adopt « Bobbi and the Strays

Posts Tagged ‘adopt’

Greetings from Brooklyn!

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Hello everyone! I would like to share a holiday greeting from one of our alumni – a dog named Brooklyn. She was saved from the city shelter and is living the good life with her loving new family. It’s the stories that adopters share which give us the strength to continue. The hope that one day we can do this for all the homeless dogs and cats and there will be none left without a warm loving home… Thank you Anna for writing this wonderful history of your life with Brooklyn!

Love, “Aunty Sandy”

(as Brooklyn now likes to call me!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS BOBBI AND SANDY!

Love Brooklyn (and my parents Anna and Jay)

I started off my new life when Bobbi saved me from the bad place. I was taken to a new half-way home where people looked after me and promised they would find me a furever home… I hoped it would be soon

One night two people came to see me, they had met a couple of my other friends first and were saving me for last. I was just excited that I got another chance to get outside and run around! Little did I know that my little toilet break would be the night I met my new mom and dad!!

On Easter Saturday it was my birthday.. mom and dad came to collect me and take me to my new home in Queens! My very own home! Boy was this going to be fun!

I arrived at my new apartment and I couldn’t believe my eyes, I had a brand new bed that was all mine! There were also toys and LOTS of new smells and food and water in my own place in the kitchen!

My new bed!!

Unfortunately it wasn’t going to be all fun and games, you see I had gotten sick over the past few weeks. What we initially thought was just kennel cough developed into pneumonia and I was a very sick girl indeed. I didn’t eat, I threw up a lot, I couldn’t breathe and I barely stood up.. it was very scary. At least I was warm and safe.

Mommy and Daddy made me a bed on the floor and mommy slept with me most nights to wipe my nose and make sure I could breathe okay.

I needn’t have worried, my guardian angel, Bobbi, stepped in once again and made sure that my new mom and dad were able to get me better at a couple of different vets offices and with lots of different antibiotics. I lost a lot of weight (yep, I actually dropped into the mid 30 pound range – I’m a pitbull for goodness sake I’m not meant to be that skinny!) but slowly I started to feel better, I really didn’t like those pills everyday, yuck!

My aunty Sandy was really nice through all of it, I heard mom on the phone every night talking to her about me and how I was going. I knew I was in safe hands.

My life has been a blur of funness ever since I beat my sickness.

Mom bought me a raincoat (though I still shake myself when my feet get wet even though I am actually dry, mom thinks this is very funny!)

I love to go camping, mommy and daddy take me to the Poconos in the summertime.

It’s great, I chase chipmunks and smell lots of stuff and I don’t have to wear that silly leash all the time!

My grandparents came to visit from Australia, my grandma knitted me my very own winter sweater!

I have new boots now for next year at the Poconos, it turns out that I ignore that I am hurting my feet running around all the time until they are very very sore. So mom bought me some outdoor shoes! I’m not super used to them yet, but it sure beats gravel between the toes! J

Since I came to my furever home I have been so happy!

I am so grateful to Bobbi and her team. If it weren’t for them I never would have found a furever home or my mom and dad.

I now weigh in at close to 50 pounds, mom says I am a little piglet, and I think she might be right!

I have learned so many new tricks I can now sit, stay, high five with right and left paw separately, roll over and play dead. My dad is so proud, he shows me off to all of our friends. I just like the treats, but don’t tell mom and dad that!!

Thank you Bobbi and Sandy, and all the other helpers, who played such a big part in making sure I was given a second chance in life!

Merry Christmas!

Love Brooklyn

(Oh and Anna and Jay too!)

Xoxo

Tags: adopt, animal care and control, bobbi and the strays, dog, Pit bull
Posted in Happy Tails | 3 Comments »

Rescue, Rehabilitate, Adopt, & Educate

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Bobbi and the Strays work is mostly based on four principals – to Rescue, Rehabilitate, Adopt, and Educate. What does this mean, you may ask?

We Rescue many of our dogs and cats directly from the street. Some were born there – others have been abandoned there. Others still are abandoned in vacant lots, houses, or apartment buildings where caring people luckily find them and contact us. Some people pass away leaving their animal companions confused as they may have no idea where there human family has gone or why they have lost their home. We also rescue dogs and cats off of euthanasia lists at other shelters – where we give them a truly second chance at life. Maybe worst of all – some we rescue directly from abuse and neglect – sometimes it can be quite severe.

The severely abused or neglected animals need a lot of care and attention. Medical bills can easily run into the thousands of dollars on just one animal. And all animals still need to be examined, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. And even those that do not require specialized medical attention sometimes require a lot of attention in general since they have been starved of it sometimes their whole lives. There can be many types of Rehabilitation. Some dogs and cats simply need someone to just show they care and love them. Others need a bit more time to be brought out of their shell and learn to trust someone – human or animal. Don’t forget – animals can’t speak – so it can be hard to know what they have been through or have seen.

