Time to CATCH UP With Us!

So it's been ahwile since a new blog has been posted, and for that I apologize.  I have been busy and then quite frankly I lost my blogging mojo, awful I know. So bare with me because there is going to be a LOT of stuff just kind of crammed in here so if you can follow along without getting lost, that's fantastic! If you get lost...stay put and I will send a search party to find you *hehe* 

First and foremost we have a dog on the IN DANGER list.  His name, is HANK and he needs YOUR help to get him out of the shelter and into a loving FUR EVER HOME! IF the shelter gets full (which we are working hard to keep that  from happening by getting dogs adopted as quick as we can or sent to rescues to keep this guy safe) But IF the shelter gets full he WILL be in danger.  Let's SAVE HIM!

** IN DANGER WHEN THE SHELTER GETS FULL **
ADOPTION FEE IS SPONSORED!!
SHELTER ID # 364 Hank
STATUS: Available Now
 Name: Hank
Gender: Male, not neutered
Breed: Hound
Weight: 50-55lbs
Color: Black and brown
In Date: 10/6
Owner Relinquishment
Age: Adult 1-3 years
Adoption Fee: $10
Hank seems really friendly towards everyone he meets doesn't seem to mind

anyone or other dogs. A very sweet guy!
By Missouri State law you have 30 days to neuter this dog after adoption.
To adopt/foster/rescue Hank please call the shelter at: (660)833-7330See More

The shelter has been pretty busy lately, we've been working really hard to keep the kennels empty and getting dogs out as soon as they can.  We had 3 beautiful dogs that were on the *IN DANGER* list last week should the shelter get full. Blondie, Dixie, and Shayla  We worked SO HARD to keep the shelter from getting full.  I am happy to say that all 3 of these beautiful girls were adopted, and the 4th dog (Zeus) that had also been on the list but had then been taking to a foster home was also adopted. So 4 successful in danger adoptions for our shelter.  It makes my heart swell knowing these 4 beautiful dogs were adopted.  I wish we could have saved the last 4 awhile back but sadly it wasn't to be for them.  We didn't want a repeat, and thankfully the shelter hasn't been getting very full lately which is always a blessing.  We've been able to keep the kennels down to about half way full. (And we have 25 Kennels)

Miss Shayla has been adopted! She was such a fun and sweet loveable dog!

Sweet prim and proper Miss Dixie was also adopted!

Fun and silly and sweet Miss Blondie  traveled all the way to
Illinois for her Fur Ever family!

Zeuss is enjoying the country life now!

Right now we have Duke at the shelter, who is waiting for surgery, he tore his ACL and needs an operation but he cannot get this operation until his growth plate stops growing other wise they could do more damage.  Once he has this operation and heals he will be going on into the HOUNDS Program.  I think he also already has an adopter lined up as well which is fantastic! But for now he's hanging out at the shelter so he doesn't further injure himself.  We were collecting donations for his operation but I am not sure if we met his need or not, but we were directing all donations to Green Hills Vetinary Clinic in Moberly, MO. 

Sweet and fun Duke!

There is a dog named Elsie (used to be Princess before she got accepted into the HOUNDS Program) but she'll be on the safe list (she was almost on the in danger list).  She will be going to the HOUNDS Program now which is fantastic, she's such a very sweet girl.


There are also 3 pups at the shelter (Diego, Wishbone, and Bandit) possibly 2 of them will be going into the HOUNDS Program as well, just not sure which two.

SHELTER ID #361 (pic 1 of 1 -- Bandit)

Status: Available Now
Name: Bandit
Gender: Male, not neutered

Breed: Mix
Age: Puppy 5-6 months Aprox.
Color: White with black markings
In Date: 10/8
Owner Relinquishment
Shots: Wormer/Parvo
Adoption Fee: $25
Weight: 15-20lbs Aprox. (they are still young, still growing)

Bandit is a toy hoarder! He loves toys and will play with you, he loves to chase balls! He's a very good boy. He had all the volunteers laughing and we had a great time playing with him.

If interested in adopting/fostering/rescuing Bandit please call the shelter at: (660)833-7330 (LOCATION: Moberly, MO)

Upon adoption, by Missouri State law you have 30 days to get this dog neutered.

