easily treatable but requires a simple antibiotic..It IS contagious so to be safe I would keep the puppy apart from your other doodle just until you have an all clear from your vet........Next a good bath and possible clip down will help to get rid of that smell....I know that smell very well it is a combination of filth, shelter odor and believe it or not fear....This will dicipate over the next week or so so no worries....

What you will need to have is a great deal of patience.....This puppy is highly unsocialized, not familiar with human contact and came from a scary environment with only the company of his siblings for comfort....He is now in a strange environment and without the comfort of his siblings...He is scared to death!...Fortunately the best thing for him was to be separated from his siblings as he will now be encouraged to interact with you for his comfort, security and well being...He will need to decompress for at least 3 days and it's important that you keep him separate from everyone for those few days and allow him that opportunity......I will email you my contact info...Let's speak...looking forward to it...but please get him to your vet in the morning.....

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Tricia, After all that Jacquie has said, the main things to give him are love and patience, you will be surprised at how fast he will become a sweet and lovable pup after he learns that you are not going to hurt him. I have 2 rescued doodles and Ginger is a puppy mill dog who came to me not knowing people, grass, holding it,or how to be a pet. You will teach him all those things. Teach with love and patience and he will be one of the best dogs you ever had. Today, Ginger is amazing and keeps surprising me with her progress. Take lots of pictures so you can see his progress and come share. Good Luck and reach out if you need help. Lynne

[Jodie]

We fostered a Giant Schnoodle for 2 weeks. He was 4-5 months old at the time we got him and about 45 pounds. Aside from throwing up and pooping all over himself and his crate on the way home, he also would not walk. We had to carry him out of his crate and up 8 steps into our house. While giving him a bath, he never moved. We had no choice but to clean him up right away and I felt bad about that because he was so afraid. We didn't have much of a chance to get to know him, other then to wrestle him around in the tub. It took almost 3 days before he started eating and he would not play with any toys. He was fearful of steps (we live in a split level home), so taking him out to go to the bathroom was a "heavy" chore for me as I had to LIFT him up and down the steps. He was not familiar with a leash or even being on a chain. Due to his fear, he eventually went outside to go to the bathroom, but we always stood close to him. He would not run away and hardly got more then 5 feet from us while outside.

Had his story ended there, I would have thought it was next to impossible to socialize dog like that. He was large and timid and I was certain that I couldn't work with him for long. But the most amazing thing started to happen. By day 5, he started going up and down our steps. He began to play with a tennis ball outside that my son would throw to him. He LOVED to eat food and began to "lean" up against me for hugs. He enjoyed treats so much (I coaxed him down the steps with them), that we began to work with him with his treats. He learned to sit, lay down and shake. He loved to shake so much that he would do it on his own when he wanted a treat! Very cute. I do daycare for a living, so I also encouraged every parent and/or child that entered our home to give him one of his treats. It taught him very quickly NOT to be afraid of these people. I also carried treats with me outside and the neighbor kids fed him as well. He had 1 accident in my house (it was a RIVER of pee) and that was it. Otherwise, he was so eager to please that he basically trained himself to go outside. He never barked, just had a serious look on his face when he knew it was time. We had a family come over to meet him and they were not on time. We were eating supper and it surprised him to see them walk into our door unannounced. He was very protective and his bark was deep and fierce. It scared this couple and they decided not to take him.

Fortunately, by the end of 2 weeks, a family from 2 hrs away came to get him. He has a huge yard to run and play and 2 other "dog" buddies to play with him. I've contacted this family and they said he is the sweetest dog they've ever owned. He was fully house trained (other then his first accident and then redirect to the outside). He continues to love his treats and his only bad habit is that he jumped up to the counter and knocked the treats onto the floor. He's now 65 pounds and growing.

I would have NEVER thought that this dog was capable of working through his issues. His living conditions before coming to my home were horrible. He hardly saw daylight and spent many hours a day inside an old barn with no windows. He was the unlucky pup that no one wanted and the breeder simply didn't want to be bothered by him anymore. Thankfully, he had a chance for a new life.

I have no doubt that your pup will come around too. It may take a few days or weeks, but the transition seems to happen eventually. I have no special skills when it comes to training dogs. I think the treats were the biggest help to our situation and exposure to as many people as possible when I knew he could trust us. So long as we were with him, I think he felt safe around others.

Good luck with your pup! I'm sure he will turn out to be a GREAT older dog!

[Deena Womack]

Jodie,

What a wonderful story, it takes lots of love and patience and in time they learn to be a dog again. We went through many of the same things with Cali, so I can definitely relate but it has all been worth it.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Hi Jodie it sounds like your foster came from a puppy mill situation....The issues that you describe are often issues associated with dogs that have spent the majority of their lives in cages unfamiliar with human contact and basic training and socialization....Perhaps your foster woudn't walk because prior to being rescued, he never had!...I had this issue with my own rescued doodle...With a complete understanding of what you are dealing with through education...with love and patience and a complete total commitment these dogs do come around and end up being wonderful companions.