Tag: tennessee

Roc adopted thanks to PupFest: An Irish Faire

It was the first PupFest: An Irish Faire held March 19, 2016 at Nashville Pet Products in Hermitage, TN, featuring five shelters, Irish music, and the Apollo Food Truck. We had a wonderful morning hike with our shelter pups.

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Famished after our hike, even we humans had to eat! Business was bustling at the Apollo Food Truck, but Cassie (a food truck worker), couldn’t take her eyes off of Roc. Roc had arrived from Cheatham County Animal Control (CCAC). The shelter was temporarily closing due to much needed renovations.

Finding a home for Roc and the other dogs at this shelter was a top priority. Would the luck of the Irish be in Roc’s favor?

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I spent the better part of the afternoon walking Roc alongside the Apollo Food Truck; Cassie couldn’t leave her work post, and having Roc nearby definitely made Cassie’s day. She totally delighted in watching Roc… so much so that she decided to adopt the precious pup! I became the de facto liaison between Cassie and TJ Jordi (the Director of Cheatham County Animal Control), shuffling the paperwork back and forth until Cassie got the final approval to adopt dear Roc. All that was left was the adoption fee payment; as adopting a dog that day was not on Cassie’s to-do list, she didn’t have the extra cash on hand. Needless to say, I was determined to do whatever it might take to make Roc’s adoption happen.

There’s nothing more our volunteers cherish more than seeing a dog find a permanent, loving home. It’s a priceless reward that touches all our hearts.

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Without hesitation, I paid the adoption fee, later telling Cassie it was an early Christmas present! Big smiles followed.

That day Roc, now known as Rocky, sniffed and licked his way to the pot of gold at the end of his rainbow… and so did I!

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Thanks to all the hard work and effort from our volunteers, five dogs were adopted that day! There must have been four-leaf clovers aplenty in the field that day. A bit of luck and a lot of love is exactly what it takes to find homes for these precious pups!

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One year later, adopted dog Reese has changed the lives of Nashville couple

On November 22, 2014, Sheryl Handley volunteered to walk shelter dogs at our first Tails of the Trail outreach event and later returned to Cheatham County Animal Control (CCAC) to adopt Reese, the dog she and her husband fell in love with. 

One year later, Sheryl shares how Reese has changed their lives.

I love this time of year: Spring, the season of renewal and rebirth! The woods come alive with blossoming trees, and delicate wildflowers blanket the forest floor. It is a welcome change after the chill and bleakness of winter.

Now we have even more reason to celebrate because it is the first anniversary of the adoption of our dog, Reese.

Upon reflection of a previous post, Rescue, reward, and Reese: A shelter dog adoption story, I have to say that any apprehension we may have had about taking a shelter dog into our lives turned out to be totally unfounded. We can’t even imagine life now without him! I know that my husband, Paul, shares the same sentiments. He admits to missing Reese while away on business trips, and always greets Reese at the door with a jerky treat. Too cute!

Reese is our first canine furbaby, and as any new parent can attest, every new occasion or activity is a big deal. We are still learning, honing our dog ownership skills along the way. We’ve made that desperate emergency trip to the vet all parents fear, only to be reassured that everything would be fine. I’ve since taken a canine first aid class provided by Tails of the Trail.

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On our first road trip, Reese barked at every single noise he heard in the hotel – all night long! Although this made for anything but a rejuvenating weekend getaway, it was a learning experience. Of course, Reese was merely being a dog and alerting us, his pack, to what he saw as potential danger. As it turns out, our camping trips allow a better night’s sleep for all three of us, as we make sure to set up the tent in a secluded spot away from the noise and lights of other campers passing by in the middle of the night. As with anything in life, practice makes perfect and each experience builds upon the last. It’s amazing to see what a difference a year has made in Reese’s social skills!

My husband and I have established a routine which ensures Reese is included in as many activities with us as possible, from frequent errand runs (what dog doesn’t love to ride in the car?) to our occasional getaways. We really appreciate dog-friendly businesses, stores, restaurants, and other places. These are all wonderful opportunities to practice manners and obedience. When we are out on the town, it is so rewarding to hear compliments from workers and other customers about Reese’s excellent behavior!