Our main purpose is to place these precious creatures into loving forever homes – their second lives – hopefully the only one they will come to remember. : – ) Bobbi and the Strays strives to find the right homes for all of our animals. We do house-checks and reference checks. We won’t Adopt cats and dogs to just anyone. : – ) And we have a guaranteed return policy on all animals that we place – because our goal is to find these animals a great home – for life.

In addition to all of this we try to Educate. We reach out to the public at large, politicians and community leaders, schools and organizations. We fight for the lives and rights of these animals. We try to educate everyone on the importance of Spaying and Neutering – this helps keep animals off of the streets and out of shelters. We educate people on the proper way to care for a pet. We try to speak at as many schools as possible – so that children can understand early in life how they can be a part of the solution too.

Our hope is to make such an impact that organizations like ours, someday, are no longer needed. We hope that you can share in this dream as well.

You can visit our website – www.BobbiAndTheStrays.org or call us at (718) 326-6070 to find out how you can help us Rescue, Rehabilitate, Adopt, and Educate.

Tags: adopt, educate, mission, rehabilitate, rescue
Posted in How To Help, News | 3 Comments »

Sweet Eba

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Poor Eba. Just being in a shelter is difficult for the dogs, but for this 7 year old rotti girl, it has been particularly hard.

Eba’s original owner had passed away and the person he wanted to care for Eba could not do it so she surrendered Eba to our shelter. When Eba first came in, she was very attached to her current caretaker and didn’t want anything to do with us. One of my new workers was a little worried.

“Lets just take a walk together,” I suggested and we all walked Eba around outside the shelter. Eba got into her walk and she didn’t even notice when I took the leash from her caretaker. I then ignored Eba and just continued on the walk. Most people think you should give the dog a lot of attention and talk and pet the dog when meeting, but for a dog like Eba, who was clearly uncomfortable with us and her suroundings, the best thing to do is to ignore her and let her feel you out. So that is what we did. By the next day Eba was our best friend.

She quickly became known as the dog who walks right at your side, gazing up at you in adoration, or the dog who just flops over for belly rubs anytime or place. Her little stub of a tail goes crazy in excitment when meeting other dogs. She usually has to be bribed to go back in her cage with a treat and it breaks out hearts everytime to put her back.

Eba was lucky enough to go to a wonderful foster home but when the foster parents had to start working more they returned Eba to the shelter because they didn’t want her to be alone all day. Eba was adopted out not long after but returned the next day. Some people have the best intentions and try to compensate for the dog being in the shelter with tons of affection and attention right off the bat but for a dog like Eba who has been through so much, she needs space to adjust. It doesn’t take her long but her new home was too overwhelming too soon and they brought her back when she went to bite a vister to the house on the first day =(

When I give Eba to new volunteers to walk, I always tell them the same thing. “Ignore her for awhile. No petting. talking etc. When she is ready, she will come to you.” They look at me with uncertainity as they take the leash but when they come back, they usually say the same thing. “She is the best dog! She is so sweet! She just rolled over for belly rubs on the grass and didn’t want to get up!”

When Eba started limping one day, a caring volunteer took her to Howard Beach Animal Clinic where we found out the bad news. Eba had a torn ACL in her leg. She was in a lot of pain and would need surgery. To make matters worse, they found a lump on her belly that could be a cancer tumor. They would have to do a biopsy. If she had cancer, they would have to do another major surgery. On top of that, she would need 16 weeks recovery for her leg. Just the thought of her having to recover in a noisy, stressful shelter brought me to tears.

The day I brought Eba back for her surgery we had to wait because it was extremely crowded. In a room full of strangers and strange dogs, Eba decided to flop over for her belly rub. It was the cutest thing. She seemed oblivious to everything else! She seemed relaxed and content to be pet in a crowded vet waiting room, waiting patiently for her turn to be called. When I left her there for her surgery, it was hard not to cry. She was such a good dog!

After the surgey, Dr Weinstein called us to say that everything went well and that Eba should spend a couple more days at the vet recovering before going home. They did a biopsy but didn’t have the results back yet.

We prepared for her return at the shelter. Someone donated a large comfortable orthropedic bed for Eba to rest on. The staff knew they couldn’t let Eba run or play. She could be leashed walked only.

Then we got the good news! The biopsy came back and Eba didn’t have cancer! When I went to pick up Eba from the vet, Dr Weinstein brought her out and said, “This is a nice dog!” It seemed he really taken a liking to her. He gave me detailed instructions about her recovery and told me she would have to come back in ten days to get her staples out.

Eba didn’t seem like a dog who just had surgery. She was happy to see me and I had to keep her on a very short leash because she wanted to hop and run out to my car. I had to use all my strength to stop her from jumping in and allow me to lift her gently into the back seat. She wanted to put her head right near mine as we drove back to the shelter.

In the days to come, staff and volunteers would take extra special care in dealing with Eba. When the weather was nice enough we would take her out on the grass and just sit with under a nearby tree. She couldn’t walk very far and sometimes she would just lie down and rest. We would wait patiently till she felt strong enough to get back up. She would lie there, rolled over, asking to be pet, her paws straight up in the air. She was goofy, loving, playful.

