ANIMAL ADVOCATES MICROCHIP IS A
CLINIC HUGE SUCCESS!
This past Sunday, we provided permanent identification for 173
pets, including 2 rabbits and 1 ferret at our reduced-cost microchip
clinic. A microchip is a small inert ID that is inserted between the
shoulder blades of pets.  If a lost pet comes into a vet office or
Shelter, a scanner provides immediate identification. The practice
of microchipping is a fairly new technology, but has reunited
thousands of lost pets with their owners.... [read more and see photos]

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Three Strikes and He'd Be Out
(Buck's Story)
by Anne Phillips

One of the best friends I've ever had almost lost his life for the crime of being.
When I first laid eyes on him, he had just arrived at the Howard County dog pound for the second time in his short life. His chances of being adopted for third time were probably pretty slim since he was half bald and badly scarred by flea bites. And since he had a "record" (of being adopted & returned to the pound twice), his situation was almost hopeless.

I have no doubt that it was fate that brought him to our family. I had wanted a dog for years and one night my husband surprised us by announcing we were heading over to the pound to look for a dog to adopt. Even though I was thirty-four years old, I leapt for joy and shot out of the house like an excited kid. We looked for a few weeks. Usually young Beagle pups or purebred Labrador Retrievers caught our eye. We soon found out that these fortunate creatures had a lot of fans; there wasn't much chance of getting one of them.

Then one Monday night, there he was in the first cage on the left. I think he was glad that I stopped to talk, because he sat right down and tried to shake hands through the wire. I noticed his beautiful eyes; one blue, one brown, and both outlined in dark brown so that it looked like he had carefully applied eyeliner. He seemed to know he was in dire straits because he begged me to get him out of there.

So we did. It was easy - he didn't have a long line of fans. As soon as they handed him over, he lunged out the door towards freedom, hopping on two legs all the way to the car. My husband had been warned about pound dogs with mental problems - crazy, wild dogs that could never be trained. Dogs that destroyed houses and always sat in front. We all smiled nervously at each other when he leaped into the front seat and settled in happily for the ride home.I was great relieved to see that "Buck" was housebroken and the only real complaints that we had were the way he walked on leash (or, should I say, "lunged" and "hopped') and the way he got over-excited once in a while (nipping, barking and zooming around the house at 100 miles per hour). At our vet's suggestion, we enrolled him in obedience school.

On the first day of class, all of the dogs were allowed to go off leash and greet each other. This was part of the "socialization process", which we were told was essential. After Buck tried to mount the same lovely Golden Retriever four or five times, the instructor picked him up to see if he was really neutered or not. Needless to say, for the remaining eight weeks of class, Buck remained attached to his leash as we stood quietly by the wall during socialization time.

Things did improve - Buck turned out to be the brightest pupil in class! While learning sit, stay and lie down, Buck caught on so quickly that the teacher used him as the demo dog. I seemed to be the only one to pick up on his real "attitude", however. When it was time to lie down, rather than reclining graciously like his golden retriever girlfriend for example, he would flatten himself completely on the floor. With his chin pressed firmly on the floor, he stared up at me with a crazed look in his eyes - flapping his tail unceasingly. I thought this looked a little weird, but the rest of the class applauded because he stayed in position the longest.

Then came time for each one of us to individually demonstrate how well our dogs could come when called. I knew his star pupil status was in jeopardy here. Sure enough, when my son took him off leash he headed straight over to his lady friend without paying any attention to me firmly calling his name. Suddenly, I had a brainstorm. I asked him, "Buck, do you need a treat?" With that, he bulleted across the room to my side. The class applauded and I chuckled thinking, "so much for love".

When Buck graduated from class, he received a very official looking diploma from his teacher. I felt just like a proud mother, even though she referred to him as our little "stud muffin". It made no difference that Buck wasn't a purebred as the rest of the dogs were.

Buck has been a great friend during the six year following his graduation. I like sharing in the little episodes that make up a dog's life. Like when we realized that Buck had been fooling us when we thought he was swimming. From his shoulders up, he appeared to be swimming, while all the while he was actually tiptoeing along gracefully on his hind feet. Finally, one time he followed me out into deep water and suddenly began to cry and splash wildly. Then he looked right into my eyes with a look of total trust and began to swim (really swim) over to me. He knew that I would not let him drown.

We like to watch Buck's performances. To get once single treat, Buck is willing to sit, stay, shake hands, speak, sit up, lie down and roll over! The only problem is, he no longer waits for each command. He goes through his whole repertoire at once which, much to everyone's delight, makes him look like a robotic dog with a short circuit.

It's a shame that pound dogs get such a bad rap. Most dogs who end of at the pound are there through no fault of their own - usually you can trace their problems to problems in their former owner's lives (death, divorce, not enough time, neglect, etc.). Older dogs, who are often overlooked, have the potential to be wonderful pets without the headaches of housebreaking and chewing. Mixed breeds may not have perfect confirmation, but they are often adorable or even beautiful. Most vets are able to identify a mut's heritage, so a prospective owner can have a pretty good idea of exactly what type of dog they are adopting. (Per our vet, Buck's heritage includes Border Collie, Australian Shepherd and Chow).

In 1996 (the year we adopted Buck), millions of dogs had to be put to sleep in U.S. animal shelters because no one adopted them. If Buck had been among the unfortunate, my family would have truly lost out. We wouldn't have laughed nearly as much, the kids wouldn't have learned the responsibility of taking care of a pet, and I would have been cheated out of the dozens and dozens of happy memories and unconditional love that only a dog can provide.

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Max

One lucky Saturday in the early part of July 2000, I happened to be the "dog of the day" so to speak, when in walked someone that would soon become my new Mom. Ann, one of my lady friends at the Humane Society, was holding me and petting me. Of course, I looked pretty cute with my orange bandana tied around my neck. In fact, Mom later told me that I looked so darned cute that she thought I belonged to Ann because surely no one could have given me up for adoption..

As fate would have it, Mom loves Terriers, but, like a lot of people, she had been "warned" about us Jack Russell's (can you imagine!!!). Doesn't anyone watch Eddie, I mean Frasier! You see I was 7 years old, and for some reason most people want to adopt puppies. But don't they know. that, like me, I was already housebroken, obeyed commands and was beyond the destructive chewing days of my youth. All I needed wassomeone to give me a chance and love me, for which Mom says, I return that love tenfold.

I'm finally home where I belong. I am loved and I love my family so much. Mom thinks that I know I was saved and that's why I am so attached to them (Dad even nicknamed me Elmer, like the glue), and she's right. That's why I appreciate my lady friends at the Humane Society, who took care of me while I was there and played with me. A special thanks to my best buddy, Brenda, who never gave up the belief that surely someone would want me and love me. She saw the real Max shining through, and she was right!

So the next time you come across an "older" pet that you may be tempted to pass up just because of age or a bad rap, please remember my story. Please give us a chance. We still have so much love to give. You won't be disappointed!
 
One Happy Jack Russell,
Max Shaffer

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Lexie

"Lexie" who was adopted from the shelter about 5 months ago. What a JOY she is! She as you can see is an older dog, about 7 years old, we only wish everyone could understand the benefits and pleasures in adopting an older pet.

She was already housebroken, though we had to set a schedule up for her, and very obedient. She knows basic commands such as sit, down and stay, is very intelligent and is so eager to please! She was very shy when she first arrived, and rather distant until we won her trust. Now she is a real clown with her antics, and acts no were near her age!

Animal Advocates of Howard County / PO Box 1403 /  Ellicott City MD 21041 / (410) 880-2488 / aadvocates@hotmail.com