You should see how surprised they are to learn that he was once a stray taken in by animal control. Of course, many already know that rescued dogs usually turn out to be superb pets and grateful companions.

It warms my heart to hear people share their dog adoption stories. A fellow hiker told me that she was inspired to adopt a senior dog because that age group is the least likely to find placement outside of a shelter or rescue group. Please don’t assume that you must get a puppy or a young dog, or that you should avoid adopting dogs that have been at a shelter for a relatively long time. Reese had been housed by CCAC for nine months prior to adoption. He had been designated as a heartworm-positive, 3.5 year-old pit bull mix – all of which are often considered to drastically lower the chances of adoption.

In our case, the timing was just right – and thankfully, we had the resources to nurse Reese back to health. We are proud to tell a story which clearly demonstrates that an adult shelter dog can be a wonderful pet.

There was no potty training involved, no chewed up personal belongings – and the truth is, you can teach an old dog new tricks! We’ve got his intermediate education certification and graduation photo proudly hanging above his food bowl.

Yes, we are such proud parents of our furbaby!

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Little Man, injured dog treated by Cheatham County, ready for a forever home

Rescuing and sheltering animals can be heartbreaking yet gratifying in the same minute. The story of Little Man, a Redbone Coonhound discovered in Cheatham County, Tennessee, is just such a case.

Little Man on his walk with #TailsOfTheTrail. Photo courtesy Sarah White Bradford.

Little Man on his walk with #TailsOfTheTrail. Photo courtesy Sarah White Bradford.

In July, director T.J. Jordi with Cheatham County Animal Control (CCAC) responded to a call about a dog that had been dragging his back legs after an accident wounded the animal. The owner stated that the dog had been hit by a car two months prior but had neglected to seek treatment.

The initial examination of the two year old coonhound showed dehydration, anemia, severe emaciation, and possible permanent paralysis of the hind legs. His paws had been worn down to the bone and marrow.

With the aid of veterinarians and volunteers, T.J. and his team spent months nursing Little Man back to health and eventually fitted him with a wheelchair donated by HandicappedPets.com. Dedicated volunteer Alexa Bessler raised money along the way to get medical supplies for his treatment, and CCAC staff including Natasha Farmer, Greg Jinnett, and Shawn Bloomfield did an amazing job of taking care of Little Man and his injuries.

While the animal cruelty charge against Little Man’s owner was going to court, Tails of the Trail volunteer Sarah White Bradford had the pleasure of walking Little Man during one of our September outings. “Even dogs with special needs should get love and exercise,” Sarah says. “While he may need a little more help with things such as stairs, he is as loving and playful as a dog can be.”

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Little Man’s owner was convicted of animal cruelty on October 7, 2015 and will serve a suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days. T.J. and his team plan to change Little Man’s name to “Deuce” after Scooter the famous Border Collie rescue from Cheatham County that sports a wheelchair and regularly visits schools and civic events.

Contact Lori at Noah’s Ark Society if you’re interested in adopting Deuce.

Update October 14, 2015: Little Man’s story gets picked up by USA Today! http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/10/14/canine-wheelchair-gives-injured-dog-new-leash-life/73943648/

 

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Rescue, reward, and Reese: a shelter dog adoption story

On November 22, 2014, Sheryl Handley volunteered to walk shelter dogs at our first Tails of the Trail outreach event. That could have been the beginning and end to this story, but that day at Cheatham County Animal Control (CCAC) changed the future for one rescue dog and the couple who adopted him. 

We spoke with Sheryl recently about her experience these first six months after adoption.

Tell us about your first encounter with Reese.

I met Reese at the inaugural Tails of the Trail (TOTT) event with Cheatham County. Though I had been paired with another dog, I very clearly remember a fun-loving and still full of energy pup wagging his tail and licking the face of another volunteer after the hike at Hidden Lake State Park. Meanwhile, the sweet little dog I had walked was feeling a bit worn out but still grateful to be in the sunshine and fresh air. None of us were in any hurry to bring the dogs back to the shelter, so we hung out at the trailhead chatting and playing with the pups.