When I took Eba back to the vet for her check up, Dr Weinstein said her leg was healing well. They took the staples out and instructed me not to let her run or play yet. She was still healing. Then in the middle of her check up, she flopped to the floor again for a belly rub!

Eba is almost completely healed now. I am sad that she had to recover in the stressful shelter environment but I am proud of the strength and grace she possessed. I pray every night that someone will come along who is able to adopt and see Eba for the wonderful dog she is. She has to be one of the most devoted and loyal canines I have ever met- and I have met a lot! I know whoever adopts her will be extremely lucky. Someone just needs to give her a chance.

I want to sincerely thank Dr Weinstein of Howard Beach Animal Clinic for performing the surgery and taking special care of Eba for us. We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to the Pedigree Foundation for giving us a grant that helped make Eba’s surgery possible. Also thank you to the volunteers and staff who also donated special items and their valuable time in helping Eba recooperate after her surgery. Thank you!!

IF you are interested in adopting or fostering Eba please email Adopt@bobbicares.org or click here for more information on this special dog.

Eba relaxing by the tree at the shelter Eva loves belly rubs!

Eba resting in the grass

Staples in Eba's leg after her surgery

Eba relaxings with a volunteer at the shelter

Eba relaxing with a volunteer at the shelter

Tags: adopt, dog, donate, Eba, foster, help, sponsor, surgery
Posted in Happy Tails, How To Help, News | 2 Comments »

When Did This Happen?

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

This story was submitted by Susan, one of our wonderful volunteers. She coordinates the Pet Guardian Sponsorship program for Bobbi and the Strays. Thank You Susan!!!

When did this happen? When did I become a “cat” person?

I had always thought of myself as exclusively a “dog” person, having always had one in my life, and if you’re a “dog” person, you tend to look sideways at “cat” people.

I had always bought into the typical stereotype of what a cat was all about…aloof, unpredictable, and whenever I met someone’s cat, I’d ask “Does he bite?” That may not be a typical person’s first question, but one of my classmates in high school had a Siamese cat and I’d heard from mutual friends how it would lick your hand, tenderizing it I suspect, and then it would bite down.

You see, when you don’t have much personal experience with cats, you tend to think that the odd individual is the norm.

Are all cats as crazy as that Siamese? No. Does every cat disappear when company arrives? No. Are there gentle, loving, wonderful cats? YES!

Just when did my transformation from “dog” person to “dog AND cat” person begin?

Two years ago my daughters and I arrived at Animal Care and Control to rescue a dog for Bobbi. While we were waiting at the counter a woman came in with a small carrier with two four week-old kittens inside. The lady behind the desk kept explaining to the woman that they were too young, that they couldn’t keep them anywhere until they were eight weeks old, the adoptable age, and that their young lives would end once they entered the system.

Well, that was all my daughters had to hear. A quick call to Bobbi saying we would care for them until they were adoptable, a slightly longer call to my husband explaining the situation, and we left with dog and kittens in tow.

I’d strongly suggest that anyone wanting to care for a cat, or dog, read up on their care before they bring one home, but we didn’t have that luxury. Believing snippets of commercials and remembering stories we’d heard, we ran into some problems, not in caring for the kittens themselves, but with stupid things like dumping the contents of the litter box into the toilet, wasn’t it supposed to be flushable? After my husband took care of the very unpleasant task of “de-clumping” the toilet, it was time to log onto the internet for a crash course in Kittens 101.

Our introduction to kittens may have been off to a rocky start, but it changed all of our lives, and that of our dogs as well.

Whenever we’ve cared for a kitten in need we’ve had to compartmentalize our lives. Some of our dogs will gently lick and clean the kittens while we hold them, but others would be less enthusiastic. Sometimes the upstairs bedrooms will exclusively be the cat zone for a few months at a time, with my long-suffering husband taking up residence on the couch to keep the dogs company.

We’ve all come a long way in the last two years, read lots of books, and have cared for nearly 40 kittens during that time–newborns, sick ones, injured ones, well ones, ones who didn’t make it–and each of us has found parting with these little guys to be a painful moment in our lives. The day they leave our home to go to the shelter rips us apart. A new set of worries begins. How long will they be there? Will they love them as much as we have?

The reward? Seeing the look on someone’s face when they embrace their new family member, and in the rare instance, having the new family stay in touch with updates and photos–that’s just heaven.

Cats, dogs, people–we’re all the same in that we’re all unique individuals.

Tags: adopt, cat, foster, kitten, recue
Posted in Volunteer Vittles | 2 Comments »

Puppy Love

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

“The puppy is sick,” was the first thing I heard when I walked into the shelter today and the last thing I wanted to hear. I walked over to her cage. Her name is Morgan. She was the last puppy from Sadie’s litter. Sadie had given birth in our shelter after we rescued her from the side of the highway. Morgan is a 12 week old pit bull mix.

