Blog Refelection

When I started volunteering at the Pet Hospital it was a real eye-opener. On the first day I went a dog was being euthanized and it was pretty hard to watch. I really had no idea what it would be like. I was thrown straight into what veterinarians do on a daily basis. It was a good hands on experience and I learned so much. I learned the different shots pets get and the different medicine that gets described depending on the treatment the pet needs. I also saw a variety of injured pets and some were pretty gruesome. Also volunteering at the San Francisco SPCA was a real benefit to my future career path. I learned a lot on how to treat and take care of my pets. I also think they impacted me so much I have also changed as a person. I'm much more calm and patient. I've learned to work with people and dogs. It was great volunteering at both places and I plan to continue my volunteering at the shelter because it is such a rewarding experience. I, no matter how little the role, do help change a dog's life and increase his/her chances to be adopted. At the shelter I didn't really have one mentor, I had several that had been volunteering there for years. They are really helpful but you have to go to them for help. That's also one thing I learned; to ask when I need help instead of trying to figure it out myself. I'm really appreciative that I got started into these chances of volunteering because I love animals and it just gives me so much more experience. At the pet hospital, my main mentor was the owner, Maria Griffin, but I also learned from the vet technicians, Valerie, Emily, and Karin, as well as the veterinarian, Dr. Kelly. They all helped me a great deal in being able to pursue my passion. I had a great time being involved at both places. I've been able to handle and stomach some harsh problems that include abused animals that came into both the shelter and the hospital, this only encouraged me further to become a veterinarian.

Pet Hospital and Kittens

Today for three hours today that I spent at the pet hospital was full of a lot of cats. There were two cats in the back inside cages and one went through a de-fleaing so it was soaking wet and had a heater so it could dry. One of the vet techs brought in three kittens from her foster program and I carried them for a bit. They were adorable but troublesome too. They kept on crying and climbing all over me. One of them sunk their little claws into me and left me a scratch. I helped carry them while the vet tech cut their nails. It was interesting because I'm not around kittens much so that was a new experience that I enjoyed even though I got scratched. There was also a pit bull that came in because he had previously torn his ACL and was recovering but might have also torn out his other ACL.  I also continued to finish filing x-rays and I faxed records to the animal hospital in Hillsdale. I also helped pull files for the appointments for the next day and answered the phone.

Eventful Day

Today was a two and a half hour session. When I got there I helped an older lady bring her dogs to the car and I was also in the back of the hospital filing and organizing x-rays, separating big and small x-rays. Then I checked in patients into rooms. There was this all white kitty named Daisy who was really adorable and was super soft and calm. She wasn't like most cats who cling to you with their claws. I also helped the vet check this cat named Marley who was angry and hissing because her front paw was bugging her. The vet shaved her paw and saw she had puncture wounds from a bite and scabs. The vet tech then came in because the cat was hissing a lot and very angry. I also made copies for a client of his folders. I also helped to pull files for the appointments tomorrow. It was slow at first and even boring but began to become more busy as more clients came in. I also helped sweep the rooms and helped the owner up front with clients.

Busy Day

For the first hour at the shelter, I helped feed and walk a dog named Philo. He was a super hungry dog who ate two bowls of food, which made me wonder how often do these shelter dogs get fed. He was a complete sweetheart. I then went with puppies which included a three month old pitbull and a two month old labrador mix. They were both girls and their names were Michelle and Tipper. For about half an hour I helped show Michelle off to potential adopters.  I then walked with Tipper around the shelter. They were both cuddlers but Michelle loved to bite and chew on my apron and gloves. I then continued onto the next hour where I helped tan apron volunteers around the shelter and walked dogs from the infirmary. I played fetch with a dog named Buddy who is a chocolate labrador and I also walked Lex who is a little white dog that has a long body and short legs. He was adorable.  I also helped show off Kookie to his adopters and they absolutely loved her. It was good to see that she would go home to a caring and loving family.

Intense Day for Cats

Today at the Pet Hospital was a slow but rough day. There was this cat that had tubes inside his head from a surgery earlier that day that removed a bump of puss that he had. He had either gotten into a cat fight or got bit by a raccoon because it was a pretty serious injury. His face was pretty bloody and blood was still oozing out and it was pretty disturbing and sad because he looked absolutely miserable. There was also a cat that had been in the dryer for five minutes. I was not there when he first arrived but I heard that it was pretty bad. His breathing and blood levels were low and he was rushed to the emergency and was under intensive care. He ended up going home but was pretty quiet. Towards the end of the two hour session a lady came in to get her two cats euthanized. It's always difficult to see because owners and pets are pretty attached and it's a hard choice for the owner to make but it the long run it'a the better choice because it means your pet is not suffering. In between those intense moments I continued to work on my project of refiling all the past x-rays and answering calls and ringing in patients to their appointments. There was a labrador that weighed about a hundred and thirty pounds and she was huge. It was mostly an intense day for cats at the hospital.

