This blog post was contributed by blogger, Jeff Narucki whose blog, Senior Pooch explores the adventures and love of owning a senior pooch!

Why so old?  I recently had someone at work ask me why I would get a dog so old, although I suspect the question was really, "Why did I adopt an older dog again?"

Quite simply, I did it because they deserved a second chance, I wanted a dog, and I felt I could handle the challenge and expense.

Senior dogs do come with baggage, but honestly, some handle it much better than others. My pal Boo Boo, for example, was afraid of everything when I got him. I couldn't put my foot up to block him from going out the door first without him cowering like he was going to be kicked. For some dogs, trust doesn't come easy. It was probably six months before I noticed that he wagged his tail for the first time.

The expenses can get up there quickly. Not in every case, and sometimes not until the very end. I'd venture that breed, size, and how well they're taken care of play big factors in these areas. 

Patience is another big factor. Some dogs are stubborn, and none more so than some older dogs. I've been lucky in that once we achieved a certain degree of trust, that my dogs have had an open mind about working with me. It may very well be that older dogs are so set in their ways that they take longer to train, so patience is something that I've had to learn when dealing with challenges. On the dog's side, the biggest challenge would appear to be, at least from what I've read in the many ads for older dogs on PetFinder.com, is that they recommend the older dog, being an only dog. I could definitely see that and would never recommend dropping a puppy in with an old dog, who is more interested in sleeping than jumping around and playing all day.

That said, older dogs are frequently house trained, and are usually eager to please their new owners (at least in my case). With Rusty, this has translated into me teaching him a variety of new tricks and skills, the most important being "Leave It". We still have a ways to go, but with persistence (and the occasional treat... OK sometimes more than occasionally) he's learning all sorts of new things and is much less of the madman that I adopted. 

As far as I'm concerned, there will always be an older dog in my house.

A recurring theme we see in the animal welfare world is the economy causing severe hardship to the local animal shelters and local animal rescue groups.  In an effort to raise much needed funds to continue saving pigeons and doves, MickaCoo Pigeon and Dove Rescue has applied for a Pepsi Refresh Project grant and is eligible for $10,000.  Elizabeth Young, Director of MickaCoo has contributed the below story.  Learn about the great work this local animal rescue group engages in, and in this case, it's as easy as a click to make a difference in the lives of pigeons and doves in our community!


MickaCoo Pigeon and Dove Rescue (MickaCoo.org) provides vet care, foster homes and adoption placement for hundreds of domestic, unreleasable pigeons and doves that would otherwise be euthanized in Bay Area animal shelters.  Since 2008, we have been an all-volunteer division of nonprofit parrot rescue Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue (Mickaboo.org) and we are always in need of donations, funding and adopters to help these gentle, intelligent and usually overlooked birds.  MickaCoo has an opportunity to win a much-needed $10,000 grant in this month's Pepsi Refresh Project.  The little birds that many disparage are making a surprisingly strong showing in this month’s Pepsi Refresh Challenge for a $10,000 grant. Currently, the pigeons are hanging tough in 14th place out of 160 worthy entrants in the $10K category. They need to be in the top 15 to win the funds that will keep MickaCoo’s rescue efforts afloat. Voting closes in just a few days, on September 30.

Domestic Pigeons and doves are different from urban pigeons. They can’t survive without human care.  Abandoned domestic pigeons and doves that aren’t rescued will die of starvation, illness, predation, or euthanasia.

• Most animal shelters consider domestic pigeons and doves “unadoptable.” Shelters euthanize them at a higher rate than almost any other type of animal.
• Pigeons and doves make great pets. They are gentle, smart, and easy to care for.
• The San Francisco Bay Area’s MickaCoo Pigeon and Dove Rescue has mobilized enough support, volunteers, donations, and aviaries to save more than 450 of these “impossible” birds in the past 3 1/2 years, placing them in safe, forever homes. This year alone, MickaCoo has found homes for 200 pigeons and doves, like Yuzu and Quince. 

To learn more about MickaCoo Pigeon and Dove Rescue, please see their website at http://MickaCoo.org.

