Friday, December 21, 2007

Happy holidays to all

We, the dogs here at the Carson shelter, want to THANK YOU for supporting our shelter with donations of blankets and towels and toys and everything else you give us!



We thought you'd like to see a photo of Christy, one of our vet techs. She and Leslie and many other staff members work real hard taking care of us!





And we'd like to remind you that Ginger really needs a home. She's a sweet girl who wags her whole body when she greets you. And Tricia (AKA Lulu) doesn't have a home yet either.



This will be our final post for the year, because Susan will be needed elsewhere until after New Year's. If you can come down here to the shelter over Christmas vacation to visit us, that would be fantastic! Until next year, we are signing off!

Hagar - A3761809

Hi! Susan the dog lady likes to call me Hagar. I am a 5 year old German Shepherd mix. I came in as a stray on December 12. Right now I live in C313.





I am a REALLY good boy. I sat down for Susan when she entered my cage to greet me.







Please come on down to the Carson shelter and look at all the wonderful dogs down here. Saturday is a great day to come because there are more volunteers here. It costs only $37 to adopt a dog from here. Won't you consider giving a deserving dog here the Christmas gift of a loving home?

Daniela - A3753295

Hi! My name is Daniela, and I am a 3 year old female Siberian Husky / Lab mix, according to my kennel card. Susan the dog lady thinks I might have some Shepherd in me. I was owner surrendered on November 17. Susan thinks I am just beautiful. I live in building 2, toward the front, on the right side as you walk in from the front gate.





Susan was here at the shelter for 9 hours today, and she spent 6 of them cleaning and sanitizing the laundry room. Unfortunately she didn't have much time to take very many dogs out, so she took pictures of me through the wiring.





That didn't stop me from loving the treats she gave me though! You can see me licking my lips here!





You can adopt a dog here for just $37. The shelter hours are normally 12 noon - 7 PM Monday - Thursday, 10 AM - 5 PM on Friday and Saturday, and closed Sundays and holidays. On Christmas Eve day (next Monday), the shelter will be open 9 AM - 4 PM. Hope to see you!

Shania - A3756089

Hi! Susan named me Shania, after the country singer! I am a 2 year old female Pit Bull mix. I came in as a stray on November 26, and I live in C237. I am a very friendly girl.



Susan just gave me some treats in this first photo - I am still licking my lips!





Susan has noticed about pit bulls that we are often quite good at doing a nice sit and giving rapt attention. See how good I am in these pictures?






I would like nothing better than a loving home for Christmas. Please come down to the shelter and adopt me or one of the many other great dogs down here!

Teddy - A3761780

Hi, I'm Teddy! I am a 2 year old male Coonhound mix. Susan thinks I might be mixed with a touch of Rottweiler, judging from my appearance. Otherwise, I have that classic "Gomer Pyle" Coonhound personality. I came in as a stray on December 12. For the moment I live in C222.





I did my share of sniffing in the laundry room tonight, as you can see from these pictures.








There are lots of fantastic dogs here that need loving homes! If you're thinking of getting a dog for somebody for Christmas, please bring your loved one down here to the shelter with you and let that person pick out the right dog. Hope to see you down here soon!

Rico - A3717478

Hi! My name is Rico, and I am a 5 month old male Labrador/Beagle mix, according to my kennel card. Right now I live in C236. I was brought in December 3 as a stray. My card says Hold, but if you're interested in me you should ask about me anyway.





When Susan the dog lady came in to my cage to get acquainted, I greeted her with a lot of rambunctious jumping. Normally when that happens, Susan stands in the corner and turns her back to the dog. But she felt my claws catch on the pockets of her pants and she was afraid I would shred her clothes. So she turned around and raised her knee toward her chest each time I jumped. After she did that about 3 times, I got the message.





I wasn't easy to take out of the cage. I am not used to walking on leash with a training collar very well, but Susan would just stand in place until I would settle down, then take a few steps forward at a time. Eventually, we got to the back. If I started jumping again, Susan would keep the leash very short and just lower her hand closest to my head toward the ground, pulling the leash down with it.



Susan treats all the dogs she takes out to a laundry room excursion to smell the dirty laundry, and I was no exception.





Susan just LOVES this last photo of me. You see, I was sitting nicely instead of jumping, and Susan praised me lavishly and gave me many treats. My transformation from an unruly jumper to a pretty sitter was fast!





The Carson shelter will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM on Christmas Eve day. Please come down and look at the many wonderful dogs that are available for adoption!

Skipper - A3764020

Hi! My name is Skipper, and I am an 11 year old male German Shepherd mix. I was owner surrendered on December 18. Right now I live in C219.



Susan thought my eyes looked a bit weepy so she wiped my face and eyes with some baby wipes.





Susan thinks that for an 11 year old dog I am in pretty good shape. She took me in to the back while she was cleaning out the laundry room, and let me sniff some dirty towels. She thinks I am a calm sweet boy.