 

SHELTER ID # 360 (pic 1 of 1 -- Diego)

Status: Available now
Name: Diego
Gender: Male, not neutered

Age: Puppy 6 months
Color: Black
Breed: Mix
Shots: Parvo/wormed
ADOPTION FEE $25
In Date: 10/8
Owner Relinquish
Weight: 15-20lbs (Still a puppy, still growing)

Diego is a very sweet dog, who loves to play and chase toys and chew on raw hides. He's friendly and sweet and does good with kids and other dogs. He kept us all very entertained today!

If interested in Adopting/Fostering/Rescuing Diego please call the shelter at: (660)833-7330
(Location: Moberly, MO)

Upon adoption of this dog you have 30 days by Missouri State law to get him neutered.

 

SHELTER ID # 359 (Pic 1 of 1 -- Wishbone)

Status: Available Now
Name: Wishbone
Gender: Female NOT spayed

Color: White with brown markings
Age: Puppy Aprox. 5-6 months
Weight: 15-20lbs Aprox. (still a puppy still growing)
Breed: Mix
Shots: Wormer/Parvo
Adoption Fee: $25

Wishbone is a super cute and playful puppy he loves to chase after toys and would be more than happy to play with you all day long. Such a sweet pup who kept all of the volunteers entertained, he got along well with the other dogs and people, including kids.

If interested in adopting/fostering/rescuing Wishbone please call the shelter at: (660)833-7330
Location: Moberly, MO

By Missouri State Law you have 30 days to get this dog neutered upon adoption.

 

The rest of the dogs at the shelter include the following:

SHELTER ID # 371
Status: Available 11/1/12
Name: Mr. Finnigan
Breed: Pug

Gender: Male
Color: Tan with black markings
In Date: 10/22
Picked up: W. Coates
Weight: 15-20lbs
A very sweet little dog! Who doesn't seem to mind other dogs or people.  (STILL IN HIS 10 DAY HOLD PERIOD IF HIS OWNERS DO NOT COME FORWARD TO CLAIM AND PROVE HE IS THERE'S THEN HE WILL BE GOING INTO THE HOUNDS PROGRAM)

 

SHELTER ID # 374
Status: Still on 10 day hold to give owners a chance to

prove she is theirs if that doesn't happen she already

has an adopter lined up.
Name: Thelma
Gender: Female
Breed: Papillon mix?
Color: Brown with black markings
Weight: 10-15lbs
Age: 1 year
In Date: 10/25/12
Picked up: McKinley

SHELTER ID # 375
Status: Available 11/4/12 (Still on her 10 day hold period)
Name: Louise
Gender: Female
Age: Young around a year
Breed: Mix
Color: Black with white marking
Weight: 35lbs Aprox.
In Date: 10/25/12
Picked up: McKinley
Adoption Fee: $10

 

SHELTER ID # 372
Status: Available 11/1/12
Name: Phoebe (of Sugar)
Gender: Female
Age: Around a year
Color: Tan
Breed: Lab mix ?
Markings: Docked Tail
Weight: 35-40lbs Aprox.
In date: 10/23
Pick Up: Williams/Rollins
Adoption Fee: $10

 

SHELTER ID # 316
Status: STILL AVAILABLE, in foster home
Name: Bella
Gender: Female, not spayed
Age: Around a year old
Color: Black with brown markings
Breed: Shep/Rotty mix possibly?
In Date: 9/5
Picked up: S. 5th Owner Surrender

 

The shelter will be participating in the Trick or Treat Trail down town on Halloween night.  We are currently collecting candy donations, we need enough candy for roughly 700 children! That's a LOT of candy! We also have a few dog biscuits to hand out to any dogs that come through all dressed up for Halloween. 

Also on Nov. 10th the shelter will be participating in the Veterans Day Parade, and on Dec. 1st we will also be participating in the Christmas Parade. 

It's good for the shelter to get involved in the community, that way people can KNOW there is a shelter here and get interested and maybe they will get involved with the shelter and want to know what they can do to help, and hopefully come and adopt!

Speaking of getting involved, this past Friday (Friday's are volunteer day at the shelter from 9:30am till 11:30am) It was a no school day so we had several young volunteers come on out and help! It wsa great! Thank you everyone! A family of 4 snuck away from me before I could get the group photo so we are minus 4 of the  volunteers but I think I got everyone else!