She was standing behind the cage bars looking at me with sad eyes. Then she started to cough. “Call the vet and tell them I am bringing the puppy over,” I said as I opened the cage door and took Morgan in my arms.

Morgan was a gem in the car. She sat on the passenger seat leaning up to gaze out the window. Once she started to bite the knob on the radio and the station changed. I guess she didn’t like the song. She barely coughed on the way to the vet. Sometimes just being out of the shelter environment helps them relax.

The waiting room was crowded in Howard Beach Animal Clinic and we had to wait awhile but Morgan was extremely good. She sat on my lap the whole time. I was just grateful that they were able to squeeze us in at all.

Dr Weinstein saw Morgan. “What a beautiful puppy!” he said. He examined her and listened to her cough. “Do you have a nebulizer at the shelter?” he asked. I nodded. “Nebulize her three times a day and give her this three times a day.” He handed me an envelope with meds in it.

The volunteers were finishing up walking the dogs, the staff finishing up cleaning. We hooked up the nebulizer for Morgan and realized there was no sterilized water. So back to the vet I went, sans Morgan this time, to pick up the water. When I came back Morgan was asleep on top of a giant blue stuffed elephant I had just washed for her at the laundry mat. She was so happy to have her “friend” back. Veronica, our wonderful morning superviser, nebulized her and given her her meds.

Puppies are so fragile. I hated leaving her at the shelter. I went outside and dig in the box of doggie coats for some small coats that would fit Morgan. I was seriously considering taking her home till she got better. Its so hard for them to feel better in the shelter especially when they are coughing like this.

“We caught it early,” Veronica said. “She will be better soon.”

I kept my plan to myself as I picked out a couple of coats and put them on top of her cage. I’d have to keep her crated a lot though I think the crate I have is bigger than the cage she is in now… It was a risk bringing a sick dog home. She could get my dogs sick if I wasn’t careful. I thought about where I would put her… in the office was the best room though my dogs would have to pass her on their way in and out of the yard. My dogs sleep in my bedroom with me so that wouldn’t be good… I’d have to clear out a space in the office. I just moved and all my unpacked boxes were in the office…

I decided to go home first, set things up and tomorrow if she didn’t sound any better I would bring her home. I really couldn’t just walk in the house with Morgan. My dogs would try to jump up and sniff her and be going crazy.

When I left the shelter she was sleeping. The rest of the dogs watched me leave. Lennox, a white pit mix that I take to Alley Pond Park on weekends whimpered when I left. My heart breaks everytime I leave.

I stopped by our Atlas Adoption Center on the way home to meet with Bobbi and Denise, the wonderful girl who works the night shift at the Vetport. I make sure she knows how to use the nebulizer. “I told Mike we might have to bring the puppy home,” Denise said. Mike is her significant other. “I don’t want to leave her there sick. He has off all next week and can take care of her.” I just smiled at her. Denise has a huge heart. She already adopted one of the puppies because she brought her home when she was sick.

At home, I can’t stop thinking about Morgan. It breaks my heart when they get sick at the shelter. The shelter can be stressful enough without being ill. I have everything set up incase I have to take her home tomorrow.

Even as I updated our Facebook page I came across photos of Morgan and Scotch playing in the grass at the Vetport. Scotch is a big pit bull who loved all of the puppies. He and Morgan are now best friends. I remember the day we resced her mom off the highway and I remember the day she and the other pups were born at the shelter. That puppy will probably be in my dreams tonight! These dogs just have a way of getting into your heart and head. I am saying a prayer that Morgan feels better soon. I can’t wait to see her playing in the grass with Scotch again or even better yet, adopted into a great home.

To learn more about Scotch – visit Scotch’s Profile

Be sure to also check out Bobbi and the Strays Fan page on Facebook

Tags: adopt, dog, love, morgan, puppy, Scotch
Posted in Volunteer Vittles | No Comments »

Never Say Never

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Sam was a yellow lab/shar pei mix that came to us from Animal Control in Staten Island. Their shelter was full and they were going to euthanize him and another dog named Tickles. Did we have room, they inquired? We, of course, are always full. There are more dogs needing rescue than people adopting but sometimes we are able to raise the funds to pay for two extra cages in boarding and that is what we did for Tickles and Sam.

The day they came in, I found Sam to be shy but friendly. His tail was between his legs and he stood there quivering. I eased him into the shelter and brought him back to the cage we set up for him. He looked at me with uncertainity but followed me in. I left him alone to examine the comfy bed and new chew toys I had left for him.

Tickles was more outgoing. She covered my face with kisses and was very excited to be at our shelter. It was like she knew she was safe. She somehow knew she had escaped an early death.

When I was leaving for the night I made an extra stop to Tickles and Sam’s cages. They were both on their beds all curled up. I had already turned the lights out so I couldn’t see them too well. I went into their cages and sat with them for a moment and pet them, telling them everything was okay now.

I never dreamed that either of them would be a “hard adoption.” Sam was a cute lab mix and though he was scared, he was calm and friendly. Tickles was an adorable dog and though some people have prejudices against pits and pit mixes she was extremely freindly and outgoing, full of love and charm. Plus she was only 35 lbs and very short. The smaller dogs are easier to place in the city where many people live in cramped spaces.