You can see my handsome face especially in the last photos.





Please come down to the shelter and consider giving an animal the Christmas gift of a loving home. You can take me or another dog home for just $37 dollars!



Zippy - A3764825


Susan the dog lady calls me Zippy. I came in today, December 21, as a stray. I was totally freaked out and I was trying to snap at Al, the kennel attendant.



Christy the vet tech asked Susan to wash me, as I seem to have "stress flakes" in my fur. I didn't like the bath at all. I struggled a bit, but Susan managed to bathe me. I did not even try to bite her.



I enjoyed the toweling off. Susan said I looked quite handsome! Susan then walked me around the shelter a little to let me dry off some more. I was quite headstrong on the leash, so Susan put a tiny training collar on me, and with a little more practice I got used to it.





Right now I am living in C218. I am still freaked out by all the barking noises here and I am even shy about approaching Susan. Please come down and say hello to me!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

McCoy - A3757103

Hi, my name is McCoy. I am 2 year old male mostly black Shepherd mix. Susan thinks I am mixed with Rottweiler. I was owner surrendered on November 29. My kennel card says I am dog aggressive. Right now I live in C212.



Susan thinks I am a little depressed. She noticed my skin seems to be shedding and flaking and it is showing up in my fur. She wanted to wash me tonight but couldn't.



Since I wouldn't hold up my head and look at Susan she had a hard time getting photos of me. She had to hold up my head with her hand just so she could get one photo of my face.





Maybe if I had a good home with a firm loving hand I would be happy again. Please come down to the Carson shelter and consider adopting a dog that needs a loving home!

mystery Shepherd in C341

Hi! Susan the dog lady couldn't find ANYTHING out about me because my cage was missing a kennel card. The staff was busy putting out blankets and there was nobody at the computer that she could get to print out a kennel card. Right now I live in C341.




Susan thinks I am possibly a senior dog. I am just slower and have that way about me. Even though I'm senior, I enjoyed sniffing the dirty laundry as much as the other dogs.





Susan thinks I have a beautiful face, which you can see here.



Triton - A3755635

My name is Triton. I am a 2 year old male German Shepherd mix. I was owner surrendered on November 25. Right now I live in C224.





Susan took me out tonight, and after an initial adjustement, I walked fairly well on a leash. I got to visit the laundry room and sniff dirty blankets too!





I got to walk around in the back with Susan, and I thought the roosters were pretty cool! You can see me checking them out here.





Did you know you can adopt a dog here for just $38? That includes spaying or neutering, shots, and microchip. Licensing will be extra. We are great deals!

Kerry - A3758429

Hi! My name is Kerry. I am a one year old male white German Shepherd mix. I came in December 3 as a stray. Right now I live in C227, next to another pure white dog.





I am quite shy. When Susan came in to my cage, I would come forward to take treats from her hand, but then back away to eat them! Eventually I came to her, and she put a collar around my neck and took me out.





I wasn't real used to walking with a training collar on a leash, but Susan took me around a few times, and I settled down. She let me sniff the dirty towels in the laundry room, which was a treat!





A lady stopped Susan to ask for help looking for her lost dog. Susan put me back in my kennel so she could help the lady, but forgot she left one of my doors open. I got out! I got to explore a little bit. Susan followed me slowly, then offered me some treats, and she was able to get me back in to my kennel. It was a fun night!

Honky - A3757300

Hi, my name is Honky. I am a 3 year old male white German Shepherd. I came in on November 29. My kennel card says "hold for owner" but Susan the dog lady does not know why I am still here if I am being held. Right now I live in C309.





Susan is researching the shepherds and she took me out tonight. She always takes us dogs back into the laundry room and lets us sniff the dirty towels and blankets, which is cool!





I was sorry Susan and I didn't get to walk around more together. There are lots of great dogs down here at the shelter. Why don't you come down and say howdy?

Astro - A3752511

Hi! My name is Astro. I am a 6 year old Shepherd mix. I came in as a stray on November 15. Right now I live in C311.





Susan and I haven't gotten a chance to get acquainted yet. She went around looking at all the German Shepherds and shepherdy mixes she could find to help a friend out. She thought I looked pretty cute so she took my photo.



I have a black chow mix kennel mate. We get bored being in our cages all day long. Won't you come down and say hello?



Sunday, December 09, 2007

Jilly - A3748230

Hi, my name is Jilly! I am a 1 year old blonde German Shepherd mix, brought in on November 5 as a stray. Right now I live in C221.



Susan was busy doing tons of laundry in the back, so it was kind of dark by the time she took me out. We went in the back play area, and she let me chase some squeaky toys. She walked me around the shelter a few times, and I thought the loose roosters were pretty cool! I wanted to chase them, but Susan wouldn't let me. Finally, she took me in to the laundry room. I just plopped down on the dog bed Tricia was on, and I stayed there while Susan started another load of laundry.