Thank you our amazing shelter volunteers, you are like gold to the dogs at the animalshelter! Thank you for volunteering your time and energy to these dogs.

Volunteering can be a family thing! You are never too old
or too young to come out and walk a dog or hold a dog!

Volunteering at the animal shelter is a great way to spend time
with your family and help some wonderful dogs.  This helps dogs
get socialized around a wide variety of ages and being with
a family.

2 of the pint sized volunteers that got away before the group volunteer
photo was taken.  I think they had a lot of fun.

This volunteer watches the puppies play in the
outside enclosure

This pup lays around and soaks up not only the sun but the attention
being given to him by this wonderful young volunteer.



This tiny tot hangs out with her mom and watches
the puppies as they play in the out door yard.



Thelma hangs out with her potential adopter
if her family doesn't come to claim her.  These
two just CLICKED and hit it right off together!

Our shelter finally has the yard fenced in so the dogs can run and play in the back now.  Oh my do they ever love it too! The puppies especially love being able to run and play togethe and our young volunteers love going in with the puppies and playing with them.  It makes us happy to see so many happy dogs and volunteers.  Our huge yard sale over the summer that raised just short of $1000 is what made this out door enclosure possible! Thank you to all who donated items, thank you to all who showed up to help run the yard sale! Thank you to all who showed up to BUY!

Front gate of the enclosure

Back gate of the enclosure

Shelter dog Blondie gives shelter volunteer a HUG while they play
in the new out door enclosure!

In November, after Thanksgiving we will be doing a "Santa Paws" fundraiser for the shelter.  There will be specific drop off locations around town for the community to play secret santa to the shelter.  We are collecting all kinds of things for the shelter, food, toys, collars, leashes, chew bones, anything and everything a dog might possibly need.  Funding for the shelter can be taken to the Police Station.  We appreciate any and all donations to the animal shelter.

In September my 5 year old daughter who loves volunteering at the animal shelter decided that instead of getting presents for her 5th birthday she was going to collect items for the dogs at the shelter, and that's exactly what she did.  She was so very happy that she did this for the dogs.  She collected bleach, dog food, dog treats, chew toys, dog bones, and all kinds of items to give to the shelter.  She was thrilled! She is happy to know that the dogs love to play with all of the items that she collected for her 5th birthday.  We encourage everyone to do the same! Instead of asking for presents for your birthday why not ask someone to make a donations to the animal shelter in your name? It is a fantastic idea!

Here, my daughter Kamilah poses with the Animal Control Officer, Tina with all of the items she
collected and donated to the Animal Shelter for her 5th birthday. They are posing in front
of our homecoming float too (the shelter also participated in the homecoming parade)

To those who are in the path of Hurricane Sandy, please stay safe but also do not forget about your pets.  IF you have pets in a pen outside or on a chain out side please please bring them in for a couple of days.  Do not make them ride out this storm outside, no matter how "good" their shelter is.  There is no shelter better than them being in safely with their family.  If you have to evacuate please do not leave your pets behind their are several sites that are pet friendly. Do not forget food, pet ID, pet carriers, leashes, and water for your pet, and any meds your pet might need.  Pets are part of the family too! PET FRIENDLY EVACUATION SITES


Photos from the Homecoming Parade back in September! (Sorry a bit late getting all this done!)

One of our favorite volunteers, Jody, drove the golf cart in the Homecoming Parade,
while her husband drove his really cool truck in the parade for us! All the kids
thought the golf cart was pretty fun.

Several young shelter friends stands about waiting for the parade to start
(yes that would be my Molly and Karmen they are holding onto for the parade)

Volunteers waiting for more dogs to show up so they can walk them in the parade!

Shelter volunteers wait for the parade to start as they give last minute parade
instructions.

Another good family oppurtunity with the animal shelter!

The cool classic truck that pulled our float in the home coming parade!

Sweet Oreo (who has been adopted recently) hanging out with a shelter volunteer
as he waits for the parade to start.

Our homecoming float!

Kamilah, Sheila, and Jody hanginging out on the golf cart waiting for the parade to start



Let's get this parade started!



And here we go! The dogs behaved very well in the parade!