However as the days wore on, Sam’s fear kept him from trusting new people. He was very in tune to body language and if someone leaned over him the wrong way or stared too hard, he felt he had to protect himself. His sensitivity to this suggests he may have been abused in his previous home. This broke our hearts and we were determined to do everything we could to help him. We took him to obedience classes. The first time I took him he refused to go down stairs. In fact he was petrified of them! It took me 15 minutes to get him down the steps to the class.

Another volunteer named Donna fell in love with Sam and continued classes with him. He picked up commands very easily and he mastered “sit’, “stay”, “come” and “down” very easily. He graduated the beginners class without a problem. However he didn’t do as well in his CGC class. Because he was very afraid of some strangers it was difficult for him to accept the touch of a stranger during certain tests for the CGC.

Sam seemed to withdraw more and more. Fewer and fewer volunteers were willing to walk him. People became afraid of him. With the volunteers and staff who knew him and who he trusted he was a loveable, playful puppy. He loved playing fetch, practicing his commands and just cuddling on your lap. But the people he didn’t know or trust saw him differently. “That dog will never get adopted!” someone once said.

But at Bobbi and the Strays we never say never! We never gave up on Sam. We continued to work with him and advertise him. We were committed to finding him the right home

Not long after, Sam’s angels came to meet him. They were a lovely couple that lived in Westchester county. They just moved to a home with a spacious grassy yard. They loved hiking in the beautiful Rockefeller State Perserve and planned to take their new dog with them. It seemed an ideal life for Sam.

When they came to meet Sam, Sam loved them right away. He trusted them right on the spot and they didn’t let him down. They wanted to adopt him! It surely was the happiest day of his life so far!

We knew that there would be an adjustment period and Sam’s new parents understood. He was always good with them and showed them nothing but love and gratitude. He can still be weary of some strangers but they continue to work with him to build his confidence.

The happiest moment for us was getting updated photos of Sam in his new home. He looked like a different dog. So happy and relaxed! The weight of the world seemed to be lifted off his shoulders!

Here are some photos that his new parents have sent to us. Doesn’t he look wonderful?

Meanwhile Tickles, the petite outgoing pit mix is still at our shelter. This completely baffles us because she is an adorable, well behaved dog. She goes out on day trips with volunteers sometimes who say she is great. She is housebroken, walks well on the leash, loves learning basic commands and playing with her toys. When I took her to Rockaway Beach a couple of times she was so happy to be there. She loved sniffing the sand and she stood at the waters edge taking in the salty air and the scenery. She doesn’t give us any problems at the shelter. Its heartbreaking for us to see her stare out through the cage bars when we put her back in the cage for the night. She seems to be wondering, “Why hasn’t anyone come for me?”

Recently a volunteer made a video of Tickles in hopes that it would help her find a home. Please click here to watch her video: Tickles still needs a home!

We know that just like with Sam, there is a home out there for Tickles. We just have to find it! Please spread the word about this wonderful dog so soon we can post updated photos of her happy and relaxed in her new home as we did with Sam.

To adopt or foster Tickles please email Adopt@bobbicares.org

For more info on this wonderful dog please see her bio on our website: Tickles Adoption Page

Here are the most recent photos of the beautiful Tickles taken at our shelter.

Tags: acc, adopt, bobbi and the strays, dog, euthanasia, lab mix, rescue, sam, shar pei
Posted in Happy Tails, How To Help, Rescue Stories | 2 Comments »

Oreo – Happy At Last

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Story submitted by Lorraine Sakli, a Bobbi and the Strays volunteer.

The well-dressed couple passed the shivering black and white spaniel and didn’t give him a second glance. He huddled next to a bank of garbage cans on The Bowery in New York City’s Lower Eastside and watched in fear as taxi cabs whizzed by.

A woman was leaving her night job and noticed the scared little dog in the corner. He wagged his tail at her, so she picked him up and took him home. But she was a cat rescuer with 15 cats in her tiny apartment and couldn’t keep him. She believed the little dog had been abused because he snarled and snapped at her broom and growled when she put her hand out to give him a treat. She kept him for a few days before she called me—she knew I volunteered at Bobbi and the Strays– and asked if the shelter could help the little dog. Bobbi and the Strays did manage to take him in to try to get him a home.

He was vetted before arriving at the Atlas Park shelter and I called him Oreo. I thought he was one smart cookie. At first, Oreo was very frightened, backing up into his cage, and refusing to come out for walks. Slowly but surely, he tried to make friends with the staff, the other animals, and the people who came in to see and adopt Bobbi’s strays.