Susan says I am a beautiful, friendly girl. Unfortunately, when Susan came in to my cage, I didn't mind my doggy manners very well. I jump a lot, and I probably scratched Susan a little. She just turned her back to me and ignored me until I settled down a bit, so she could slip on a training collar. That's what Susan always does when a dog greets her like that.





I've been here too long and I would love to have a new home with somebody who will train me to greet people politely. Please come down and say hi! There are lots of great dogs here and we'd love to be in a home for Christmas. Won't you come down and say hi to us, or donate to the Los Angeles County shelters?

Ginger - A3738539

Hi! My name is Ginger. I am a 1 year old Shepherd mix, maybe mixed with Pit Bull. I came on October 11 as a stray. Right now I live in C247. When I greet you, I wag my whole body!





I was glad Susan the dog lady got to take me out today. It was getting kind of dark so I don't know how good these pictures are. Susan was walking me around when Officer Nick noticed that my rear right leg seems a bit atrophied compared to my other legs. Well, I am a big girl and could certainly use some exercise!





Susan said I sound like a little pig snorting when we walk! Maybe it's because I was so excited to be out and I wasn't used to walking around the shelter.



I know Susan wanted to get pictures of me but I don't like the flash on her camera very much. I hid on the other side of my kennel when she tried to get this last picture of me. I'd really like to go home with you. Will you come down here and adopt me?



Tricia - A3760930

Hi! Susan the dog lady named me Tricia. I came in on December 9 as a stray, so I'm not officially available for adoption yet. The shelter thinks I am 2 years old. My kennel card says black and white Shepherd mix, but Susan wonders if I am part Australian Shepherd, part Pointer or Dalmatian! You can see I actually am tri-colored, but I am mostly white. Right now I am living in C134.





Susan swiped my fur with her furminator and immediately discovered flea dirt and live fleas! So after walking me around a little bit, she put me in the tub.





I didn't like my bath very much. After struggling a little bit, I decided to cooperate. It wasn't obvious, but I was very dirty! Susan gave me a basic shampooing, a flea shampooing, creme rinse, and a final rinse with some vinegar in the water. She said, "Tricia, you are such a beauty!" At one point I threw up during my bath! But Susan cheerfully cleaned it up.



I really liked being toweled off. The dead fleas kept coming off on the towels. Susan let me lie down on a dog bed in the laundry room while she cleaned up after the bath. She gave me some water, then a little food. I ate about a third of a bowl, and that was enough.







Susan says I look really pretty now, and my fur has a gloss to it. Won't you come down and say hello? There are lots of great dogs down here that so desperately need loving homes.

Friday, December 07, 2007

The State of the Laundry Room at Carson

This blog would never want to tell anybody not to donate something to the Carson shelter. But if you still want to donate blankets, please contact the Carson shelter and ask to speak to Officer Tammy Howlett first, or go down there in person and talk to her. She is the officer who has been hauling the donations to the back every night. She's putting blankets away in hidden spots that most volunteers and shelter workers aren't even aware of.



This scene is becoming a nightly occurrence. This is behind the office on Thursday, December 5, where another load of blankets has been dumped. According to Tammy, a moving truck came earlier that day and left a load of used moving pads.




This is in the back, just outside the laundry room. Actually, it doesn't look much worse than it usually does, but normally the laundry room is under control.




This is what the laundry room looked like when I started duty on Thursday night. That's a fairly new washer and dryer. Unfortunately, it doesn't operate as fast as we'd like it to.




Here is a wider view of the laundry room. The door is holding back a tsunami of blankets that have been piled on to the grooming tables. If the blanket rack looks like it's getting empty, that's because the blankets out in the kennels haven't been picked up yet.




And these photos don't show where Officer Howlett and others have been stashing extra blankets. The laundry room is the only place with blankets readily accessible to me as a volunteer.



This is the laundry pile now after I spent the evening picking up blankets in buildings 1 and 3. Putting out blankets and quilts in each and every cage usually doesn't work very well because bored dogs love to shred them. That stuffing and shredded fabric often ends up in the drains and risks clogging them, which isn't fun. By the way, you'll notice a second washer and dryer stack, next to the blanket rack. That machine has suffered from overwork. And there is another washer-dryer set in the back which I did not photograph, also dead from overwork. That's another reason why putting out blankets and quilts in each and every kennel doesn't always work.




Certainly, efforts are made to put out blankets and quilts for puppies, pregnant/nursing dogs, and fragile, sick and elderly dogs. But each kennel contains an air vent, and warm air gets blown through the vents every night. In addition, the dog building doors are kept closed in the evenings to help keep the warm air in. Because of one misleading news story about a dog freezing to death, I am wading through all this trying to help get this under control when I would like to be showing animals to the public or doing other things for the dogs. We need this to be under control so we can readily access grooming supplies, toys, and other things we keep back here.



I won't disagree with anybody who says these dogs need more systematic and regular medical care. But I don't think putting a blanket in every kennel is necessarily the answer.