Being Cruel Isn't Cool

Being Cruel Isn't Cool

That may seem like a lame title but after what we have seen this week it's actually a bit of a suppression for how we truly feel at the moment. Personally, I have been actively involved in rescue for around six years now. I have seen some very sad situations when it comes to animals and my heart has been broken repeatedly. But just when you think that you have seen it all and that nothing will surprise you......

SURPRISE!!

 

You get to bare witness to the unexpected, the cruel, the unjust, the "how could anyone do that?". I would like to say that it gets easier but it doesn't. Instead, it's a roller coaster of emotion from heartbreak to being infuriated and still to this day I haven't figured out quite how to channel all the emotions that come with this mission.

As a person, I don't feel as though I ask for much from society. I am educated, I do my job well, I contribute to the community and the world as much and as well as I can. Honestly, all I am really asking for is a little compassion....a little humanity...and yet you would think I was asking for the world.

The Constant Request

 Living in a small community in this part of the world is tough. 

The animal laws here are practically non-existent and the ones that are in place are rarely enforced. The chances of charging someone with animal neglect or cruelty is nearly impossible. Laurel County has NO county ordinances that help the shelter or even law enforcement enforce animal rules or policies. We are hamsters in the wheel that never actually goes anywhere...and it stinks. 

 

There are no laws or rules regarding pet population and therefore our area is always overpopulated with litter after litter of dogs and cats...it's sad and it never ends. Then, what you get are people that have their dogs tied with chains in their backyard...green water...dilapidated houses...no vaccinations...no vet care...no heart worm prevention...tied to a chain day after day...hour after hour..for their entire life.  Don't believe me? Take a drive around....

So then you get the never ending requests for re-homing....

We try to help as much and as often as we can but sometimes it takes a little while for a rescue spot to open up...as was the case with this particular dog.

Meet RJ

Photo June 8, 2016

 One of our board members was asked to help RJ and his pal Julie find rescue to find new homes. For months our board member, Robin, posted these two dogs...we sent messages asking for rescue help but there just weren't any available...UNTIL THIS WEEK! We got lucky! A great rescue contacted Robin and offered to help both dogs..what a relief! We were excited...we were ecstatic! That was until we went to pick RJ up for his transport......

**WARNING --- Graphic Photos** 

It seemed as though at some point, while we were searching for rescue, RJ got his foot wrapped/tangled in a cord which cut off the circulation. The person responsible for RJ did NOT seek medical treatment and this is what happened as a result....

Photo: July 11, 2016

   

**INSERT GASP HERE**

We are NOT a rescue. We do NOT have funds for things like amputations but we knew this dog needed immediate medical care...

So what did we do??

RJ was taken straight to the vet where his leg was amputated..the infection was threatening his life. This morning I visited him and he was a happy, wiggly dog..happy to be free of the pain he had been enduring. His spot in rescue is secured and he will be transported once he feels up to it. 

RJ will have a happy ending.

But what about those that don't get the help they need?

First, let me make it very clear...it is a LAW here in KY that you MUST seek medical treatment for animals that have injuries such as this one! 

View KY ANIMAL LAWS at the link below: 

KY Animal Laws     

What can you do? 

• Seek medical treatment for your animals
• Make sure your animals are vaccinated and on heart worm preventative
• Report animal cruelty to law enforcement as many times as needed
• THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH VET BILLS
• Seek assistance/help
• Contact local veterinarians
• Educate others
• DO THE RIGHT THING! DON'T LEAVE AN ANIMAL TO SUFFER REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION, CONSEQUENCE, OR POSSIBLE OUTCOMES.  

Please like and share our Facebook page: WPEL Facebook

To help RJ please send monetary gifts to:
PayPal : woofpacked@gmail.com
Or Contact Corbin Animal Clinic Directly

We also have a dog, Annie, that was hit by a car. Her leg will be amputated this week. She is located at:
London Vet Clinic or send a gift at PayPal: woofpacked@gmail.com

                                                                                  Until next time,
                                                                                         Tail Wags from 3 Legged Dogs    

F is for Fostering

 

 is for Fostering

 

     We would like to take a moment to talk about fostering. What is fostering? Why should you foster? What are the benefits of fostering? Who should you foster for? There are lots of questions out there and with this blog we hope to answer a few of them! So, sit back, and read on...

What is fostering?

To foster an animal simply means that it lives with you, interacts with you and your family/pets, until it finds a forever home.

Why should I foster?

Rescues (reputable ones anyway) can only pull animals from shelters if they have room for them. By fostering, you are opening a space for another animal in need. 

What are the benefits of fostering?

Fostering an animal makes room for more animals in need. Fostering also helps that dog/cat get used to living in a home environment, interacting with people, interacting with other pets, so that they are prepared when their permanent home comes along! 

Who should I foster for?

