Saying Goodbye To Shelby Angel

First of all, thank you to everyone that has read this blog over the past few years and supported Shelby Angel through her rescue, restoration of health, and attempt to find her a home.  I have not written a post in the past year as I was receiving some inappropriate hate comments, and put her blog on private to protect the integrity of her spirit.  (please know that respectful opinions are welcome.  If you proceed to be hateful, cruel, or mean, your comment will not be published. I am not scared of bullies, and that behavior doesn't work with me.)  I am sad to re-open the blog in such a painful way.  I apologize it has taken me so long to voice my story and concerns on her blog, but it took awhile to face my grief.  You are welcome to read my history with Shelby Angel on this blog. 

On February 14, 2013, the Humane Society of Memphis put Shelby Angel to sleep.  I found out by walking into the building for my weekly volunteer night, only to be told she had been put to sleep earlier that day.

I knew there was trouble brewing.  Shelby Angel was admitted to the Humane Society to help assist her with toy obsession.  She was a great dog, but needed training in one last area to truly make her adoptable.  She would take toys in her mouth and run around and around till she was exhausted.  She would pick fights with other dogs if they had the toy.  She was so focused on toys that she would not listen to her handlers.  Often times, handlers could not get the toys out of her mouth.  She would release them, but not to everyone. 

Toy guarding (a type of resource guarding) is not an uncommon training problem.  Fortunately, the Humane Society had a trainer that was willing to work with her.  We wanted her safe around families and other dogs when toys were introduced. 

Until they didn't have a trainer, which happened shortly after Shelbs arrived.  And until the admitting director left and was replaced by a new director.  After these changes, Shelby never received training.  She was crated, fed, and given outside time.  But that behavior of toy guarding?  Never addressed.  Training time?  Never happened.  

Week after week I would volunteer my time with the Humane Society.  I would take Shelby Angel walking on a leash to keep her leash skills up.  I NEVER had a problem with her on a leash.  She didn't pull, she didn't bark or growl at other dogs (EVER) and she didn't lunge.  I continued to work with her on sit and stay.  Believe it or not, I could put a treat a few feet away from her and she perform a sit/stay until I gave her permission to get the treat.  Oh, and kisses?  Yes, she gave those on command too.  Surely there was a home for her!

But the toy guarding?  That was beyond my skill and my 1x weekly visit time to address in a lasting way. 

This pattern continued for years.  Shelby Angel wasn't adopted.  She was the same dog...same big heart with lots of love and snuggles...same behaviors with toys.  Nothing changed.  No one intervened.  Many animals went to functions, adoption days, and special events.  Not Shelby Angel.  Management never took her.  I couldn't understand why.  She didn't bark or growl at people or dogs.  She did great in public!  She wasn't marked as a favorite, and never left the facility. 

Despite the lack of good stimulation and kennel stress, Shelby still did not lunge at the crate bars, bark at other dogs, or start acting aggressively.  Every week I would show up and should would climb all over me with love and excitement.  It was as if she knew Friday was her day.   I prayed week after week that someone would see her value and adopt her.  The kennel workers loved her.  The volunteers loved her.  Where was her home? 

Then it was reported she bit a new volunteer that did not know she shouldn't pull toys out of dogs' mouths when they are resource guarding.  I do not know the extent of the injury.  Scratch?  Stitches?  I never got the full story.  I do know that it is scary to be bitten, and the Humane Society was correct to take it seriously.

But the story gets cloudy from here.  Different sources told me different things.  She was given a behavior test and passed, but they didn't like her body posture?  They looked at her history and felt that she wasn't adoptable due to her toy aggression/bite history?  Supposedly a walker came forward and volunteered to pay for all training for her with a private trainer to work on toys?  Another volunteer offered to foster her?   I will never know the true and honest story.

She was put to sleep without notification.  Volunteers were not informed.  People that loved her were not informed.  She was not given a chance.  There was no chance for intervention.  There was no chance for sponsorship for training or fostering or anything.  How about contacting a sanctuary to find her a home as the Humane Society has done in the past with other dogs?  NOPE.  Nothing.  The Humane Society did not reach out to anyone. 

