w w w . S t r a y d o g. o r g U p d a t e
POSTED EVERY DAY AT NOON CENTRAL TIME U.S.A.
Straydog Inc., The Late Pat Arnold's Happy Home for Strays, a No-Kill Dog Shelter
P.O. Box 1465, Gun Barrel City, Texas 75147 * (903) 479-3497 * EMAIL: straydog@straydog.org

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

SUNDAY JUNE 6 2004

NOON UPDATE

Erin's Adoption Day Report ...

No adoptions Saturday, but lots of action at both the "Dog Day Afternoon" event and at our Adoption Day at PetsMart

     The Operation Kindness "10th Annual Dog Day Afternoon" event at Bob Woodruff Park in Plano (Texas) seemed to be very successful. There were many, many dogs and many rescue organizations set up with their flyers, cards and some doggies.

     We first brought all the dogs slated for Adoption Day at PetsMart out to this "Dog Day Afternoon" event and walked them around from 9:00 a.m. until 10:20 a.m. Little Louise barked at the first two dogs she saw in the parking lot, but then when we got closer to all the dogs milling around on the grass and sidewalks of the park, Puppy Louise didn't growl or bark anymore. She just sniffed the other dogs, drank and walked in the large water bowl we'd brought for the dogs, and she wanted to eat cookies and be petted.

Erin introduces Louise to other dogs at the Operation Kindness "Dog Day Afternoon" event at Bob Woodruff Park.

Lots of dogs and lots of people at this event

     There was a tennis ball tournament in which each dog contestant needs to get as many tennis balls out of the water as possible. We entered Penny into this contest, and though she's a great ball dog player, Pat Seward and I didn't know Penny didn't like water, so she failed this test! She wouldn't go in the little swimming pool for even one tennis ball, so she was disqualified!

     When I called and told this to Juana, who was running the shelter back at Straydog, she said that she had taught Buffy how to go in the swimming pool for tennis balls. Buffy was a great dog ball player who liked water, and we sure miss him. (Buffy died of cancer in December 2003.)

     Tina and I then left Bob Woodruff Park for Petsmart (Central at Parker in Plano) at about 10:20 a.m. with all the dogs except for Penny and Scooter, who stayed with our volunteers at the "Dog Day Afternoon" event. No dogs were adopted at either location, but next week we have a home visit scheduled for both Scooby and Louise. In two weeks we have a home visit scheduled for one of Angie's tiny lab pups.

     These tiny puppies got very worn out at Petsmart. We've never brought dogs so young here before. We may wait two more weeks to bring the pups again. We saw the PetsMart vet and got the pups checked out for worms, etc. Only little Mia had coccidia. Her treatment will last 10 days, and Angie already has the medicines.

 

Email from Ann Story, Sam and Baxter's mom, who's still looking for a job (Can anyone help Ann?)

Date: Fri, 4 Jun 2004 14:33:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Ann Story" <annsdawgs@yahoo.com>
Subject: Just saying Hello
To: www.straydog@straydog.org

Every few days I spend so much time reading the Straydog updates and looking at Straydog pictures that I use up most of my allotted hour on the DeSoto library computer. Then I have to get another log-in number and wait for the next available computer to do what I was here to do in the first place! Keeping up with Straydog is certainly a lot more enjoyable. I wondered a couple days ago how Scooby's mange was healing, so it was great to see his pictures and how remarkably he has healed. He's such a cute little rascal. About Rocky, I thought several weeks ago that his endurance was being stretched beyond his limits when he went in for treatment, and all those days afterwards when his prognosis went up and down (it seemed on an hour-by-hour basis), but it's obvious that he has a lot more spark in him. He looks really good--and happy.

I'm sure all of you were as disturbed as I to see the news report of the 300+ dogs rescued this week from the puppy mill. I have no words harsh enough for people like that! They make money off the agony of defenseless dogs who later end up having to be cared for by organizations that can't get enough funding to save them.

I went last Monday to see my dogs Sam and Baxter, who are being so well cared for by Joyce Penner (whom I count as one of my blessings). Joyce wasn't at home, but her German Shepherd, Luger, was a pleasant host. He has generously shared half of his pen with my two boys, who were really glad to see me. The looks on their faces were so sweet and, seemingly, joyous. I can hardly wait to have them with me again. It's thoughts of Sam and Baxter that keep me going through the frustrations of trying to find a job and of not having a home (I'm still with my mother in her one-bedroom apartment in a retirement center). My extensive legal secretary background is scaring away some employers with whom I apply.(Maybe they think I just enjoy filling out those long application forms!) And, I can't get any law firms interested in me since I've been out of the field for so long (4+ years). I would love to answer Straydog's plea for summer help, but it's too far for me to travel every day. I'm hoping to hear from a man who needs a secretary/housekeeper to live on a ranch (he's out of town right now). That way, I'd have a home for myself and my doggies. If not, I'll have to ask Luger if he's willing to share with me, too! Looking forward to reading updates on Monday. I hope adoption day is successful, and I will keep all of you in my prayers. Ann Story

Hang in there, Ann! Everything will eventually work out.