A Very Special Birthday Wish
When I first started working at the Oakland Pet Adoption Center, I knew it wouldn't take long before one stole my heart. It was an obvious realization; I grew up with, loved, and treated animals as members of my own family. My dad found a stray cocker spaniel roaming our neighborhood, brought him home, and he became my Shadow until the day he died. I was warned when I first got hired that working around shelter animals was ‘hard,’ but I really had no idea what I was getting into.
Day after day, I watched homeless animals come into the shelter, some being given up by their owners, some never having one. Some of these animals were healthy, and went on to be adopted into good, loving homes. Some were not. There were many times I had to take a moment to collect myself, my eyes welling with tears when hearing their stories and all the suffering they had been through.
I wanted to take them all home; I knew that wasn’t logical. I found myself propelling my anger and sadness towards these animals’ disposition into every single effort I could. It quickly became clear to me that not every animal would be saved. However, every animal that I could help save would only fuel my motivation to work that much harder next time.
A couple months into my employment at OPAC, a litter of stray Labrador Retriever mix puppies came into the shelter. They had been found roaming Pontiac, lost without a mother and very susceptible to diseases. When I saw one puppy’s face in particular, ‘the one with the big floppy ears’ (as my husband remembers me describing her), I knew she was the one for our family. That was last June, and now, as we near her 1st birthday, I try to imagine my life without her and I can’t. She definitely stirred things up in our household; she makes quite the odd couple with her 7-pound sister. They took some warming up to, but they get along great and play together all the time. She's goofy (her favorite pastime is eating my socks-then throwing them up), energetic (a 3-mile run is a warm-up to her), an all-around big dopester. But our family would be incomplete without her.
I have been an insider and outsider in the animal shelter environment and notice that it’s very easy to make wrongful assumptions and judge the way a shelter operates. Before I started at OPAC, I didn’t understand the actual definition of no-kill, or even what save rate percentages really represent. It’s very easy to get caught up in rumors and hearsay, but that is not helping any more animals find homes. In honor of Rylee’s birthday, I’m asking everyone to take a second and really evaluate their approach towards animal welfare. Reach out to a shelter or rescue and see how you can help. Sweat equity is sometimes more valuable than monetary donations for the shelter communities. Any way you can help is always appreciated. Sometimes you can’t have a forever pet, then maybe you can foster. If you are unable to foster, come up and spend time with all the animals at your local shelter. I often hear volunteers say ‘I didn’t want to start because I can’t do enough’ or ‘I only have a little to give (be it time, money, etc)’. Every bit counts. We can’t save them all, but if everyone tries to, we can save more.
Do you have a shelter, rescue, or foster pet? I'd love to hear your happy tails!
Joan Berndt
11:09 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012
Happy Birthday, Rylee! You are one lucky dog! We have had three dogs and one cat over the years and all were either from a shelter, rescued or from a foster home. Our current doggy is a rescue and he is the best of the best! This is such an important message, and I hope it resonates with everyone. The good work that places like Oakland Pet Adoption Center performs deserves our support. That is why so much of our monetary contributions each year go to shelters and rescues and adoption groups both locally and nationally. Thanks for posting this great story.
Alexis Shull
10:19 am on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thank you for reading, Joan!
Carol Jackson
11:29 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012
We've always had cats & dogs, although in the past we'd just accepted animals from acquaintances who couldn't cope or let a stray live with us. In 2009, we had 0 dogs, so we decided to adopt 2 (because dogs are social animals). We got Bear, a 3-yr-old Alaskan Husky/German Shepherd mix, & Pumpkin, a 6 mo.-old Pug/Corgi mix. All was wonderful until June 2011, when Bear was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, which can occur in German Shepherds. We mourned his death 2 weeks later, & so did Pumpkin. During scorching days, she just sat staring off in the distance, refusing to eat or drink. So we got Cherry, an 8-week-old puppy, to cheer her up (which worked). Cherry was listed as an American Eskimo/Pomeranian mix -- as she has grown, it's clear somebody in her family was an Australian Cattle Dog. Pet training was very helpful with all 3 dogs.