And what about the training she was supposed to receive?  Isn't the Humane Society about finding dogs homes?  Helping them be adoptable?  That is the kicker...they hired a trainer to start on Monday....after putting Shelby Angel down the previous Friday.  They did not even wait to give her a long-promised chance of help.  They wouldn't even wait 3 days for the trainer to arrive.

So, what has become of the Humane Society of Memphis?  The number of euthanasias has escalated.  The commitment to helping a dog find a home in the Anakin's Buddies spirit "for however long it takes" has been thrown by the wayside.  The relationship between the office staff and volunteers has all but deteriorated.  Bully breeds are becoming less welcome, and cute and quickly adopted puppies are brought in by the dozens.  Abused and neglected animals are having a harder time getting placements, while healthy puppies make their way in trouble free.  (Azumi is a prime example of a dog I had to push with all of my might to get the Humane Society to help that clearly fit the abused and neglected mission.  Fortunately for her, she found a home withing 3 days and had a happy ending.).

Euthanasia is becoming a more accepted method for dealing with "problems."  The Humane Society has never claimed to be euthanasia- free, but never have the numbers been so high since as they have recently.   Please read this blog if you are interested in learning more about the incidence of euthanasia the Humane Society of Memphis. 

I have not been back to volunteer since the day I found out Shelby Angel was put to sleep.  I have needed some time to look into my heart and decide if the Humane Society of Memphis is the place for me.  Many volunteers have left over the past 1-2 years.  It is difficult to pour your love and soul into caring for animals, when you do not feel respected by the managing employees....or when you watch the dogs you care for lose their chance at life. 

Thank you for reading and for all of your support.  I feel that there was another option for Shelby Angel.  If the Humane Society did not want to use resources to help her with toys, other sanctuaries or training options should have been explored.  The amazing team of volunteers that show up week after week after year should have been given an opportunity to help.  I do think that safety should be the number one priority for everyone, and I am not debating the facilities concern for safety.  I am just challenging the actions- was there another way to achieve safety?  Was there another intervention?

I am going to end this post with a few of my favorite and fun pictures of Shelby Angel.  Thank you for following her story, please continue to be kind to animals, and please help save an animal and be their voice whenever the opportunity presents itself to you.  Thank you.

 Crazy animal house!

 Generous kisses....

  Nap time with a friend. 

 May Shelby Angel always rest in peace and comfort.  Thank you for being my friend.

Jingle Bells!!!

Shelby is still doing well. We have some fun videos to post of her, but they have not been edited yet by the volunteers at the Humane Society, so I will post them as soon as I can.

But I tell you, she is really, really ready to go to her home.

She is meant to be loving with and on someone. My time with her is so special, and I know that she is not meant to be sitting in the shelter. She is meant to be basking in the sun, lounging on the couch, and going for lots of walks.

Dear Santa...please bring Shelby Angel her family for Christmas.

On to October!

Hello! Shelby is still doing well. She is my best sweetie in the world, and I look forward to seeing her every Friday. She goes insane when I walk through the door, and all of the kennel workers just can't believe how excited she gets to see me. They have told me she does not react that way to anyone else. You see... she has this HUGE heart for people that love her. I know she will have this love for her forever family.

So, yesterday we took our normal walk and then had snuggle time. I generally don't take her to the play pen because she ends up spending our time obsessed with toys. I want her to have the chance to be a normal dog that interacts with people, not a kenneled dog that overcompensates in the play yard with her toys. I think the more normal activities in which she can participate, like walks, the better. None of this toy-obsession when she is with me...we just won't do it.

The funniest thing happened yesterday. We had already taken a nice walk and she used the bathroom several times and was good to go. (BTW- completely house broken...never an accident in my home). When we sat down for snuggle time, she got so excited when we were kissing and snuggling that she peed a little bit. It was hilarious! She was just so excited, and I have never seen her do that. I had a good laugh over that one. I know for a fact that Shelby Angel loves me. I just really hope someone else will get to experience this with her.

Below I have attached a letter that has been circulated on facebook. I have read this letter before, and I wish more people would read it, especially those people that will not spay and neuter their animals. I recently had a co-worker that bred her yorkie....again. She is not a show-dog. My co-worker knows nothing about breeding and bloodlines. She just has a dog she thinks is cute and chooses to breed her. It really makes me sad. So, read below and feel free to circulate. If we keep at it, maybe one day people will be more educated. Maybe.