There are shelters and rescues all across the U.S. that are in need of good foster homes! Here are a few tips to finding an organization that is right for you...

1. Tour the facility, always.
2. Get to know the people already involved in the organization; fosters, board members, employees, volunteers.
3. Ask questions about the organization. Is it a 501c3 non-profit? (If so, foster dogs are tax deductible). Do they hold adoption events? Where? How often? What are there adoption requirements and procedures? 
4. What are the requirements of foster parents? Often times rescues will provide vet care and sometimes even food for the foster animal. Be sure to know up front what will be expected of you.
5. Spend some time getting to know the animals. Be sure to take in a foster that will fit well into your home and lifestyle. If you're a couch potato you may not want to take in a foster that is high energy and needs lots of exercise. Or hey, maybe you do, that could be motivation to be more active!

Why does WPEL care about fosters?

Okay, it's true, we are not a rescue. However, we partner with other rescues and shelters that do need fosters and volunteers. Many in WPEL foster for organizations now and would be glad to recommend an organization to contact about fostering or volunteering. 



My foster story...

Mila

I was pretty scared and hesitant about fostering once I got into rescue. I tend to get very emotionally attached to animals so I was nervous that it would be hard for me. And it totally was...but it was also totally worth it...as I'm sure you'll hear any foster say. 

My first foster was a bit unexpected. She was a small chihuahua that had been pulled from a high kill shelter with two broken front legs. On top of requiring several medications a day she was scared and wasn't afraid to bite. Truth is, she had emotional and social issues on top of her medical issues, reasonably so. 

 

  After four months with antibiotics and pain medication she was finally ready to get rid of her casts...which was a whole new chapter in her recovery. Once the casts were removed she had to learn to use and strengthen her leg muscles all over again.

Then, it was time for some socialization....

But...after months of working with her, she was still (and still is) terrified of new people. She will still bite if necessary to "protect herself" and after five months we decided that the best place for her was to stay with us. She was comfortable with us, though it took her months to warm up to my husband, she was finally coming out of her shell and we didn't want any chance of her to be unhappy. She was our first foster...she was our first foster failure...and that is totally okay!

Riggs aka Bubby
Later on, I saw this guys little face at the same high kill shelter and just had to have him.

 Riggs (after my late grandpa) was a 13 year old Chihuahua that had found himself in the shelter. He was a wild old man that was tiny...partially blind...and a picky eater. I, the vegetarian that I am, still grilled this little guy chicken everyday to eat. He was a snuggler though he didn't particularly care for the other dogs in the house. 

Strangely enough, someone saw his picture online and contacted me. This little guy had a family that had been searching for him for months. I'll never forget the first phone call with his momma, she cried so much that I could hardly understand her and then she said "Even if you don't let me have him back, thank you for taking care of him, and the only food he will eat is Moist & Meaty". She sent me photos of him from when he was a baby up to his current age and I knew that reuniting them was the right thing to do.

A week later, her and her husband made the four hour drive down to Kentucky to pick him up. Even after he was back with her, she updated me on him regularly, his story was even featured in Woman's World Magazine (including his sweet little photo).

Last summer, around the fourth of July, completely blind, losing his hearing, and at the ripe old age of 15 year old, Bubby or as I knew him, Riggs, crossed the rainbow bridge safe in the home with the family he had always known. He touched my heart and I gained a new friend as well. RIP little one...I am thankful to have known you.

 

 Every foster that I have ever had has touched my heart in some way. Whether I had them for a week or 6 months...they each leave an impression on you. Each of them take a tiny piece of your heart with them...but seeing updates of them in their new homes, happy, safe, and spoiled makes it all worth it. Each foster dog I have had either stayed with me or moved on to their new life with wonderful families that I still keep in touch with. You can't keep them all...because there is always another that needs you...but you can help them find the best life possible. Take pride and comfort in that. So now, as I wrap this up...I'll share more photos of wonderful fosters that have crossed through my door and through the homes of our WPEL members...some that will stay with us...and a few that have moved on to families that give them everything they deserve and more. 

Here are a few that touched the hearts of WPEL members...Enjoy the faces of these lives saved by fosters

 

Integrity - What does it mean to you?

Integrity - What does it mean to you?

      I guess you can say I got a little inspired by the news article in the Laurel Co Sentinel Echo recently. A publisher for the paper actually witnessed someone dumping a dog on a road and driving away (which is not only mean but illegal). He did his part by reporting the person and their license plate number to authorities and then contacting animal rescuers to help catch the dog. 

Why is this so inspiring? Because, the publisher isn't an animal rescuer, he is simply a decent human being that did the right thing. But it made me think....how many other people in our city, county, state, country would do the same? Would you be late to work? Would you risk your identity knowing that the abuser  may find out who you are? Would you be willing to put yourself out there to 1 - uphold the law and 2- speak for the animal?

