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.