Meet Hannah.  She is 9 years old and last year found an injured baby bird in her yard and took it to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley.   Through this experience she learned about what to do when you find injured wildlife.  She shared this experience along with a drawing of a baby mockingbird in a story featured in our Fall newsletter. 

This past holiday weekend, Hannah held her annual bake sale and decided that the proceeds should be split between the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley and Golden Gate Greyhound rescue group.  She remembered the organization that took care of her injured baby mockingbird and wanted to do something to help other injured wildlife.

Have you heard about animal rescue groups, but don't know who they are, and what they do? 

San Jose Animal Advocates is excited to start a new series called "Get to Know Your Local Animal Rescue Group".  These local animal rescue groups work tirelessly with our area shelters to "rescue" as many animals as they can.  These animals typically fall into the following categories:  1) they have treatable medical conditions;  2) they are not old enough to be adopted; 3) they are not doing well in the shelter environment; 4)  they have been in the shelter too long.  The rescue group will pull these animals from the area shelters and do whatever it takes to rehabilitate them so that they can be adopted into a loving home.  Since rescue groups do not have a facility to show their animals, you will often see them at adoption fairs at local pet stores.  Their animals live in homes with foster parents who help make sure the animal is happy, healthy and ready for their forever home!

Please take a look at our directory for a list of our local animal rescue groups.  They are always looking for help and we welcome you to contact them directly to see how you can help!

Our first animal rescue group profile is for The Perfect Dog Rescue.

Location:
Our mailing address is PO Box 361441, Milpitas, CA, 95036, but we have foster homes throughout the bay area. 

Mission:
We believe that ANY dog can be the perfect dog for the right individual. The Perfect Dog actually rescues the “IMperfect” dogs who have simply been overlooked at the shelter or who have special medical or behavioral issues which puts them at risk of euthanasia, and finds them the perfect homes. We never discriminate. If there is a dog in need, it doesn’t matter its age, breed, condition, history, etc. If it needs help, we will do what it takes to find a way to help the dog. We believe in giving every dog a chance and we believe there is the right home for every dog out there. We currently get most of our dogs from the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter in San Martin, CA.

Where can the community find profiles of animals up for adoption? 
ThePerfectDog.org, Adoptapet.com, Petfinder.com and Facebook.

How can the community help? 
There is always a need for foster parents! Contact Diana at (510) 333-4420 or [email protected] to learn more about becoming a foster parent.

Favorite rescue story:
Dewey was 10yo dachshund with heart failure, picked up as a stray at the shelter. He was in such bad shape that he coughed all the way and threw up before we even got into the car. After a checkup at the vet, he was given medication to help his heart, and he began to make improvements. Only a week later, he tumbled downhill again, much worse than before. Turns out, in addition to his heart failure, he had come down with a horrible abdominal infection. 7 medications and a couple weeks later, he was bouncing around on his walks again. After the scare of nearly losing this wonderful character that Dewey was, it was the greatest reward to see how much his health improved and how much better he felt after, simply, the proper amount of TLC. He is a very happy guy, always ready to go, and loves life! Despite his heart condition, he found a WONDERFUL forever home!

Our local shelters and rescue groups are overflowing with adoptable dogs looking for homes and most people don't realize there is a problem.  

Why is this happening?  Many believe that the over abundance of dogs is due to the slow economy.  Dogs are being surrendered or abandoned because people can't afford to keep them.  Ironically, at the same time, the pet food/supply industry continues to grow with people spending more on their pets than they ever have.  I think the fundamental problem is that people don't realize this problem exists or how to help.   What can we, the animal-loving community of the greater San Jose area do to make a difference in the lives of these dogs?

1 - Tell everyone who expresses an interest in adopting a dog to VISIT THEIR LOCAL SHELTER FIRST!!! 
The dogs in our area shelters are in the most danger of being euthanized, especially when there are too many of them and not enough space.  In the greater San Jose area we have *3 local shelters, all of which are pleasant places to visit.   San Jose Animal Care Center, Humane Society Silicon Valley, and Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority all have wonderful dogs looking for homes to call their own.   Before visiting a shelter you can peruse the available dogs online.   Each shelter maintains a website of available animals which is updated frequently. 
*Santa Clara County Shelter is not far, in San Martin.