Contrary to popular belief, I am a quiet, conservative person. I do my best to mind my own business and often hold my tongue when disagreements arise. However, if there is one thing that God did give me...it's a voice for the animals. Don't believe me? Ask around! Ask the lady that got a long message about how dangerous it is to re-home animals on Craigslist, ask my family members that I have ranted to about breeding or not caring properly for their animals, ask ex family members that I was ready to report for animal neglect until they surrendered the animal so that I could get it vet care, ask  my neighbors.... because in the real world it shouldn't matter who is doing the abusing...it shouldn't matter who is doing the neglecting. It is still YOUR RESPONSIBILITY  to report it!

Am I suggesting that you run up onto someone's property and go ballistic? Well of course not! But I am suggesting that you open your eyes, take a good look around, and do the right thing no matter what...and believe it or not...that's hard for some people. 

 So I'll keep this blog short and sweet. PLEASE REPORT ANIMAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT!  Here's a little information on how to help:

Who do you call??

#1 - Contact local authorities if you suspect animal abuse or neglect.

#2 - Having little response from authorities? That's okay..it happens. Contact them again, 

       then call your magistrate and show your support for county ordinances in Laurel Co. 

#3 - Still no luck? Humane Society of the United States, local animal shelter, Local rescue groups can also point you in the right direction sometimes. Feel free to even contact WPEL and we will do all we can to help you find someone to help!

 And perhaps one of the most important things we can remember.......

If you aren't part of the solution...then you are part of the problem.

I will leave you with perhaps one of my very favorite quotes. Whether you are in animal rescue, you're a rescuers, a transporter, a foster, a volunteer, a networker, or even an educator...regardless of how big or small your role is....you are still making a difference! Don't let others deter you...don't let others drag you down because they are unwilling to admit to their mistakes or are afraid to speak up for what is right.

Don't get sucked in by the drama, by the politics, by the false accusations, by social media. Do what is RIGHT for THE DOGS..everyday ...all of the time...that's all that really matters.

Besides....

Please message us with questions...concerns...or blog ideas! We'd love to hear from you!

woofpacked@gmail.com
or visit us on Facebook!

                                                          Whiskers & barks,

                                                                   WPEL

 

Hello From the Other Side

Hello From the Other Side

It was 2012 when I first heard about Homeward Bound Rescue. I had been volunteering to help network the animals at a nearby animal shelter and felt the strong need to do more. So, when I first heard about this “amazing” rescue that was doing “wonderful” things for animals in our area I immediately wanted to know more about it...I immediately thought it was God's calling. He had opened a door for me....so I stepped through.

The openness that I was first greeted with seemed so genuine and heart felt. There, in front of me...in my own town were individuals that seemed just like me. Their hearts had a mission, God had also made animals a priority in their lives, and it didn't take long before I was completely submerged in animal rescue. And I LOVED it. Yes, I cried. I laughed. I networked, volunteered, fostered, did transports, helped with fundraisers...I lived and breathed animal rescue. Specifically, Homeward Bound Rescue. 

The director was thorough in the conversations I had with her about what the mission of Homeward Bound was – saving local dogs from death row. I heard about the amazing “hospice program” where senior dogs lived out their lives in her care. I heard about and met the amazing fosters that also worked endlessly to make Homeward Bound grow. I was completely and utterly amazed, excited, and overwhelmed all at the same time. So, there began my journey with Homeward Bound, a rescue that I honestly thought would move mountains for animals. 

 

My name has been drug through the mud over this...my picture is floating around on social media of me in my purple Homeward Bound shirt that I once wore proudly.

Just in case you missed it! Here is the entire photo. This is one of the last adoption events I went to. Never have I denied being a part of Homeward Bound at one time. And at one time I considered every person in this photo to be a friend. But we live and we learn..we make mistakes and then we learn from them...hopefully....

 So now, here I am, from the other side, and I am going to say that no, Homeward Bound wasn't what I thought it was. Now, I will tell my side openly...not hidden behind a friend's name on a Facebook post or behind a fake account used to gather and then spread false information. Here is the truth...

The 2 dogs that I supposedly  “abandoned”

Gavin

Gavin - April 2013

 

In 2013 my husband was on his way to work in the pouring rain. He literally watched a car hit a dog and then keep driving as though nothing had happened. My husband and one other stopped to help. The dog was taken to the vet as I frantically called the rescue that I committed endless hours to, Homeward Bound, and they stepped in immediately to help. Am I grateful for that? Absolutely and always will be. Gavin, who I was allowed to name, was a very large dog. He had a fractured pelvis that would require at least 6-8 weeks of activity restriction to heal. Living in a very small home at the time with no fenced in yard, we had no where to put him. The director gladly accepted him into the rescue and assured that he would get all he needed on her “farm”. My husband and I donated two large bags of dog food and a comfy bed for Gavin and continued to get updates on his progress after. 