ADOPT, SPAY NEUTER your pets!

There were quite a few FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER! 
Walking in front of the golf cart were dogs available for ADOPTION,
the ones walking behind the golf cart were dogs that BELONGED
to people already and were just walking as friends of the shelter.

The crowd LOVED the shelter dogs we heard a lot of
positive things about the shelter during the parade.

A cool group of volunteers walking shelter dogs

Look at that group walking dogs in need of homes!

Thank you to our FRIENDS OF THE SHELTER
who by the time parade was over, were just as wore out
as the dogs were!

Doggies Doggies, Doggies Needing Homes!

Well, howdy do to everyone this fine Monday morning.  OK so it' a little gray out and looks like ran, but that's ok because we really really need that rain.  It's been a dry, hot, dusty summer so to see some rain in our lives is a GOOD thing! Plus it means fall is in the area and fall is my absolutely FAVORITE time of the year.  I love it.

I love the smells of fall, the chill in the air, the sounds of fall with the geese going south, and the sounds of the leaves falling and rustling in the trees.  The sights of fall with the gorgeous leaves changing their dynamic oranges, reds, and golden yellows.  It's all so beautiful! I love the pumpkind and fall decorations, I love the feel of the smooth yet lumpy pumpkins, and the feel of the crunchy leaves beneath my feet.  Raking all the leaves into a HUGE pile so the kids and I can jump in...fantastic! My favoritist time of the year, hands down. 

I love Halloween and Thanksgiving and cannot wait for them to be here.  Fall also brings, my husband's 28th birthday, so happy birthday to him.  Wendesday my daughter turns 5 (how can that be! Oh my!) and Saturday is her party, she's asking her friends and famiy to bring a donations for the animal shelter because her furry friends at the shelter are always in need of things like:  Dog food, bleach for keeping kennels clean, dog shampoo, collars and leashes of all sizes, dog toys, and whatever else you can think of a dog might need! She plans on making some dog treats to take to the shelter to share with her furry friends for her birthday too. She's so excited.

Speaking of Halloween....are you dressing your dogs up?  Molly is going to be Little Red Riding Hood, and Karmen is going to be a Wolf in Sheeps Clothing.  Hopefully my furry girls are cooperative with their costumes, I'm pretty sure they will be though lol they don't really care.

There are several really cute dogs at the shelter that are needing out.  Last weekend the shelter was so full that 4 had to be put down.  It broke our hearts.  Every single person at that shelter was devastated.  We had tried to get them out, but the rescues we contacted were full, fosters were full, and we didn't know quite what else to do.  The dogs that were put down had been there for weeks.  I don't lie when a dog gets put down, the community needs to know.  Why?  Because the community is both the PROBLEM and the SOLUTION.  They are the problem because they don't spay and neuter their pets then they have PUPPIES that need homes.  And just because you find homes for all of your puppies, doesn't mean they aren't going to end up at the shelter.  People move, people get sick of their pets, so on and so on.  They get dumped and get picked up by the shelter.  People don't keep ID tags on their dogs either so they end up at the shelter.  How do we know who the dog belongs to if you don't get your dog microchipped or have ID tags on your dog?  The dog can't talk.  He can't tell us his address.  That's up to the owners to be responsible.  We scan for micro chips, we go by the info on the microchip.  So if you have a dog that has been microchipped...and you give it away....you might want to make sure you get that micro chip information up to date for the dog, otherwise your dog might get returned to the wrong owners. Keep things up to date, be on top of things.  If your dog goes missing, the first thing you should do is call the shelter and leave a description and contact info, better yet bring in a photo ID of the dog.  Any unusual markings or other info etc.  Put an ad in the paper, hang up flyers in your neighborhood, and grocery stores.  Post it on Facebook, there are a multitude of local swap shops in our area! Moberly Swap Shop, Moberly Pet Swap Shop, Lost and Missing Dogs, if you don't know of any, just ASK! Stop by the shelter page and leave a photo of your lost dog.  There are many many things you can do. But don't NOT look for your dog and then get upset when you find out your dog has been in the shelter the whole time and got put down.  Where were you?  Were you REALLY looking for your dog?   I know not everyone nows we have a shelter, but atleast call the police station for crying out.  And I'm pretty sure if you are reading this, then you know there is a shelter, obviously.  We don't like seeing dogs sitting at the shelter.  Some dogs come in and you are like I KNOW this dog has an owner.  We exhaust our avenues of finding their owners.  We post on swap pages, blog, twitter, the shelter page, we call vets and groomers to see if they know the particular dog.  Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.  So then a dog sits, and sits. 