Little did I know that five months later I would be adopting that bouncy black and white dog named Reese.

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What was it that tugged you toward adopting him? Was it difficult convincing your husband?

Honestly, I didn’t think that I wanted to adopt a dog (or maybe I was just kidding myself). My husband sent me a text message “DON’T GET ATTACHED” while I was out on that first TOTT event.

But I did get attached. I continued to volunteer walking dogs at CCAC on my own. I loved the idea that I could do what I enjoy the most, that is exercising outdoors but now have an additional purpose of enriching the lives of dogs in need. I had convinced myself that this was the perfect world: volunteering provided the affection and companionship of pets without any of the responsibility!

How did you end up adopting him then?

It was just a matter of time. I studied up on dog ownership…what it takes to be a responsible pet owner…how much it costs in both time and money…what breeds to consider…having a puppy versus adopting an older dog.

But in the end, it was actually my husband who chose Reese. Since he was apprehensive about having a dog join our world, I knew that if I was going to adopt, it was very important that he picked the dog. He’s a big mountain biker so I sort of tricked him into walking dogs at CCAC on the way back from biking at Montgomery Bell State Park.

After a few visits he, too, became a fan of Reese. And because Reese was a pitbull terrier and also heartworm positive, we felt that his chances of being adopted from a rural, low traffic facility were limited. After all, Reese had been picked up as a stray and held at CCAC for over eight months.

What challenges did you encounter?

For me the biggest challenge is one that is all too familiar, time management. I promised that I would be the primary care taker and house cleaner. You can’t rely on others (your partner, children, or roommates) to assume responsibility for your pet, so I had to change my routine so my dog could have his routine. That means waking up early to feed and walk Reese and leaving right after work to head home to feed and walk him. I’ve had to switch up my social life and workout routine, but now I have many more doggy friends and find myself choosing dog-friendly activities and places. It’s sort of like having a permanent toddler in your life. Sometimes I wish Reese would grow up so he could take care of me when I get old!

What special things have you learned about Reese or yourself?

I’ve learned that there is nothing more gleeful than a pittie smile! My dog is always delighted to see me. It’s an instant pick me up when things in life may be less than perfect.

Likewise, Reese is always there to cheer me on in my greatest moments, too! He’s just a very happy boy and his emotions shine through in his facial expressions and body language.

Dogs are extremely good at communicating with humans and each other. It’s really important to learn how to read them. I’m betting that many “problems” occur because people aren’t being perceptive to what their pet is trying to tell them.

Advice for shelter volunteers or future adoptive families?

Bringing a dog into your home is a huge commitment. You have to consider: How does this animal fit into my life now? Am I willing to keep this commitment for the next ten years or more?

Volunteering provided me with the opportunity to learn about dogs and what kind of dog would best suit my lifestyle. I got the chance to not only bond with so many different dogs but also to connect with other volunteers and the wonderful staff at Cheatham County Animal Control.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for the shelter dogs to be socialized and exercised and what a rewarding experience it is to get involved! I still visit CCAC when I can and help out. I am so grateful that Tails of the Trail opened up a whole new world of adventure to me.

 

Thank you to Sheryl and Paul for their story, photos, and most especially for allowing Reese to rescue them.

 

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Tails of the Trail expands to Chattanooga

On August 23, we launched the Tails of the Trail program in Chattanooga with a partnership with Pet Placement Center. Our first Tails event outside of Nashville drew member volunteers from Chattanooga Hiking Meetup along with four of us from Nashville.

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Despite the rain in the area that morning, we still made it out to Greenway Farm in Hixson to hike eight of the dogs housed at PPC. Volunteers were treated to human goodies from Juice Bar and Puffy Muffin and took home organic dog treats from Axle Bites.

We also gained three new event hosts from Chattanooga Hiking Meetup and are partnering with Pet Placement Center again for a Tails of the Trail hike on September 27!

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