A Letter from a Shelter Manager - anonymous in North Carolina

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.

Let's Get The Word Out!

Okay, everyone that has facebook access, please go to Shelby Angel's link on Petfinder and "like" her. This could be one step we can do to make her more visible.

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/17939038

I am going to speak with the media contact at the Humane Society to get some press updated on Shelby Angel. I think it would help provide a more clear picture of her.

For one, as a dog walker at the Humane Society, I walk a lot of dogs that "pull." Shelby is not one of these dogs. In the petfinder description, it describes her as a dog with a lot of energy that likes to run on leash- it almost gives the impression that she is a "hand full." In reality, she can run about 1 mile (when it is not hot) and she stays right by your side. She is not a puller. Initially, when getting out of her room at the Humane Society, she will pull for a couple of minutes out of excitement, but then she settles down. She is one of the easiest dogs to walk. And, as she has lived in my home, I can attest that she was HANDS DOWN the easiest dog to walk. She wants to be right by you- she is not a big explorer.

So, I think with a little time and effort, I can help make these messages clear to potential adopters. She is a GREAT walking dog. She is a VERY CALM dog.

She has never growled or barked at another passing dog. She has never lunged at a nearby dog. I think these are some things to which I can attest, that others may not know. The only aggression we have seen from her has been over...toys. Yep. Toys. Not even food. So, I am going to keep trying to step up and get the message about her clear. Please like her petfinder link on your facebook page to help out. Thank you so much.

And, just a fun note- last weekend I was stranded at Shelby Farms after a 3 hour run. Exhausted and sweaty, I made my way over to Shelby Angel while waiting for a ride and just sat in her kennel with her and snuggled for about 30 minutes. I just miss her so, so, so much. She is a complete BFF.

Too Hot!

Several of our Friday night dog walking sessions have been canceled from the excessive heat here in Memphis. I have not seen Shelby Angel in 2 weeks! :( No bueno!!!!

So, hopefully this Friday I will get to see her.

Also on my "to do" list is to talk to John at the Humane Society and find out if I can post some cute pictures or a nice little sign linking visitors to her blog on her kennel. Bekah and I had originally put some cute pictures, a print out of the blog, and the Commercial Appeal article on her kennel when she first arrived at the Humane Society. Everything has since gone MIA.

I think having a little extra information on her kennel would be great. I want people to see that she is just as special as all of the dogs there and that she has a story. I also want them to know that there are people that do know her and her behavior and can answer some questions!

I hope everyone is surviving the heat. I am going to put out a little extra water bowl on my front porch in case there are some critters in need of hydration. :)

Shelby Angel and the Pool

A volunteer shared this with me from the Humane Society. Pretty funny :) Shelby Angel is very much needing a loving home. Please share her story with others!

Two new pictures :)

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! I told you she was a happy girl and got excited when I would come visit! What a great smile she has!
And kisses :) You know I am a big, big fan of Shelby Angel kisses. Bring them on!

Beyond the Myth and updates ;)

I didn't realize I really had any readers for this blog anymore- and then I got a comment reminding me that some people do want updates! So here I go again!

Shelby Angel is still at the Humane Society in Memphis. She has a "lifestyle" room, which is really great because visitors can see her through the glass. Lucky girl! I am still volunteering as a dog walker, so I get to see whenever I get a chance. She just goes nuts when I come around. :)

Shelby is the epitome of loyal. The other day another dog walker had her out in a pen for some playtime. When I arrived, she was really, really excited to see me and we had a chance to play a little bit. When it was time for her to go in, the dog walker could not get her to budge. Shelby just planted her feet and refused to budge a single inch...looking back over her shoulder at me the whole time. I had to walk in with them so she would follow me. I mean, she is just a lover and a good girl...just soooooo loyal. She loves people, and she really, really loves specific people! ;) She just has an amazing ability to bond and attach strongly.

But, her forever home still has not come along. I generally leave her in tears- it is just so frustrating to me. But, I am also frustrated for all of the other great dogs up there as well. I could go on and on and on about this..... the blind eye our society turns to animal abuse, my ignorant co-workers that want to breed their dogs even though there are millions of animals put to sleep every year, the tons and tons of people I know that refuse to spay/neuter.

