...not another dog!

Yesterday I went to check on some of my "usual" dogs. I haven't gone in a long time, I am embarrassed to say how long. I needed a break from the anguish and sadness I see on their faces. It is so difficult for me to see these dogs week after week living in the same small space-receiving little or no attention. If they are not emaciated or injured and in need of vet care I can't do anything to change the situation. That is very difficult to deal with. I had to take a break. I know that it's okay to take a break because if not, I will burn out. Then I couldn't help any dogs.

So, enough about defending my break.

I went to see them and they both still remembered me! I heard some barking that wasn't coming from the two dogs I was looking at. At first, I didn't know where the dog was...then it ran from the back deck along the fence line. At least it's not chained, was my first thought. My second thought was, these people have some nerve, getting another dog! They don't even care about the dogs they have!

The woman there claims she loves her dogs and has no other alternative...I hear that all the time. There are many options which either require money or time and energy of the pet parent. She said that Red, the dog that is chained, jumps on people. That is something that they can train him not to do-if they decided to.

When I was there yesterday, I saw that they had also shortened his chain. He also had no hay in his dog house. I am going to get some hay and I already have some buckets I am going to bring them. Right now, they are using what looks like a large salad bowl for water and a metal bucket for food. Somehow the bucket tips over. The "salad bowl" could fall over if the wind blew too hard! I am also going to bring some bungee cords to tie these buckets to the tree so they can't spill.

Lady, the Sheltie that is not tied up, was so happy to see me! They were both jumping and showing me that they wanted to play.

I am also thinking about asking the owner if I can take Red, the chained dog for a walk every so often. It's worth a try.