Right now the dog I am fostering, he came into the shelter skinny and in need of a bath and hair cut but other wise, you can tell he's been somones baby! He's perfect on a leash.  He's does good about being potty trained, he is ok in a kennel, great with kids and other small animals. He is bad about running out the door as soon as it is open though, he's done that to us multiple times but thankfully we've found him each time.  Where are his owners?  I have no idea.  He's been posted.  We're waiting for someone to call.  Do you know Tator (Obviously not his real name as he had on no id). 

Do you go out the door withour your ID every day?  Do you always have your drivers license on you?  Incase of an accident where you are unresponsive they would need that ID to know who to call in your family.  Your pet is no different.  They can't talk to us and tell us what we need/want to know so keep ID on your pets.

Another thing that bothered me is the amount of people who got mad at the ACO for having to put down 4 dogs.  Really people?  Come on.  Where were you the weeks upon weeks these 4 dogs were sitting in the shelter? I didn't see you stepping up to take them off our hands.  Flynn was at the shelter for over a month.  His sister got adopted, and poor Flynn he sat. Not every dog at the shelter can get into the HOUNDS program.   Dogs need to be adotped.  If they don't get out of the shelter, and it gets full, dogs die.  We need FOSTERS in order for this not to happen.  We are trying to work more and more with rescue groups so this doesn't happen, but there area LOT of dogs that need rescue groups that aren't JUST IN Moberly, there are dogs all over the state and country that need help.  You can't expect every rescue group to drop whatever and take in our dogs.  They take care of a LOT of dogs. 

We aren't like the Columbia Shelter.  Far from it.  We do not have the funding to spay/neuter/microchip/give shots to every single dog that comes in.  We only have 25 kennels.  Those can go from empty to full in just a weekend.  What do you think happens to shelters when they get full?  We magically make more kennels? They just go away to great homes?  No.  They die.  We don't have enough fosters, and even then, after they are in foster homes they STILL need to get adopted so other dogs can go into those foster homes they shouldn't just sit and sit and sit.  Foster need to be able to take the dogs out to help get them adopted, be available so people can come see the dog. 

I was very appalled by the fact that so many people  got mad at the ACO.  She is doing the best she can. She doesn't like dogs dying either.  Unfortunately, gassing is the method the city chooses to put down dogs.  If you want them put down humanely why not donate the funding to take them to the vet.  The shelter doesn't put dogs down often, especially not for quite awhile.  Do not blame the ACO for  the COMMUNITIES problem.  You are just as responsible.  If you don't like the fact we're a gassing facility (and I think we can all agree no one likes the idea) then take it up with your city council.  Not the ACO, she doesn't get to make those decisions. 

If we didn't have a shelter we would have stray dogs EVERYWHERE. They would become a public nuisance and could make things dangerous.  Stray dogs wandering into the school yard what if your kid got bit?  Stray dogs coming into your yard, what if they attacked your dog or your cat?  The shelter keeps these dogs off the streets.  Because apparently people can't keep their dogs on a lead outside, or in a fenced yard or in the house.  They apparently can't spay and neuter or keep ID on their dogs either.  So then there are tons of dogs running amuck.  Is it the dogs fault?  No.  People.  People are to blame.  I think people need to stop and think about the way they and their pets impact the town, and how the shelter has to deal with it all and handle the many dogs that come in.  The ACO and the shelter volunteers work their butts off finding rescues, finding adopters, finding the rightful owners of the dogs at the shelter.  We come out and walk the dogs, we come bathe the dogs, photograph the dogs, play with the dogs, socialize the dogs.  Everything we can to help them.  Chances are the nay sayers aren't doing a single thing to help.