Sunday Volunteering Part Two

For the next two hours I helped all around the shelter. I helped an adopter to walk a yellow-level dog who was very shy and didn't like to go on walks much. His name was Wade and he ended up getting adopted by the same people who renamed him Oreo. It felt good being able to introduce a dog to good owners who will give them a loving home. I also went to the infirmary and walked a couple of dogs. I helped introduce people to dogs who they would like. I also went into rooms with some of the dogs and trained with them for awhile. One in particular, named Buddy, was extremely sweet and gave me his paw and he also knew sit. It was a good shift but tiring after three hours.

Sunday Volunteering Part One

For the first hour at the San Francisco SPCA I was with my litter of puppies that I got assigned. They were three Labrador female puppies. There was one puppy in particular that kept on biting on my apron and my booties and gloves. She even tried to bite on my ankles. So instead of playing with the three of them, I held each of them individually. I carried them and would walk around the shelter. It's very calming just being with the puppies one on one because they are so relaxed and attentive to everything going on around them. I wish I could walk them at least around the shelter but they have to be over six months.

Intermediate Shelter Class Part Two

After the discussion we took a short break and went to Maddie's Adoption Center. For the next two hours we began to work with a dog named Lex and learned several techniques on how to get a shy dog to warm up to you. It may take longer with other dogs but it is a process. The idea is not to crowd the dog but rather let him/her come to you. We learned "raining food" which is where we lightly toss food around the room and the dog will slowly be more willing to come to us. We then worked with Touchdown who used to be an extremely shy terrier mix but is slowly progressing. We used treats to allow him to let us pet and touch him within his comfort zones. The key is timing and patience. We then worked with Dodger and Tasha who were bigger yellow dogs. Dodger was very rowdy and jumpy which made him a yellow dog. Tasha is reactive on a leash which made her a yellow dog. With these bigger dogs we were taught how to teach them to sit then lay down. It isn't rushed but instead you get the dog to sit, reward the dog, place your hands behind your back and then lead the dog in a laying down position ,then reward again. We also taught them to stay and several other techniques which were very useful and will come in handy to help with other future yellow dogs. At the end of the class we were given our blue aprons and I became a blue apron volunteer.

Intermediate Shelter Class Part One

This Saturday I took the intermediate shelter class at the SPCA so I could become a blue apron volunteer and handle yellow dogs. This just means that these dogs need more attention and more care. These are dogs that have behaviors that might not make them as adoptable as other dogs. They may include jumping on a person, extreme shyness, reactive on leash, reactive to dogs, and many others. For the first two hours Joe, our instructor and volunteer coordinator, talked about these dogs. He talked about why they may be so nervous, how we should assure them and bring out the good qualities they have. He also told us that we just need to be patient with them and he also said that we as volunteers are a very crucial part in the adoption process. He showed us positive reinforcement as well as why we should limit the times we say, "No". He also showed us videos of dogs that are extremely shy: their ears are flat, tails tucked between their legs, trembling, trying to make themselves smaller, yawning, lip licking, and not making eye-contact. It's very sad to see dogs like this when they should be more energetic and friendly and outgoing. That was mainly what we did for the first two hours. Joe also asked us several questions about what we learned about working with the green dogs and then went on to explain the differences between yellow and green dogs.

Big Events

Thursday I met with my mentor for a total of two hours at Spruce Pet Hospital. She had me organizing x-rays which is a project that I have been working on and am almost more than halfway done. The majority of my time is spent doing that. I also was taught how to clean the cages in the back. I took out a dog that was boarding there whose name is Cosmo. I also saw a big,  friendly dog who I have met several times before be put to sleep because he had cell cancer and was in so much pain. His name was McCovey and he was a big sweetheart. I was sad and the owners were so heartbroken but in the end it was the right decision because he was put out of his misery. I learned how the dogs who are euthanized are cremated. They are put in combustible bags and are put in a special box( I forgot the name) where they are cremated.  I helped to reorganize files and put clients into the room. There was also a cat named Angel boarding and I pet her for a bit because she looked so depressed and lonely.

Puppy Photoshoot

My last shift at the San Francisco SPCA was very interesting. I got assigned new puppies which consisted of two Shepard mixes and one Labrador mix. Two boys and one girl, their names were Earl, Eugene, and Fawn. As I was playing with them another volunteer who takes the pictures for their bio's came and asked me and another volunteer to help take pictures of puppies. We went to the photo room with the three puppies and helped to get the puppies to focus on the cameras. After that she asked if we would help get all the other puppies which were a total of fourteen and we said yes. I helped with all the puppies and they ranged from chihuahuas to dachshunds and to terriers. They were all adorable and really fluffy. Then I helped the photographer get three "teenage" dogs which were ten months old. They were very rowdy and extremely energetic but we got their pictures. This continued for a total of three hours and we got a total of seventeen pictures of the puppies and teenagers. We got a lot done and at the end we were exhausted. It was a fun experience and the photographer even offered to teach me lessons on how to photograph the dogs. I'm going to find out more tomorrow when I go to my next class. I also learned that puppies and dark-colored dogs get a white background to stick out and white dogs get a darker background. There was also a two-year old dog named Monty whom only had three legs because she had one amputated. She was very easy to photograph because she stayed still and did not move around or whine. It was an overall good experience.