When Chris, a postman from Pennsylvania, saw Oreo’s photo online, he fell in love at first sight. Right before Thanksgiving, Chris and his fiancée drove to the Atlas Park to meet and adopt Oreo. They came through the door, smiling happily, arms loaded with a big basket of treats and toys for the dogs. But when Oreo, arrived at his new Pennsylvania home, his fear issues surfaced. He became territorial and guarded everything — shoes, a bedroom rug, a toy, a treat, and a hand towel—growling and barring his teeth at Chris at every move. Very quickly, Chris understood that he was not the right companion for the little spaniel. He couldn’t provide the discipline Oreo needed to help him get over his anxieties and fears. After much soul-searching and sadness, Chris returned Oreo to Bobbi before Christmas.

Oreo settled back into his cage at Atlas Park and his life at the shelter, waiting for the special person to come along who would understand exactly what he needed and would love him, no matter his issues. He still backed into his cage at times, refusing to come out. He had his fearful moments and growled and snapped when he felt afraid. His eyes would lock into a stare and he looked as though he was getting ready to lash out and bite. There was even a warning on his cage to be careful.

During the winter months, every Monday evening, I took him to Pawsative dog training classes in the basement of a church in Woodhaven. Oreo turned out to be a fast learner, the star pupil. He was certainly far ahead of me in class, executing every command to perfection, while I missed my hand signals and stumbled over the leash. He flourished in this proactive environment where he was called on to do something, to work for his treats. And he was very happy socializing with the other dogs, and the people, too. The trainer said, ‘Right now, Oreo speaks dog better than he speaks people. But I know he will learn to trust people again.’

Monday after Monday, over ice and snow, we went to the classes and Oreo became more and more receptive and animated. His moody fits became less and less. We always cuddled in the front seat of car on the way back to Atlas and I kept telling him what a good boy he was. He loved to hear that because he was a good boy.

Spring came and Oreo was still in his cage waiting for that special someone. He stood there, looking out with his adorable black and white face, swishing his plumed tail back and forth, as if to say, “Where are you, my person? Where are you?”

He loved to go for walks and liked rubbing his back against the huge concrete planters placed around the mall. He scratched his back on them like a big cat. At the shelter, people came and went. Some bent down to coo at Oreo. Others said how cute he was, but there was still no one who wanted to give him a home. No one saw the intelligent eyes, and the joy inside him, evidenced by his swishing tail. They did not see the happy gifts he could bring them. If they only looked.

Then one day in May, someone looked—right through the Bobbi and the Strays window– and saw Oreo. His name was Mark and he had another Oreo at home, a black and white spaniel that had some medical issues. He also had several other dogs. Mark was smitten by Oreo and came right back with his wife to adopt the little guy.

At the home visit, I could see that Mark truly loved all his dogs and that he would easily assimilate Oreo into his pack. His home was a paradise for pets with a big backyard and lots of room inside the house for the dogs to play. There were several food dishes placed in different locations, so the dogs would not have “food fights”. Comfy couches and chairs for dog lounging were everywhere. It was canine heaven. Oreo took to Mark instantly, kissing his face and then playing roughhouse. Mark disciplined Oreo when he needed and there was no growling or snarling or staring intently—Oreo was comfortable. He was no longer afraid. I felt a rush of pure joy because after all he had been through, I knew Oreo was finally going to his forever home and I knew Oreo was happy at last.

Oreo and Mark

Tags: adopt, dog training, forever home, pack, pawsative, rescue, spaniel
Posted in Happy Tails, Rescue Stories, Volunteer Vittles | 2 Comments »

Website Launch & Martini Mixer

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

The new Bobbi and the Strays website was launched on the evening of Tuesday, February 17th, 2009. We here at Bobbi and the Strays consider this date in time a historic moment.

The Adopt a Pet page of the website is an especially big hit with the public since it showcases most of the beautiful dogs and cats that we have for adoption. Our website is a big success and we want to thank you and all of our supporters for helping to make it such a success. Thank You!!!

We also need to thank the folks behind the website for all of their time, generosity, and true kindness. First – the website was donated to Bobbi and the Strays! Hooray for us! This donor wishes to remain anonymous – but we still need to let you know of the hard work and resources he put into this – and continues to put into this – on our behalf.

While this very special person did most of the work – programming, administration, hosting, etc. – it was definitely a group effort to get the project off the ground and finished. A group of volunteers worked for many, many, months with creating and organizing content and then laying it all out. A graphic designer by the name of Becky Munich volunteered to design the template and graphics for our site – making it look as lovely as it does. We want to thank all of these people for making this website possible – THANK YOU!!!

Also, staff members and volunteers are continually working on updating our animal profiles, events, news, as well as a few other corners of the website. They contribute to the success of this website on a daily basis. Thank You!!!

Two weeks after the successful launch of our website we wanted to have a little fun. So on Thursday, March 5th, we had our Weblaunch Martini Mixer in the Martini Lounge at Simply Fondue. It was a great event and about 80 people attended.

Camille with the one and only Bobbi

For a small admission guests were treated to appetizers and unlimited discounted martinis (of which, by the way, Simply Fondue offers over 75 types of) as well as some great music and mingling. We were also lucky enough to have donated to us some wonderful raffle prizes.

group

In the background, on two large flat screen televisions, we also had two videos playing. One was a walk-through of our website. The other was created by our Shelter Manager, Laura, which showcased our larger dogs that were available for adoption. It was a great night!