 

A very short time later a small dog came into the rescue with two broken front legs. My husband and I gladly took that dog into our home as we had the room to care for a smaller animal at the time. We rehabilitated that dog for 4 months while she healed before officially adopting her ourselves. And I am ever grateful for each of my rescue dogs and the people that helped them when they needed it. 

 

I never saw Gavin brought to an adoption event.

Now that Gavin is in rescue I have been continuously updated on his condition. He is heartworm positive, has multiple leg issues, his pelvis is still an issue. Learning that he only grew worse in the care of HB has been devastating. But he is on to much bigger and BETTER things and I am forever grateful to the people that have given him that chance!

Gavin's transport to the new part of his journey. 2016

 

Champ

The day Champ was finally caught! I took him straight to the vet where he was found heart worm positive. His leg injury was an old one that had already healed incorrectly due to lack of vet care previously.  2014

 

Ah, Champ! Found running a busy road around my place of employment, injured and starving. It took a week to finally catch him and I was not the Homeward Bound member that went out to try. In fact, I met the rescue director in the parking lot one weekend and sat for a good hour while we tried to earn his trust. It was a bit of luck and good fortune from a fellow employee that we finally caught him. He wasn't taken to the “farm” right away but a temporary holding facility that I will not get into on this post...but I am sure many of you already know. I, myself, along with other volunteers worked to clean this temporary facility for hours every single week. Champ was there.. I gave him extra treats and head rubs. Was this my hope and final destination for him? Of course not.

2016 - Champ is still heart worm positive.

I never saw either dog brought to an adoption event. However, I did share their stories and even posted feature photos and stories about them when I volunteered as one of the Homeward Bound Facebook administrators. I did a feature story usually weekly about the dogs in HWB that had been there for a long time. Was this the best I could do? I'm still not sure. I did however, know that the chance of them ever being transferred to another rescue was also completely out of the question as the director also made her feelings on that very clear.

So....I ask this...is asking the “rescue” that you volunteer for, foster for, transport for, work adoption events for...to help with an injured dog...is that abandonment? 

 

Did I let these dogs down? Yes. Not because I asked a rescue for help. I let these dogs down and all of the dogs in the care of Homeward Bound because when I began to get frustrated with issues going on in this rescue I tried to speak up...but it is VERY clear to me now that I didn't do any justice for these dogs. I should have done more; I should have asked more questions, I should have been more adamant about getting answers, ...I should NOT have quietly walked away. I should have spoken louder for every single animal in their care and I didn't.

When I decided to walk away from Homeward Bound for good I was still battling with myself. Yes, there were things and issues I disagreed with...but I worried that if I walked away who would be there for the dogs? Not just the two dogs that the rescue had helped me with but all of them. All of the dogs I had seen pulled from the shelter, the ones I had cleaned after at the “temporary boarding facility”, the ones I had held, petted, loved. Then, I got a big slap in the face by the truth....staying and continuing with the organization without seeing a change was only supporting the things that I disagreed with. I knew then that I had no other choice but to go.

Everything about this whole situation is devastating and I am sad that this was my first experience with rescue. However, if there is anything to learn from this situation....I have come out with this...

1. Do your homework. If you choose to dedicate your time and life to something you're passionate about then take the time to know who you are volunteering for. Do VISITS to the facility, the foster home, the vet. Look for red flags....trust me...they will pop up quickly if there are issues.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Yes, rescue is a messy, dramatic, and heartbreaking business but once you are in, you are in. No, I am no longer with Homeward Bound and haven't been for some time now. But that doesn't mean that I won't still stand and speak for animals..they have a big part of me and always will.
   
   
   
   
   
3. This has been a true test, I feel, of what I claim to be – an “animal advocate”. Are you willing to speak for the animals when you see wrong being done? No matter who is doing the wrong? No matter what? Yes, I have those against me saying that I am on the “wrong side”. How dare I look at the evidence and not feel sympathy or empathy for the “person” involved in this. Well...because she is a person. She can and will speak for herself. Those dogs? They need a voice....and I will join those that are speaking up for them.

If we go through tough situations and nothing good comes of it then yes, it is a waste. But-I have seen so many dogs get much needed medical care through this. I have seen photos of dogs I have known for so long sleeping soundly in their foster home or adopted home. That my friends is worth every tiny bit of drama that has surrounded this. That my friends is what true rescue is really about. So hello, from the other side, the dogs' side—the place I will always be. 

I have debated for months about posting this...but in the end I hope if nothing else, it at least shares the story of Champ & Gavin.

                                                        Don't give up

                                                              Don't give in

                                                                  Speak for them no matter what....

                                                                                      -CC 

**This is a personal blog posted by WPEL President. All rights reserved.**