Puppy Class

This Sunday I went to a puppy class at the SF SPCA for two hours. I learned a lot and got really informed about how to deal with puppies. When puppies are 2-4 months this is considered their "golden time" because this is when they become adjusted to an environment. This is when they should be introduced to new noises and sights and sounds and anything outside really. From a slight breeze to shadows to building and even the leaves rattling from the wind. They should be carried not allowed to walk because puppies immune systems are weak and they can easily catch diseases that may or may not be life threatening. They can catch parvo which is life threatening or they can have giardia which is less serious. The teacher also taught us that if a puppy is being too aggressive we should yelp like a puppy no matter how embarrassing that sounds. It helps show the puppy that they should not be doing that. A lot of puppies that come to the shelter come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are horrible environments for both the mother and her pups because they are often crammed into crates or cages with little to no space to roam free. They are surrounded by their feces and are not fed the nutrients that are required for their immunity to be well. Puppies should also learn to be socialized because if not then when they grow they will be scared of people, objects, even the slightest noise. It is better to broaden their horizon and teach them as much as possible in these short months where they learn the most. The shelter has music playing and sometimes they also have traffic noises so they can become adjusted to city life so it can make their transition into being adjusted easier. My first puppy that I got to carry in the shelter was a black terrier mix named Dante. He had a fur on his chin that was styled into a beard and he was extremely adorable. He snuggled into my neck and was really calm. Puppy volunteers help to feed the puppies and help introduce them to new things. This class helped me learn a lot more about puppies that I didn't know before.

New Techniques

This week I went to my mentor's every day after school which totaled eight hours. In those four days I saw a pit bull who had his left ear completely removed because of an ear disease. He seemed to be in a lot of pain but was taking it like a champ, his name was Blue. I also saw a cat who had kidney failure and he was hooked on an IV and was given fluids. I also helped the technicians to set up for x-rays which was difficult because even though the large Labrador was sedated, he still put up a fight. I also helped take blood samples for a dog. The vet twisted the dogs fur to be able to reach the vein and it seemed pretty simple. When the vet got a blood sample from a cat she had to get the blood from it's neck. I also helped new clients get settled into the clinic and saw a dog get an ultrasound for kidney stones. The vet sprayed some alcohol on it's abdomen before using the ultrasound. There was also a sad case when a feral cat had it's kitties aborted because she could not care for them. It was sad and it was even more sad to see the owner because she seemed really down. It was a long week but I learned a lot.

Mentor Meeting

I switched mentors and I am shadowing the vet at Spruce Pet Hospital. I'm learning from both vets, the nurses, and the owner of Spruce Pet. I bring in dogs and/or cats as well as their owners into the rooms and take their information and check the pet's weight then list the reason for their visit. I also take calls and messages as well as file their papers. I clean out the rooms and help the vet with the evaluation of the pet. I help hold the pets and see how the vet takes blood or gives them shots. I also do a lot of the paperwork for the patient that is visiting. I am learning the medication that certain dogs get and how they are treated. I have also seen a dog get an x-ray which was pretty simple. All the dog did was lay down on a table while the lights were off and got his x-ray done. I'm learning various things from all the staff at Spruce Pet and they have really welcomed me to the hospital.

Volunteer Shift

When I went to the shelter to volunteer, one of the first dogs that I walked was an all white husky named Mulan who was in the infirmary. Dogs that are in the infirmary at the shelter have either been transferred or surrendered and are waiting to be transferred to the main part of the shelter where they could potentially be adopted. Mulan was a very energetic little puppy and left white fur all over me. She was really playful and happy to be out on a walk instead of in her cage. I also walked a dog named Osito who was reactive with other dogs and cried a lot. I showed a dog called William to potential adopters and went on a walk with them so they could see how he acted. He was adopted later that day by the family and is in a good and loving home. I got to see some of the puppies that were just transferred but they were all sleeping. Overall it was a good shift at the shelter.

Behavior Class

This Saturday, I took a behavioral class at the SPCA with an instructor named Gina. She told us about how the dogs that are in the shelter come from all around the Silicon Valley. They come from the Animal Control Center across the street or from Merced County or Stockton. All the dogs are extremely stressed and some have had harder lives then most. One dog in particular, Troy, had a rough background and was abused both physically and mentally. He went blind in one eye. Gina instructed us on how we have to make the dogs feel as though they are in a safe environment and show them as much love and affection as we can. She showed us that we have to communicate more through hand motions to teach a dog tricks. She also showed us how we can tell if a dog is happy, excited, scared, or nervous. The point of the class was picking up on the dogs behaviors and doing our best to get them out of bad habits and from habits that will make them adoptable. I walked a Labrador puppy mix, named Beezer, who was a very excited little dog and was reactive to other dogs. I learned how to distract him and keep his focus on me rather then other dogs through a game called "Find It" which is where I throw a treat and the dog looks for it. Overall the class really helped to show me how to interact with dogs and how to properly help them overcome the stress of being in a shelter.