In the spring of 2011, two of our elderly cats had died. My son (21) & I wanted to adopt a kitten. His girlfriend was home from college, so she wanted to borrow "his" kitten. Simba (who was adopted via the Oakland County shelter) still lives with her family. We adopted a Siamese mix kitten (Lilac May Alcatt) &, for Christmas, a black DSH perfect gentleman (Mr. Darcy). We have no problems with 3 cats, although in our experience it's best to have only 1 male, unless the 2 males are littermates.
In all cases, we used either used www.petfinder.com or saw the animals at adoption events at the RH PetSmart on Rochester Road.
Carol Jackson
11:42 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012
One thing I forgot to say is that by using Petfinder, we ended up dealing with a wider variety of rescue organizations than we might have without Petfinder. Everyone doing the rescue work was helpful & kind, but I want to give a special commendation to the people at Top Dog, who rescued Bear, & the people at Silver Lake Animal Rescue (who facilitated our adoption of Mr. Darcy - nee Howard - from the Madison Heights Shelter). I see those people at PetSmart frequently & so have come to know them somewhat.
Alexis Shull
10:22 am on Sunday, March 18, 2012
PetFinder is a great resource to learn more about animals available for adoption at a larger scale! So sorry to hear about Bear, that is always tough (especially when you haven't had them long!). Rylee had a seizure in the first month we had her, definitely freaked us out but luckily she is ok (Vet thinks it was an allergic reaction)! You sound like great furry parents, and Pumpkin, Cherry, Lilac May Alcatt and Mr. Darcy are very lucky!
nicole miller
12:24 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Simon came from oakland county. Started off as a "babysitting job" sue took him home he was in really bad shape when he came in, ALL matted under 4 pounds, horrible teeth, kennel cough, and he was beating up her 14 year old golden. she was going to fl and asked if i could watch him till she got back (for 2 weeks).I fell in love with him after 1 week, when she got back she told me she couldnt keep him due to his aggressive behavior towards her golden and said she needed to find him a new home. I said i could keep him until then ....I adopted him. April 1st i will have had him 3 years now. Its been the best 3 years of my life. I too cant even remember what my life was like before him. Hes 7.6 pounds now and hes had his teeth cleaned several times now and 9 extractions ... <3
Alexis Shull
12:40 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Wow, Simon has come a long way! Seeing him at the Howl-o-ween event, I would have never guessed his story on how he became to be yours. He's lucky to have you for a furry mommy!
nicole miller
12:25 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Great story by the way
Alexis Shull
12:40 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thank you! Appreciate you reading.
nicole miller
1:27 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Thanks, hes my little old man. :)
Mary Burck
3:00 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
There are still a lot of good people in this world!
Susan Pudlo
3:13 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Great story Alexis....I think it is also important to let people know that it is not always a "piece of cake" to take a new pet home....I'm sure you will agree, and probably had some fleeting second thoughts as most of us do, but like anything else you want, and grow to love, you work them into your life, and there becomes a moment, sometimes allof a sudden, when like you said, you can' imagine you life without them. I think we've all had the thought "what was I thinking"? at one time or another because just like anything new, they change your life. But you come to realize what a great change it is. I can't imagine life without my pets....fosters as well as "permanent fosters".
Nicole - you are the best thing that ever could have happened to Simon. I'm so glad you two "found" each other. He is a lucky boy. Any animal that touches your life is lucky!!!!
Alexis Shull
4:41 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Such a great point, Sue! Anything worth having is worth working for- this holds true to pets as well. A new pet is a huge transition and commitment to anyone's lifestyle- training, adapting to a new family, and more. But as I celebrate Rylee's first birthday, I know this was the best (and right) decision for us to have her in our family!