Okay- so here is my plug for today. Please go see this movie, buy a ticket, or just make a donation. I am a huge supporter of pit bulls. I have had nothing but positive experiences with them and I am PISSED that they are so abused. If people were fighting labs, there would be a huge outcry. But because "pit bulls" have received a bad reputation, it is as though people just don't really care that they are tortured in ways we cannot fathom. I do have a goal- Shelby Angel has given me a goal. I know I cannot do it now, but I am forever plotting and planning. One day I will have a place where all pit bulls will be welcome to come and rest, live, and love. (and then I might become a cop at age 50 and bust up and lock up every single animal abuser- someone has to do it!!!!!)

GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!

Wednesday, June 15th 7:00 PM, Malco Studio On The Square

Advance movie tickets $12 each, $15 at the door

Movie and after movie party, $27 advance- Slider Inn,

(2117 Peabody Ave. at Peabody/Cooper Ave.)

Purchase tickets at:http://www.beyondthemythmovie.com/screenings.shtml

Performance by soundtrack artist, Kimber Cleveland

It has been a good 2 weeks walking at the Humane Society. I am falling in love with so many different dogs, and no matter how tired I am on Friday night, by the time I leave...I am in a better place.

Shelby Angel and Aunt Bookie

Me and Shelbs

I had a good talk with John, the director at the Humane Society about Shelby Angel on Friday. We talked about her special needs with finding a forever home. She continues to have a huge fixation on toys and refuses to give them up, will try to take them from your hand, and can be aggressive with them. Since she is not an aggressive dog, it is really frustrating to see her act that way with a toy. She was not as fixated on toys when she was living at our home (although she was starting to become more problematic with them) ...but as John says, she knows now she only gets a very limited amount of time with a toy and it changes the way she views them.

So this Friday, I had her spend a good deal of time with me with NO toys. And it was great to have the friendly, loving Shelby just snuggle, hang out, chase, and chill. She is so easy for me to handle- I had to leash her 6 x so other walkers could cut through our yard, and Shelby is just as calm as can be. She is a good girl. And seriously- she just smiles and smiles when I am there to visit her. It is wonderful to see how she really knows and loves me.

Now we just need to find a home where someone can really work with a headstrong dog that needs a lot of work getting over her toy aggression/possession. John keeps saying that home will come...so I keep praying. And in the meantime, I keep giving her some BFF love. ;))))

I have resorted to stealing pictures of Shelby Angel because I haven't seen her in two weeks! I am now an official dog walker at the Humane Society, but dog walking has been canceled tonight because of the weather. Here are some facebook pictures of the cutie :)

Happy 2011, Anakin Buddies, and More!

Eek!!! I just realized I haven't blogged since November!

First of all- Happy 2011. Shelby Angel hopes this is a great year for you...and of course a great year for her.
I am excited to tell you that Shelbs is now an "Anakin Buddy." What does that mean?

Anakin was a dog that lived at the Humane Society for 3 years before finding a forever home. Can you imagine getting passed up time and time again before you finally get a chance? There is now a program in honor of Anakin to help other dogs get some attention and find their forever homes too. As an Anakin Buddy, all adoption fees are paid by a private sponsor to get them one step closer to a good home.

When I found out about the Anakin Buddy program, I immediately wanted to sponsor Shelby Angel. Of course, right? Well, ha ha on me. She had already been sponsored!!! And, there were already several requests to sponsor her!!!! I have been telling you guys, this girl is wonderful and everyone loves her!

So- get up to the Humane Society. Check out Shelby Angel and every dog up there. There is a best friend waiting for you!

And if you aren't ready to adopt a dog, call and ask if you can sponsor a dog to be part of the Anakin Buddy program. 901-937-3900

I have borrowed most of this post from my personal blog. Today I went to see Shelby Angel for our weekly visit. It is always so wonderful to see her and so hard to walk away. My deepest prayer that I hold is for her to find a good home. Below are just some snippets of my personal blog and some thoughts of my internal struggle and sadness when I think that I have not done enough and that Shelby Angel has not found her forever home.

Shelby Angel has adjusted well to the Memphis Humane Society. She is still a beautiful, loving dog. Nothing fills my life with more gratitude than spending time with animals in need. And nothing hurts more than leaving and KNOWING that I have not made enough of a difference.