Laura with Bill

By now, hopefully, you are quite familiar with our website. If not, please be sure to check it out here - www.BobbiAndTheStrays.org

lil-group

Thank you to all who attended. Thank you to those that visit and use our website. Thank you for your generous donations. Thank you to the wonderful volunteers and donors who made – and continue to make – this website possible. THANK YOU!!!

P.S. – If you attended this event – or even if you didn’t but wish you had (not to worry) - we are having a “Martninis for Mutts” FUNdrasier on July 30 at the same place! Please follow this link for the details. We hope to see you there. : – )

Tags: adopt, adopt a pet, becky munich, bobbi and the strays, bobbiandthestrays.org, donation, donor, foster, martini, simply fondue, sponsor, thank you, website
Posted in Events | 2 Comments »

The Nightly Heartbreak

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

June 4th, I received the Euth list from the ACC. The list was full of beautiful, friendly, adoptable dogs that only landed on the dreaded list because of space or because they had come down a cold. Yes, a simple cold can land a dog on the euth list these days. This was the reason that Lacey, a beautiful chocolate brown pit mix was to be euthanized the next day. She was only 30 lbs. From her photo she looks very underweight. I could see her ribs. Her tail was tucked so far underneath her body, you culd barely tell she had a tail at all. An animal control volunteer wrote she was friendly with people, other animals, no aggression noted… However our shelter was full. I had a waiting list a mile long of dogs that needed to come in. Where was I going to put Lacey?

I tried to put her out of my mind… but sometimes there are dogs that just won’t leave. They haunt me. There was another dog named Lucy that I had wanted to save off the euth list awhile back but I had already pulled another dog… and I had no space, yet something about Lucy just grabbed me. “You can’t save them all,” I told myself as I went to sleep with an uneasy feeling in my chest… I never forgot Lucy. For some reason she stands out in my mind. I know if we don’t have space and I can’t find a foster there isn’t much I can do. I had already pulled another dog that I really didn’t have room for and was going to foster myself… Yet I felt personally responsible for her death even though I had nothing to do with Lucy being in Animal Control in the first place. Once you make that connection, its hard to forget. This is just one example of what goes on for many rescuers in our city. This nightly heartbreak that the euth list brings… It hurt to know Lacey would join Lucy and the rest of the dead that live on in the back of my mind…

Then on June 6th we had a very successful adoption event. Two dogs ended up going home and we had some great applications for some others. In addition to that, another dog went to foster in the morning. In my mind I am always trying to figure out a way to “make room” at the shelter and once I had mentally filled the empty cages and potentially empty cages with the waiting list dogs it looked like there still may be room. I had a beautiful Rottweiler that had been thrown out on the street by his owner coming in on Monday ( a kind neighbor was holding the dog for us) and two pit bulls abandoned by their owners coming in later in the week. By miracle another dog on the intake list had been reunited with his owner… It looked like there may be some room now… some pressure was lifting…

I am hardly ever delighted to see an animal on the Euth list but that night on June 6th when I saw Lacey back on the list, I was ecstatic. For some reason or another, they hadn’t euthanized her two nights ago but here she was again. I immediately picked up the phone to call the hotline to pull her off the list. In my message I told them I would pick her up Monday morning.

I hung up the phone and looked at my own dog, Horatio who was lying in bed looking at me. Horatio was also on the Euth list twice before I was able to save him. The first time, a volunteer pulled him off in hopes that rescue would take him. No one did and he ended up back on the list a couple of days later. He was only six months old at the time. We just had a dog adopted that day and I was able to pull him. It was the best decision I ever made.

Horatio was staring at me with his dark eyes. “This one was for you,” I told him. I can’t imagine my life without Horatio. He brings me so much happiness everyday. He is loyal, devoted and affectionate. He is so full of life, loves to run and play and inspires me everyday. I knew that Lacey could also bring this to someone’s life. Its easy to just say, “Oh another pit bull on the list” but if you know a dog that has survived the euth list… know their personalities and look into their eyes… you can’t imagine that they almost lost their lives because they are so beautiful, so alive, and you can’t imagine that there are ones just like them about to be put to sleep right now… yet tragically, there are. Beautiful dogs that could be someone’s pet, someone’s best friend are being put to sleep everyday in NYC.

I felt ecstatic that I was able to save Lacey. I love the feeling of picking the dogs up from Animal Control and telling them they are safe now. I love when they hop into the car and stick their noses out the window and sniff the fresh air… Its a wonderful feeling to be able to rescue a dog!

Then I open my email the next night… and as there is everynight, there a euth list there, full of dogs waiting for rescuers to come get them… and my heart sinks as I look at the photos… where can I make room…? Where can I make room? If only I had a huge shelter or a waiting list of foster homes just waiting to help rescue a dog off the euth list… or even an extra room in this apartment… All of these things swirl through my mind…

While I am grateful they give us a chance to save these dogs, I can’t wait for the day when there are no euth lists. It will take more than rescues pulling dogs for this to happen (spay/neuter, humane education, the closing of puppy mills etc) but we can’t stop pulling the dogs, rescuing them one at time. It may not seem to make a dent but for the ones who survive it means everything.