2 - Didn't find a perfect match at the shelters?  Check out the MANY great rescue organizations in our area. 
Our directory has a list of the local dog rescue organizations which are in the greater San Jose area.  Please check out their websites to view their available dogs.  If someone is interested in a specific breed, before they start looking for a breeder, remind them that there are numerous breed specific rescue groups.  In California, there are MANY breed specific rescue organizations like Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue or Golden Gate Basset Rescue to name a few.  There are even rescue groups that specialize in older dogs such as Muttville.  The majority of shelters and rescue organizations list their dogs on Petfinder.com.  Type in the breed you are looking for and your zip code and you'll get a list of shelter/rescue dogs meeting your criteria within seconds!

3 - Stay away from Craigslist!
On Craigslist you will often find many offers for free puppies (animals should never be free) or "pure bred" puppies at a high price from unreliable backyard breeders.  Do not advocate supporting these sources for animals.  Remember, close to 1 million adoptable companion animals are being euthanized in our shelters because people are looking to other sources to "buy" their pet.  Looking for puppies? Shelters and rescue groups have puppies all of the time!  Looking for purebred dogs, see #2 and go to the many rescue groups who work tirelessly to save dogs from overcrowded shelters.  Advocate being part of the solution, not the problem!  If everyone just told one person they know where to adopt their next pet, we would be making a HUGE difference!

4 - Volunteer at your local shelter. 
Do you have a little spare time to give to animals?  All shelters have a wide variety of volunteer tasks you can take on.  From walking dogs, to helping with adoptions, there is no limit to the impact you can have on the shelter animals.  Why not give a little love to a dog who is waiting for their permanent home?  Of course, remember to give a hug to your dog at home too!

5 - Become a dog foster parent. 
All shelters and rescue groups are constantly looking for foster homes for their animals.  With more foster homes, they can save more dogs!  Being a foster parent is extremely rewarding and bottom line, saves lives.  Check out our foster section and pick any organization, go to their website, and they will have a foster application and/or information on how to get involved as a potential foster parent!  You will not regret it, I promise you.

6 - Advocate for spay/neuter. 
If you know anyone who hasn't spayed or neutered their dog, PLEASE tell them that this is a must!  Many local shelters and organizations in the greater San Jose area offer reduced cost spay/neuter services.  Much of the pet overpopulation problem stems from the many unwanted litters that easily can be prevented. 

7 - Consider adopting a senior dog. 
Many people overlook older dogs and opt for a puppy or very young dog.  Are you sure you are ready for a puppy or a teenage dog?  Younger dogs need A LOT of training and exercise.  Older dogs are typically already trained and their personality is already formed.  With a busy life style, an older dog may be a lot easier to bring into your household.  Look at Jazzy, age 10,  from Muttville, a Bay Area rescue that specializes in older dogs.  He was saved from an area shelter a day before he was going to be euthanized.  Wouldn't you like to come home to him every night?  Look at those beautiful brown eyes!

Please, please, please SHARE this post with people you know! 

We can make a difference in the lives of animals in our community one at a time.  If you need help in your quest to adopt a shelter or rescue animal, feel free to contact us.  Do you have an adoption story to share, please feel free to contact us too.  In closing, the Shelter Pet Project has made some very effective and charming videos to help raise awareness for shelter pets.  Let's try to help more shelter/rescue dogs end up like the dog in the video.

The holiday season is a wonderful time to add a new member to your family.  If you are considering adopting a shelter or rescue dog, Lisa Perrault, a certified dog trainer has some important tips for you to keep in mind. 

Whether this is your first family dog or one of many, there are a few things you can do to make this big transition easier for you and your pet.