Stop picking on the ACO.  She's there every day to feed those dogs and water them, and give them treats and give them attention, she helps make sure their pens are clean, she gives the puppies their worming and parvo shots (which is a hell of a lot more than the owners apparently did for the puppies!)  if a dog needs vet care, we find a way to get that dog vet care! She allows the volunteers to come in (granted it 's only one day right now but it's a heck of a lot more than it was last year!! Which was never!!)  She allows me to come in and photograph the dogs, she has taken dogs to adoption events too.  She drives the dogs to the Hounds Program and takes those dogs to the vet when they need to go.  She's out in the heat, or rain picking up stray dogs.  Do you thank her?  Next time you see that Animal Control van, why don't you tell her THANK YOU for helping to keep our community safe and for what you are doing for the dogs.  The new ACO just started in May, and she's doing really good!

I know there has been a lot of negative things said about our shelter in years past, but I am here to inform you that the shelter and volunteers are working hard to turn that around and allow these dogs to have a great life in new fur ever homes!

I've also had comments been said about how people are glad that owners love their dogs, but they are tired of hearing about the animal shelter.  Really?  Tired of hearing about it....We've JUST starting talking about it!! We've only JUST begun.  We have a looong way to go.  SO you better get used to seeing our posts and stuff all over the place.  If I can post about the shelter, I will.  Dogs at the shelter deserve a better life than roaming the streets or being in the shelter.  And if owners loved their dogs "so much" why do the dogs end up at the shelter? 

Love your pet?  Spay or neuter.
Love your pet?  Get them micro chipped and keep dog tags on them.
Love your pet? Get them their shots.
Love yout pet?  Train them, socialize them, play with them.
Love your pet?  Adopt your next one from the animal shelter and give those dogs that love.

So at the risk of making everyone in the world mad at me I'll get off my soap box.  Afterall, this is MY blog and I can post what I will.  Right? It is still a free world?  Animals and children are two things I'm very passionate about.  I hate to see bad things happen to them. So I am going to step up and say what I think when it comes to matters like kids with cancer, or dogs in a shelter.

Oh and I am going to share this too. It's for Parks and Rec here in town, the "Bark in the Park" (not for the shelter unfortunately, but thought it looked like  fun so thought I'd share it! Not sure if my gals and I will be attending or not, we'll see). 

October 6th- Bark in the Park
5k Run/ Walk and 2k Dog Walk
Race will begin at the Dog Park
Registration: 8:30 am, Race 9:00 am
Online Registration is now available--Go to www.moberlymo.org, click on Living in Moberly, Moberly Parks and Recreation, Events, then Register Online
All participants will recieve a t-shirt and giveaways for their 4- legged friend!
Early Registration $15, after September 28th $20


Anyway, below are dogs at the shelter! I didn't get to stay too long on Friday since I had to leave due to an emergency, but I think I only missed photographing 1 dog. 

JoJo the stud muffin he's "sexy and he know it"
LOL Love this dog he such an awesome
personality. 

Poor Hoss is a gooorgeous and HUGE German Shepered.  He's
very scared and unsure and needs a lot of love and attention.
He either has mange or a very bad skin allergy.  You can smell
the yeast infection on his skin poor boy!

Poor Reuger back in the shelter AGAIN,
is there a rescue group that can take this sweet boy?

There are two pups about this size but I had to
leave early Friday due to an emergency and
I didn't get the other dogs photo.  There is
this sweet white and brown pup and there is also a
black and brown brindle pup.

This little pup...breaks my heart.  He's so tiny. So small.  In need of love
and attention.  I hate seeing these itty bitties in the shelter absolutely
breaks my heart!

A gorgeous shepered, ain't she a beaut! I wonder if she has owners
out there searching for her?  She's so well taken care of it looks like.
Not sure what her story is, how she found herself back at the shelter.

Little Weenie is back at the shelter too :( Not sure what brought him
back to the shelter either, but he is back.  I would have brought him
home with me to foster but I already have a foster dog at home. 
Hoping he just ran away from home and is waiting for his owner
to come get him. 

And my little foster dude.  Tator.  Super sweet pup!
Needs a date with the groomer though and he is a super
picky boy doesn't like any of the dog food I give him.  Making
it difficult to put some weight on this boy!! He's perfect on the leash,
great with my small kids, and great with my small dogs and kittens.
Pretty sure he has had a family! Just been unsuccesful in finding them!

Mahala
Shelter Volunteer
Photographer
Social Media