Shelter Problems...

[__crazy_canine__]

I cant go into great details about this whole thing just because I dont want anybody to say anything bad about this shelter but...

Im very disappointed in the way things are going. Bill the founders husband was left in charge of the shelter when Pat died and has been trying to keep things the way she would want them to be. Shes always said basically my way or the high way when volunteers tried to help out but to her it was trying to tae over I guess.

Anyway, these dogs get fed a diet with no meat at all. I mean I know dogs can do that but... still, I think dogs should have meat. Can that cause a dog to be underweight at all? Or have affects on how fast an underweight dog gains weight back? Because so many of these dogs are thin but I know theyre fed twice, sometimes even three times a day.

Another thing is ticks. Supposedly it was only this year that theyve had a real problem with them but there was a point when every dog had at least 5 ticks ranging all the way up to 50! It was so pitiful... one dog even died (not from this) and had one of the tick diseases.

The big issue though (because the food thing wasnt that important) is getting these dogs adopted out, or what will happen to these dogs if something ever happened to Bill. Pat never worried about anything happening to her and a volunteer said when he tried taling to her about it she yelled saying nothing was going to happen! ...and guess what? Months later she passed away.
Several volunteers have tried to arange and even pay for the moving (and staying fees) of these dogs to other shelters but Pat refused and now Bill refuses. And Erin, poor Erin. She is the daughter of them and has felt obligated to help out unlike all the rest of their children. She talks with the volunteers trying to work out things between them and her dad while trying to manage her own life with her husband who thinks shes crazy to even try.

Its all so depressing but even after hearing most of this you guys wouldnt understand because theres so much to explain. So so much to explain!

So now the volunteers are trying to cope with the fact that they cant improve Straydog and its adoption rate (which by the way, we've only adopted out about 30 dogs this year) or help Straydog to not keep getting too many dogs at the shelter. *sigh*

I wish there was something I can do. I have thought about talking with Bill since he resects me a lot and see if I can try to get him to see the volunteers point of view and how we could wor out a better way for dogs to be adopted. Im so confused as to what to do though... I want to help but it feels like because Bill is so set in his ways theres only so much I can do...

[__crazy_canine__]

Oh and aother MAJOR thing is the dogs being returned so often. Its horrible! This is one thing we can work onn hopefully.

Behavioral issues like chewing, selective hearing (lol), and the dogs not being potty trained are all major things that keep these dogs from staying in a home.

Weve thought about requiring people to sign up for training classes with their dogs, what do you think?

Training I work on at Adoption Days but once a week for four hours doesnt help.

[DogPaddle]

This does sound like a problem for a number of reasons, not the least of which is Bill's mental well being. I know your in a bind with privacy issues and such but is there anything more you can tell us?

[__crazy_canine__]

Eh well one thing I learned recently which I had no idea about is that they were fighting a lot before she died and were even going to get divorced a few times. This just isnt Bills passion like it was Pats.

They were married right out of high school and dated since the were 13... thats a long time together. Exactly how much Im not sure but I think Pat died at age ...67? Maybe?

Im not sure what else I can say about it because I am going to be kinda careful about privacy, like you said.

[DogPaddle]

I'm not positive I have a perfect picture but it sounds like Bill is overburdened and your rescue group needs to revitilize itself. Well first off I would suggest you start by suggesting to Bill that you "partner" with another rescue group for some event or other. Make sure its a successful, well-established group. Do some fundraiser together or some adopt-athon together or something. Start building bridges. This will do two things:
1. It will provide some alternatives on how to do things if your two groups start chatting and exchaning ideas and will improve both groups abilities because you'll be able to call on each other.
2. If things go ass-up at your group you may have a rescue group to help the rescue group.
Good Luck.

[AllAmericanPUP]

i'm friends with a lady who helps out at adoptions days for straydog..
she said they were having financial trouble, of course wich rescue isnt....so we are trying to find ways to raise money for the shelter, in another group I am in(that she is also in)
and we did a chat-a-thon a couple months ago and raised money for straydog too...

sometimes rescues/shelters just get to overwhelmed and don't realize it..talk to bill..it can't hurt...if the dogs are suffering then whats the point ya know, the rescue is there to help dogs not hurt them....but sometimes peolple get blinded and think they can help all the dogs in the world..and.. well..that's obviously not possible...

I respect straydog and all of the workers and volunteers and especially Bill.

[imported_Kat]

It sounds as if Bill is overwhelmed with the workload. Perhaps more charity events to raise funds for the shelter may help. The saddest thing is seeing a dog being returned so perhaps if the volunteers could teach the dogs basic obedience commands when they are being walked. It wil not only satisfy the dog but will hopefully have an impact on the dog when it goes t a new "forever" home.

[__crazy_canine__]

PUP, whats the persons name? Im curious to know.

Straydog does work with another rescuer but theyre helping the rescuer ot the other way around. So that doesnt help much....

Ill bring up the idea to one of the lead volunteers about maybe "joining forces" with another group.

[kendalyn]

That sounds really rough CC.

So basically, the driving force behind the rescue is gone, and the people left over trying to run it just don't have the time or passion to do it correctly?

I think Bill needs to make some decisions and appoint the proper person to take Pat's place. The rescue needs a focus and a goal oriented person to take it in the right direction again.

I'm not sure if this is an idea you can talk to Bill about, but I think it's something he should consider.

[AllAmericanPUP]

lol i'm not real sure what her real name is..
we just call her Wags lol..
she's a total pitty lover though.