Patience is the first step in the transition
It takes time to develop the close bonds we feel with our animals and it is common to have a “what have I done?” moment or two.  Many of us underestimate how much time it takes for a new dog to understand the household rules and we forget that even our best-behaved pups didn’t start off as perfect angels.

Shelter life to new life
Just as you will need time to adjust, your dog will too.  Shelter life is very different than living in a home, and many dogs find it exhausting.  Do not be surprised if your new dog sleeps a lot, or is not very interested in food.  Other dogs have difficulty relaxing and may be velcroed to your leg at first.   Expect that your dog will need time to decompress, just like a kid returning from a summer at sleepover camp.  The first weeks are the perfect time to agree on the house rules and establish a daily routine.  Map out a schedule including meal times, potty breaks, exercise walks, play times, quiet time and training times.  Not only will the consistency help your dog feel at home, it is the fastest way to house train a new dog. 

Housetraining
A few lucky owners will find their newly adopted dog is already house trained.  More often however, adopted dogs were not fully house trained in a previous home or have forgotten due to shelter living.  It is best to expect that your new adult dog will need a refresher course.  To do this, you will need to provide a safe and comfortable confinement space for your dog. Think of the confinement space like your dog’s bedroom, it is where she can safely and comfortably hang out when unsupervised or when the world gets to be too much. A family room, a kitchen blocked off with a baby gate, a bathroom or a crate are good options.  The best confinement spaces are close to where your family spends a lot of time, but not somewhere your dog can get into mischief when you are not around.  Choose a space with tile or linoleum floors.  Puppy-proof the room by installing child-proof locks on cabinets that contain medications or cleaning products.  Survey the room from a dog’s perspective and remove anything that might be seen as a game or food including: toilet paper rolls, waste paper baskets, food on the counter and hanging hand towels. 

The necessities
Provide your dog with a soft bed, a bowl of water and a few durable chew toys.  A rubber Kong toy stuffed with tasty treats makes a wonderful distraction and will help your dog learn to love her new bedroom.  At some point all dogs will need to be left home alone and this can be a challenge for a newly adopted dog.  Many of us are so excited with our new pet that we spend Saturday and Sunday by their side and then leave them for hours at a time on Monday morning.  Start on day one to teach your dog that her bedroom is a safe and special place to be.  Stuff a Kong toy with something delicious and give it to your dog in her confinement area.  When she is busy chewing, nonchalantly head to another room without saying anything to your dog.  As long as your dog is quiet, return a few minutes later and ignore her as if you’ve never left.  If you do this a few times a day, your dog will learn that this is her safe zone and that people come back soon.

Confinement and routine
A confinement space and establishing a regular routine will help prevent the mistakes that newly adopted dogs regularly make when entering new homes.  Once you know your dog will not pee on carpets or chew furniture, you can leave him in a larger space in the house or with doggie door access to outside.  Starting off small is also the key to introducing him to his extended network of friends and family.  Instead of the dog park, meet up with a doggie friend for a neighborhood walk and save the huge “welcome home” bash for a one year adoption anniversary party. Once you get to know your dog and what he loves, you can tailor his social life to match his personality.    

Basic manners
The first few weeks are also the time to get started on basic manners training. Some adult rescue dogs know a few commands while others are a clean slate and ready to learn. Teaching your dog to look at you when you say his name is always a good first step.  Grab a handful of your dog’s dinner and move all around the house and yard saying his name and tossing him a treat.  You may want to consider attending a family-friendly reward based training class.  Even if you’ve done training before, it is a fun way to bond with your dog and stay current with modern training techniques.  Remember to take pictures to share with your dog’s friends at the rescue.  Everyone loves to celebrate a happy ending! 

Lisa Perreault is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer.  She teaches classes and offers private behavior consultations through her company My Well Mannered Mutt.  Lisa lives in Mountain View with her husband and two mutts. 

It’s important to note that I am not active in animal rescue, and I’m certainly not an expert on felines.   I was only helping out a friend in need, and as a result saved a life.  Ishmael, my foster kitten, is special and an amazing story.

