Nov 8, 2013

BCSP Report – Week 45

Bollinger County Stray Project Report Oct 28 – Nov 3

Written by Marilyn Neville

She appeared “out of nowhere” on County DD, at the same time that the leaves were changing color, and temps were dropping to below freezing.   Circumstances seem to show she was abandoned at a time when the rains of the fall season are generally heavier and the winds chill livestock and pets wearing summer coats to-the-bone.

Her story has angered many with questions why this had to happen.  Her foster family so irritated they have shared their view in a “Letter to the Editor” in this week’s Banner Press.

I will share that I too am livid about someone abandoning a mother dog with pups, if in fact that is what happened.  Circumstances point heavily in that direction.  Mom may have moved pups, but this case smells like a dump…

When Bill and Mary Minter rescued and fed the stray, her empty dinner table swelled with milk, turning on her mother instincts to a higher degree to find her pups, which she had left behind, searching for food when the Minter’s caught her.

I believe litter mates were left behind to die because we did not have a method to find them.  We don’t have tracking collars.

A case like this is rare, where a stray needs to be followed to find pups left behind.   So we are asking if are there any hunters willing to help in a case like the above by with a tracking collar and their time to search for pups?  Does anyone have a working tracking set they want to sell at a reasonable cost or donate?  You can write off such a donation.

So it is pretty clear that dumping pets angers many who live in Bollinger County.  Dumping a mother dog with pups raises the bar with disgust for the perpetrator.  That mother dog and her pups are so adoptable just because she’s a Golden Retriever type mix, and long coats are poplar.

Call us before or shortly after your litter is born.  The earlier you call, the easier for us to find a rescue or kennel with one of our foster homes.

I have another request to ask.  This week I “lost it” and actually hung up on a caller.  I was talking to a lady from my area who had a stray for 2-3 weeks.  The day I get the call I was asked to take the dog “now” or “we will have to shoot it.”

What angered me most was the “threat” that I had better take it now or it gets shot.  Some callers think treating me, by putting the death of a “so called good dog”, is a good tactic.  It was like responsibility lies on my shoulders: does the dog live or die?

I feel as if that’s blackmail.

I am not a bleeding heart and if I was, I’d of had a mental breakdown by now. The stories of abuse, neglect, the constant dumps, shot dogs, scalped dog with maggots crawling all over her head, dogs or puppies with maggots covering their bodies, mange or ringworm so bad their skin nearly cracks, and the stories of so many severely starved dogs that we have helped since 2006 don’t go away.

There have been countless tragic stories.  Cases that our readers have no idea how visually heartbreaking the situations were for all involved, including the veterinary staffs that help The Project.

I can handle it all, sleep at night, and get up and start another day.  I ask for the strength to forgive those who made the animals suffer.  I and our brave fosters look in the eyes of the creatures we are able to assist, then move forward to save that one or say a prayer when we all agree the best thing for the stray is the needle, a humane way to end a suffering life.

Please be kind and give that stray a chance.  Then when you contact me about them don’t threaten me with the “take this dog [or cat] or I will shoot it.”   We all have our limits.   What we need to do is work on changing the mindset about dumping pets and encourage pet owners to spay.

The Golden mix mom would not have had pups.  The black stray youngster who I was threatened to take may not have been born.

I promise to have a happy tale to tell you next week.  There is much to rejoice about and to give thanks.  The exciting adoptions are another reason we look forward and can move past the sad stories.  In the mean time, hunters: remember to bury or burn the deer bones, heads, and hides.  Please help dog owners keep their pets from wandering.

Accepted strays and relinquished dogs and kittens:
… Chihuahua Pomeranian type mix female, about 8 pounds, long white and red coat.
… Two black with white long coated Golden Retriever mix pups, 7- weeks or so of age found near DD, 3 miles north of Hwy 34.
… Golden Retriever mix, mother of above pups has been on hold long enough to list her for adoption.
…  This is my third week asking to help the mangy dog that is almost naked, running the area of Highway 34 near DD, often seen walking along the highway.  Please someone take this dog to the vet but call first.  No one has called us to help this dog which is troubling.
… 4 Boston Terrier or Boston Terrier mix pups: born Halloween.  All have corkscrew tails but one who has no tail. Two black/ white, one red/ white and one brindle/ white.
… Female white with a few red spots, Pointer or Setter type mixed possibly with Lab, 50 pound range stray from Whitewater area. She seems to have a spastic ovary that continuously recycles.

