Previous Animal Updates: February 24, 2008
Home for Life® Love Stories
In honor of Valentines Day and the month when our thoughts turn to our sweethearts, Home for Life® profiles some renowned "pairs" at the sanctuary!
Zen and the Art of Cat Love
Cats comfort each other and are especially tender and protective of their
members who are infirm or failing. Among dogs, declining animals are often
at risk for injury—the other dogs will turn on them if given the opportunity.
Cats however, seem more empathetic and more highly evolved when it comes
to caring for vulnerable, elderly, or fragile members.
Kobi is a cat who came to HFL after suffering the removal of all four of his paws, his tail, and his ears at the hands of a disturbed person. Kobi has formed a special friendship with Fay Wray, a cat who was also abused and abandoned before coming to HFL.
Kobi (left) and Faye nuzzle each other.
Double Trouble
If there is an uproar in the small dog facility, there's a good chance that
the culprits are Christopher Robin and Tuffy. Christopher is a Wirehaired
Fox Terrier and Tuffy a probable Yorkshire Terrier and Poodle cross.
Christopher (left) and Tuffy plot their next caper.
These two came to Home for Life® about 4-5 years ago from a local shelter called Animal Ark. Both dogs were certified for therapy work through our Renaissance Program and both are excellent therapy dogs. However, if not otherwise occupied, they tend to make their own fun and enjoy wreaking havoc in their quarters.
Making sure that Christopher and Tuffy have plenty of positive outlets for their energy and intelligence allows them to express their terrier moxie in a constructive way!
The Brotherhood
Hans
and Franz are two elderly long-haired Dachshunds, brothers and best
friends. We are so happy that HFL could provide a refuge for these two siblings
who were abandoned at a local shelter, taped inside a cardboard box and
left outside the shelter's door in the deep night. Hans and Franz are incredibly
bonded and walk almost as one dog. They look out for and protect each other
always and forever.
Hans and Franz attempt to form a canine snowball.
Breed Rescue
Greta and Barkley are Home for Life®'s two beautiful elderly
Keeshonds (see photo on our home page). Barkley is blind and was surrendered
by his owners due to his separation anxiety.
Greta came to us from the Animal Ark shelter, surrendered because of her high energy and tendency to nip. She was frustrated at being kept in a cage and having no outlet for her intelligence and spirit. When Greta arrived at HFL, we enrolled her in our Renaissance Program, where she successfully mastered obedience and achieved certification as a therapy dog.
Greta came to HFL about two years before Barkley and has always looked out for her vulnerable friend, protecting him and providing the security he needed to overcome his anxiety and fear of abandonment. It was amazing that Greta seemed to recognize one of her own in Barkley. The pair can be found resting side by side on their hammocks in the attached dog run, enjoying the chill winter air in their thick beautiful coats.
Matched Sets
Home for Life® has been able to help two remarkable pairs
of sporting dogs who fell on hard times. It is fortunate that these bonded
pairs who have gone through so much together could stay together when they
came to the sanctuary.
Mac and Meyer, who are brother and sister, are two seet pointers whose owners concluded that they were too slow to hunt effectively anymore. They had always lived outside, even in the bitter winter weather, having nothing but a dog house for shelter. Even though they are just nine years old, their owners brought the two dogs to the vet and requested euthanasia. The vet was aghast and offered to take them himself and try to find them a loving retirement home. The owners consented and the door did not close fast enough behind them.
Mac and Meyer seem to notice the same interesting sigh (or scent). Mac and Meyer room with Skippy and Hattie.
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After trying and failing to find a home that would accept both dogs, the vet asked HFL for help. We agreed to take them both so that they would be able to stay together. This winter, Mac and Meyer arrived at HFL and they clearly realize that they have found a safe refuge for their golden years. They seem both relieved and delighted to realize that they have a townhouse with their very own comfy futon after all those hard years spent outside in a dog house. We thought they might miss their hunting outings, but Mac and Meyer seem grateful and content to do nothing more than rest on their couches, glad to put their sporting days behind them.
Mac and Meyer share their townhouse with another of HFL's remarkable pairs, the elderly Weimaraners Hattie and Skippy, who survived Hurricane Rita, its aftermath, abandonment and then relocation, all the time together. Their story was featured in HFL's 2007 Summer/Fall newsletter.
The two pairs of retired sporting dogs reside harmoniously in their gazebo townhouse. HFL is so happy that we could provide these seniors with a loving retirement home and preserve the strong bonds that each pair had forged through trial and tribulation before arriving at the sanctuary.