Ishmael was trapped at about 16 weeks old.  He’d been fending for himself in a rough area where he was a target for the neighborhood kids and survival was a full time job.  He was sick, weak and hungry and most likely would have not lasted much longer. At 16 weeks old Ish was at the point where he was considered feral and by rescue standards at the point where he was an extremely iffy prospect for successful socialization.

My good friend took him into her already crowded group of survivors and nursed him back to health. Ishmael's medical care (complete blood panel, testing, neutering) was all very generously funded by Palo Alto Humane Society.   He quickly regained his strength and became one of 12 rescued kittens at various stages on their road to socialization.  Ishmael abdicated.  He sat on the sidelines and watched.  He didn’t bond with any of the other furry residents, and to say he was shy would be an understatement.  This is the time in Ish’s journey where he graced me by entering my world.

When I opened the carrier he hissed at me.  He pressed himself into a back corner as tightly as he could manage and when I took him out he hissed, growled and dug his claws into the blanket lining the bottom of the carrier.  He was frightened and angry, but never physically fought me.  I isolated Ish in the bathroom for a few days then moved his carrier (his safe place) into the bedroom slightly expanding his world.  For the first week or so when I took him from his safe place and held him, he just laid in my lap and growled then escaped to his carrier at the first opportunity.  We repeated this process every morning and two or three times in the evening.  As the days passed he moved closer to the carrier door each time I came to get him, but only left the carrier under his own power to eat and use the litter box when I wasn’t around. 

As it turned out “Ish” is extremely curious, playful and loving.  Ish is now my best friend and definitely has more personality than any of the five cats that have shared my home with over the years.  He greets me at the door when I come home from work and lies on my lap or beside me when I watch television or read.  On occasion he brings me one of his toys to share and always sits on the bathroom vanity while I prepare for the day.  At night he sleeps at the foot of the bed wrapped around my feet.

The true victory is demonstrated in the way Ish greets visitors.  When someone comes to visit he no longer retreats to the bedroom.  He knows this is his home too and most times he goes to the door with me to greet our visitors.  As soon as they sit down he moves close to inspect them and all that they carry and accepts attention as if he has known them forever.

The purpose of my humble efforts here is to give you a snapshot of a kitten that had not fate and very caring rescue folks intervened would have most certainly ended up dubbed unadoptable and slated for euthanasia at a local shelter.  In my limited experience Ish could be the poster kitten for the rescue community’s efforts. 

It will be extremely difficult to give Ish up when he finds the right family to adopt.  As painful as it will be for us to part ways when that time comes, I know there are many more kittens that need a helping paw to find their permanent home.  If my friend needs some assistance in the future I will be more than happy to lend a hand again in the future.  Ish has returned more to me in love and affection than I could have ever imagined.

The more I get involved in animal welfare issues, the more faith I have in the power of community.  There are such warm-hearted, tireless advocates in our community who fight for homeless companion animals, even those who have disabilities.  One such case in point is the story of Finn, an 16 month Pit Bull who was very close to being euthanized at an area shelter. Finn had some eye issues which made his potential adoption even less likely.

Enter Amy Shever of 2nd Chance for Pets.  Amy is the ultimate animal advocate for those homeless animals who already have a disadvantage in the form of a medical condition.  Through Facebook, Twitter, and frequent emails, Amy has been able to communicate the plight of Finn and has miraculously secured donations and support from the Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) to perform the necessary eye surgery, and from the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (HSTT) to take Finn in and find him a permanent home!  Although I will never know all of the details, I do know that many people were involved to try to save this loving dog from an all too common destiny at our shelters.

A special thanks also goes out to Rob Hugger, who writes a blog about all things dog in San Jose.  He was quick to offer support in spreading the word to locate Finn a short term foster situation in San Jose while he undergoes eye surgery.   His blog post will reach many other San Jose animal advocates and hopefully can help secure Finn a temporary home.  If you are a dog lover, you need to follow DawgHugger.  He is the ultimate San Jose Dog Advocate!

We are so fortunate to have all of these animal advocates in our community!  Won't you join us and help make a difference in the lives of companion animals?