Adoptions, return to owner or placed in other rescues (5):
… Miele: female Lab and Heeler mix baby: flew to PA with a 19 year old owner who is going to school and living with parents: committed pet loving family.
… JR, who came with Eugene, abandoned for three years, was adopted Saturday by a graduating college student from Rolla.  She will be moving with JR to a job in Iowa in December and wanted a large dog to jog with also as a guardian.
… Eugene, age 8-10 left to an owner on transport by way of a private plane to Troy Ohio. Eugene and JR came together and left our home one day apart.  In August 30, 2013.
… Jolly Rancher: Rat Terrier puppy, one of five left by owners in the country to starve.
… Reeses: sibling to above pup adopted by Dr. Jone’s family!  One male pup is left.

Cat calls:
… FREE, ten cats: age 1 year, all spayed or neutered house cats, litter trained. Well cared for, call 573-495-2033
… Six kittens 4-mo-old, Patton 573-208-0078
… Mother and kitten are grey tabby, mom is PG, 3-4 mo old fe kitten, Zalma 222-6978
… Someone dumped 2 long hair tabbys: one dark tabby semi long, a white with tabby, and a black with white kitten.  Call 573-495-2033

Calls requesting assistance for dogs we did not admit:
… Black dog running the woods along H and Co Rd 703: may be chasing deer or a stray.
… LOST three weeks ago in MH near Zimmerman Street and Sheriff’s office: light Tan male Chihuahua with a light blue collar, 8-10 pounds.
… Free Chihuahua, does not like young kids.  238-3112 Husband died and was his dog.
… Reddish male Chihuahua, white socks, somewhat shy of strangers, free 238-3632.
… Three Blue Heeler and “mixes of” needing to be re-homed.  Mom may be pure or mix and the same with Dad.  Also a 1 yr old daughter is up for adoption.
… Same above family has 4 kittens who need homes: 2 dark grey medium coat and 2 Grey and white tabby stripe mixes.  ALL have blue eyes and are 10 weeks old.
… LOST Great Pyrenees male, 18 mo old, tan spot on head, lost near Possum Creek Sunday.
… LOST 10/16/13 In Marble Hill: Golden Retriever Male, intact, age 10.
… LOST 10/07/13 Co Rd 400 at first T: Champagne color Pit, 9 months of age, male, neutered.
… LOST 10/6/13, near Patton: older Chocolate Lab male, wearing a collar with red. He could be anywhere, possibly stolen.  This child’s pet never leaves home.
… LOST 10/4/13 south 51 near Co Rd 400: purebred red/white Boxer female. [FB]

Miscellaneous and contact info:
We had 42 dogs on our property Monday.

If you suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, call the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Hotline, 314-647-4400 or 800-383-9835 or you can make a confidential report on line at Humane Society of Missouri.

To understand when an animal is being abused or neglected in the state of Missouri read the following link:http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cruelty/mo_cruel.htm

Please report animal abuse and discourage anyone from dumping dogs or puppies.

Offer any pregnant dog small-breed-puppy-food the final 1-2 weeks before delivery and while the pups are nursing.  Cats need kitten food.  Free feed the higher calorie food during the nursing stage to help mom make milk and maintain her own body mass.  Babies need to be dewormed as young as 1-2 weeks, then every 7-10 days until age 10-weeks or older if in a confined environment with re-infestation concerns.

Offer strays water on day one, food day two or three. Call if missing a dog or have a stray.

We LOVE Buchheits!  Donate a buck or more at the Jackson store for dog food and supplies when you shop. Also, Second Time Around in Marble Hill is taking donations for the Stray Project. Monetary donations are accepted at the Bollinger County Veterinary Service, Marble Hill Coop, Buchheits, and the MH Town and Country.

Thank you to the County Residents who have continued to support the Bollinger County Stray Project. 

Check out our available pets at Petfinder.  Call 573-722-3035 about our adoptable pets.