Here is Lacey’s ACC photo.

lacey

For more information of adopting and fostering please visit our website www.bobbiandthestrays.org

Tags: acc, adopt, euth list, Horatio, Lacey, life, Pit bull
Posted in Rescue Stories | 5 Comments »

The Life You Can Save

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

The New York City shelters are full of pit bulls and pit mixes. Often it seems no matter how many we rescue or adopt out, they are just drops in the ocean. Rescues never seem to make a dent.

Recently I heard of dogs being pulled off the euth list (which is always full of pit bulls and pit mixes) by rescues and then the rescue backing out because the dogs look “too pitty.” This breaks my heart. The animal’s last hope walked away because of how he looks, something the animal cannot help.

That is why for us, its not about the breed. We are an all breed rescue. We believe they are all entitled to a happy, healthy life in a loving, responsible home. Senior animals, anmals that need surgeries, newborn kittens that need to be bottle fed, animals that need rehabilitation, small dogs, big dogs- if they need help, we will do our best to help them. For us, its about nothing more than the life we can save.

Recently one of our volunteers received a phonecall about a dog abandoned in an apartment building in Queens. The dog was taken to Animal Control by the police. I received the dog’s Animal Control ID number and looked him up on the website. I found a blurry photo of a white and brown pit bull huddled in the corner, staring at the camera like a deer in headlights.

There was nothing about the photo that would attract an adopter. This is why when I went to pick the dog up from Animal Control the next days I was so surprised. Here was this absolutley gorgeous animal with the softest white fur, beautiful reddish-tan markings including an adorable patch over one eye. He was around 55 lbs with a big block head and stunning hazel eyes.

I was handed his leash and took him outside for a walk. He seemed a little nervous, anxious, uncertain of his circumstances. He sniffed here and there and then did his business. When we put him in the car, he climbed gracefully into the backseat and curled up in the corner, resting his head on the cushion with a sigh.

How easy, I thought, it would have been for this dog to slip through the cracks of the city’s animal sheltering system. He was one of many, many, many beautiful pit bulls in need. If someone hadn’t called us to let us know about him, this dog’s chances of making it out of Animal Control alive would have been very slim.

When we arrived at the Bobbi and the Strays shelter, we took the dog, now named Scotch, out for a long walk around the area. Scotch took his time sniffing and exploring, putting each paw gingerly down on the soft freshly cut grass. He was a little nervous still, as most new dogs are when we bring them to our shelter. They don’t know where they are, why they are there and I think most of them wonder, especially the ones coming out of Animal Control, if they are truly safe now.

We fixed his cage up with a soft comforter, some food and fresh water. Scotch was very skinny so we would have to feed him extra till he reached a healthy weight. He also had missing fur on his neck and chest as if someone had a harness on him that was too tight. I scheduled him for a vet appointment to make sure.

I sat petting Scotch for a long time till it was time to leave the shelter for the night. When I closed the cage door, he cried, staring up at me with big hazel eyes. I couldn’t resist and went to pet him again. Not only did his tail wag back and forth in delight, but his whole body did a happy dance. “What a nice dog,” I thought. Thinking of how he would have been overlooked if we didn’t receive the phone call made me shake my head. There has to be a better way to educate the public about all the great dogs that are dying in our city shelters, all the great dogs like Scotch that just need someone to give them a chance.

I felt extremely happy that were able to help Scotch. Though he has a way to go still. His rescue journey isn’t over yet. There will be many photos and videos taken, vet visits, adoption visits from prospective families and then once a match is made, there will be a home check and reference check, lots of follow ups to make sure everything is going smoothly. A lot of work has to be done still before Scotch is truly home. I looked over my shoulder at him one more time before I left. His tail was still wagging.

It will be worth it. There is no doubt.

It may not have seemed like we have done a lot. Saving this one big headed pit bull among hundreds of others. But we saved a life. And you can’t look into Scotch’s eyes and say that it does not matter. His whole world has changed. The world of the family that is lucky enough to adopt him will change too. And once he is adopted, it will open up the space to save one more from euthanasia at our city shelters.

I close my eyes and think about all the animals we have adopted out and how we get updates of the animals lying in beds, playing in the yard or at the park from the wonderful people who adopted them. I imagine getting an update about Scotch, a photo of him lying in the grass, chewing on his favorite bone, all the worries and weight that he carried in these times of uncertainty are long gone.

Each life matters. It is as simple as that.

Adopt a stray, save a life.

To adopt or foster Scotch please email Adopt@bobbicares.org

Tags: adopt, animal care and control, bobbi and the strays, euthanize, Pit bull, rescue, save a life, Scotch, shelter
Posted in Rescue Stories | 9 Comments »

Bobbi and the Strays