Animal Stories from Healdsburg Animal Shelter

This is the first in a series of blogs about my experiences at the Healdsburg Animal Shelter (HAS).  

If you are looking for stories about boards of directors, buildings, politics, or City Council meetings, this is not for you.  If you want to hear stories about animals,c'mon down.

My first story is about a pitbull named Ladybug which some of you have heard about through my efforts to raise money for her, but for everyone else I will start at the beginning.

Ladybug came to HAS as an owner surrender.  She had been attacked by her kennelmate, a large Rhodesion Ridgeback and had been seriously injured.  She was also in heat to add to her discomfort.  As is policy at HAS, she was given a behavior assessment which indicated that she was agressive and dangerous.

Fortunately, the staff decided to go ahead and have her spayed, despite the fact that she was on the dangerous dog list.  As her wounds healed and she became more acclimated to her environment, there were signs that her behavior was improving.

As a volunteer with a lot of experience with "large dogs with issues," I was given permission to start walking her and working with her on socialization and training. She started making progress and the staff asked me to take her up to Ukiah for another behavior assessment.  

Leslie Dodd, the trainer at Ukiah Humane Society, let me be her handler during the assessment and she did well.  Even handling an introduction to a very aggressive male pit bull with no aggressive reaction from her.  Leslie stated that she "wants to please and is willing to learn."

Mike Ossenbeck, a dog trainer who was working with volunteers at HAS helped me with giving her additional training and got as attached to her as I did.  His assessment was as favorable as Leslie's.

The next barrier for her was an HAS policy that stated that once a dog was put on the dangerous animal list, they could never be adopted.  The staff went to the board with a request that this poicy be changed so that a dog could get a second chance -- and the board responded immediately with the new policy.

So she was now off the list, but needed to be transerred to another group for what we euphemistically call "finishing school." Leslie agreed to take her, but needed funding to cover the expenses.  

Through the generosity of my friends and neighbors -- as well as HAS donors -- we raised the money and I took her up to Ukiah.  She rode in the front seat of my convertible (see picture) like the princess she had become.  She was dog friendly, could do Sit, Stay, Down, and Shake and was well loved by all of the volunteers and staff at HAS.

In Ukiah, she was greated by Leslie and two of her staff, all pitbull lovers, who immediately fell in love with her.  She was showing off her tricks and bestowing kisses on everyone. 

In a followup call, I was told that she was doing great, going on doggie play days, visiting and getting along well with other dogs.  She is now on the adoption list, with the proviso that the new owners must be interviewed by Leslie.

The last step for this beautiful girl is finding that perfect family which will give her the love and attention she so richly deserves.  I will definitely write a blog at that time.

By the way, you may be asking the question of why didn't I adopt her?  

I live in an apartment that does not allow me to have a dog.  If it wasn't for that, I couldn't work at HAS because I would have adopted 20 dogs by now.

For more information on HAS, see these links:

http://healdsburgshelter.org/

https://www.facebook.com/HealdsburgShelter