Shelby Angel goes crazy when I come to visit. I go at least one time a week to see her. She just can't contain herself when she sees me. It is pure happiness- reserved for me. She loves me.

And after we snuggle, and kiss, and play, and snuggle...I have to walk away. And boy is that awful. My most painful tears are the ones I reserve for her. Or are they for me? Mad at myself I have not done better- found her a home- given her every single thing she deserves.

She gets so upset when I leave. When we are separated, she sometimes even tries to bite and chew through the fence in a panic to get back to me. And at that point I am crying like crazy. And I do the best I can- and I will be there to see her next week, and the next....until we find her a loving home.

"Please let me be the person my dog thinks I am."

Hi!!!

Shelby Angel has received a warm welcome from the Humane Society of Memphis, and she is a current resident and ready for adoption! Why the Humane Society?

I knew when I met John, the current director, that Shelby Angel would be in good hands. He had heard of her story, and he immediately took to her with a great attitude. He instantly believed that Shelby was a good dog- he did not view her as aggressive or a problem dog- rather he said she was incredibly sweet and just seemed to be intimidated at times. This sentiment has been expressed many times by the vet's office and Shelby's foster families. She is a great dog that is looking for the right home.

Dave and I had run out of adoption options, and Shelby was not fitting in at our home with our high-strung, sometimes aggressive male. The Humane Society will now be able to help her find some more potential adopters while giving her any training she may need in the meantime. So now she has a safe place to live with access to potential adoptees and loving volunteers. We are grateful.

The day prior to moving to the Humane Society, Shelby Angel was playing in my parent's backyard while everyone was at work. When my dad got home, he found Shelby in the backyard- playing with the neighbor's dog that had managed to squeeze through the fence into his backyard. Every time my dad put the other dog in her yard, she would find a way to get back through to play with Shelby. Again, it just illustrates Shelby's potential.

And here is just a cute picture I had to post of my dad at the lake with Shelbs. How funny is this! :) They enjoyed playing so much!

We certainly miss her around her. I go and visit her every single week, and there is no limit to her happiness when I walk through that door. The bonding we have experienced has been incredible- and we know we love each other. She is going to make someone a very faithful and loving dog. You should see her hug and kiss me when I visit now. She won't even budge a step on the walk if I am not right by her side.

She is doing well- everyone loves her and says great things about her. We hope the right family comes along soon. I promise to keep writing- Shelby's journey is not over yet! Thank you for visiting and spread the word about this great dog.

Updates :)

Wow! It has been a long time since I posted- and we have been through a lot around here! As readers have known, Shelby Angel has been through a journey that has lasted over one year.

And every day I would pray that her real family would come to get her. Shelby and I asked out loud every day "where are you????"

Through the year, we have contacted many rescue groups for assistance in placing her. We had the door closed on us many, many times. We were the recipient of hurtful emails and words. We were bogged down in the negativity and ugliness of others. It was draining for both Shelby and I- we just about lost all positivity, even in ourselves. At one point this month, we thought we would have to put Shelby Angel down as we could not find an appropriate home for her and had no resources.

Fortunately there have been some really great people that stepped in to pick us up when we were down. This is not an inclusive list by any means, but I would like to say thank you to Tracy Gullett, Toni, and my father and sister. Extra thanks to those of you that sent kind emails, offers to foster, and offers of support (there are too many of you to list, but you know who you are!). It was amazing what the network of POSITIVE individuals did to assist us.

I will give better details shortly, but I wanted to quickly let you guys know that Shelby Angel has a place to stay and we now have some assistance in the adoption process. Thank goodness!!!!!! Details to come.

Again, thank you for all of your help. Thank you for giving us hope.

Lazy Saturday!

With the Memphis heat index reaching 114 this week. Yes....114, the dogs have spent a LOT of time inside. The little pumpkins have definitely been bored.

Today we are having a lazy Saturday together. The Dog Whisperer is on TV, we have some doggie popcorn, and everyone is ready for some good TV watching/napping.

Assume your position!!! :))))))

Please Adopt Me!!!! Please Adopt Me!!!!!

Shelby Angel is still in need of a good home. She is a true sweetheart, and a good friend. She is looking for someone to spend a lot of time with her, snuggle with her, and just continue to show her that life is good. She has made leaps and bounds as she has healed and become more secure in her trust that every day will be a good day.

Time is of essence to help this gorgeous dog with a heart of gold. Please consider adopting Shelby Angel, and pass along her blog to anyone you know that may be able to help Shelby Angel find a home.

Back!

I sincerely apologize for the lack of posts. We have returned from our out of town vacations and are settling back into our routines.

Shelby Angel is doing great! She has finished her heart worm treatment and we are scheduling her last follow up this week. She was fine for her first check-up, and will no doubt be just fine for this one too. She has never been healthier or happier! It has been so much fun fun to watch her personality emerge over the past month or two. She is just a happy little, I mean chunky, thing.

You know, Shelby and Cayenne have been good friends since day one. Rooney, however, was a little mad we brought in a big female that stole his toys and took away a lot of attention. However, I found them sleeping together on the couch the other day.... could there be a friendship forming? And, I caught him licking her ear yesterday- the first sign of affection he has ever shared with Shelby. Yesterday I watched them steal bones back and forth from each other- no animosity. It was game to them! And just now, I watched Roo steal Shelby's toy right from under her nose. Shelby just looked like..."dang! how did I let that happen." And she searched the room for Roo's toy. ha ha!!!

Today Dave and I bought 2 more dog beds from Lazy Bones Beds. They donated a bed to Shelby Angel last year, and all of the dogs loved it. If you are looking for a stylish, dog friendly, small business product that supports local materials- please check them out. The beds are beautiful and are great accessories for a house, as opposed to ugly, furry cushions that just get in the way.

Here is Shelby Angel, checking out the two new beds on the left. Of course I liked the traditional patterns, and Dave picked out the dog pattern for Rooney because he wanted Roo to have a manly bed. Ha ha!!!

Here is Rooney-still stealing Shelby's bed...chewing on his new toy.

And Cayenne- enjoying her brand new bed...with a demolished toy. :)

Bath Time!!!

After a long day at work, I came home with "wash the dogs" on my to-do list. Ughh...I can hardly wash my own dishes.

But, as usual, Shelby Angel's handling tolerance was amazing. She is also such a good girl when it comes to grooming and such. Just yesterday I clipped her nails, and she just stood there patiently. Same thing with the bath! She just stands there for me like it is no big deal. (while Rooney and Cayenne act like it is the worst thing in the world...squirming and pouting the whole time).

I try to make bath time fun. I scratch, scratch, scratch in all of the good spots!!!! Ooh, ooh scratch more!!!!!

And I sing goofy songs while we wash everything off. :))))) Even bath time can be fun around here!

Morning Love!

Home from an early morning bike ride...ready to get some kisses from the doggies.  
Shelby on the left- sitting like I told her to sit. 

Cayenne in front- rolling around like a maniac.

Rooney on the right- siting on command, and then getting ADD and bringing me a stick to throw.

Shelby and Rooney get it right.  Cayenne just can't help herself.  

:))))

Life And Times

This picture cracks me up. I was home one day and just happened to look out of the kitchen window to find Shelby eating crusty charred stuff-weeks old- off of the grill. What a goober! Some of the things these dogs do are so funny when they think I am not looking.

Shelby Angel just finished her second round of heartworm treatment. She seems to be doing well so far. She has definitely been pouting because she does not get to play with Cayenne and Roo outside during the day. Earlier today I was outside with the other two dogs and I heard the saddest little howl coming from the house. So pitiful! :) She goes back to the vet in one more week for a check-up, so hopefully she will be on the road to life long health after this! And then, we need to keep looking to find her a great home!!! She is definitely an Angel, and she has not yet met a person that did not fall in love with her.

Here is a picture of me (exhausted) with the animals. The dogs LOVE my bike gear because it is nice and sweaty. They found my sweaty arm warmers and ripped some new holes in them. I swear they can get away with almost anything, but when they destroy bike gear it really goads me. So, this is a picture of me, tired, sewing my arm warmer back together that the dogs tried to chew up. I think all of the animals were trying to come and love on me so I wouldn't feel so mad. :))))) It is hard to stay grumpy at this crew.