Bella belonged to migrant workers in the Capay Valley north of San Francisco. When time came for them to move on there was no place for Bella, so she was left behind.
Not just left behind but picked up by the scruff of her small neck and thrown across the road.

Charley found Bella and she became a part of his life, and the life of the beautiful Cache Creek Lavender Farm where Charley and Linda grow astonishing lavender. Fields and fields of lavender which they turn into a multitude of items: soaps, oils, creams sachets, bath salts, gift baskets.  All of this is for sale at the little kiosk Charley and Bella set up every Saturday morning at the Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market where we met them.

Bella curls up on a little bed Charley makes for her under the table bearing his lavender. She is not a friendly little girl so no children stop to play with her as they do with the dachshunds who camp near our table. But Charley discovered that Bella loves the dog biscuits that I bring each week to our Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter table. Charley said we should call it Doggie Crack because Bella loves them so much.

I think my biscuits may have opened a door in Bella. Last week I offered her a little piece of biscuit and though she continued to growl softly she did allow me to scratch her under the chin. That was a special treat for me. Maybe I and my biscuits will lead her to allow me to pet or even cuddle her.

But I fear her memory of the horrible abuse she suffered as a young dog is still too fresh in her mind. So she sits quietly, watches everything and doesn’t engage with children. Maybe time will change that. But when I look into this little girl’s eyes I cry for the sad life she once had. And I am so grateful for Charley and his big heart that have given Bella a safe and loving home.

The post The story of Bella appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

Every dog that passes gets her attention, and Nina lets each one know she wants nothing more than a chance to cuddle and whisper sweet words in their ears. She pays special attention to Ginger & Peaches, two Dachshunds who snuggle in a soft bed on the sidewalk behind our table. Nina’s joy is infectious.

Meeting Nina and her family is one of the great rewards of our Saturday mornings at the Farmer’s Market. They symbolize our experience of the market, with its constantly passing panorama of children and shoppers and dogs. Nina and her two older brothers also represent young people who love animals. This generous family regularly babysits their neighbors’ dogs, allowing the children to practice responsible animal care. Their parents are impressed and have promised that in a few months they’ll have a dog of their own!

The post Nina Shares Her Joy! appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

George joined the Army as a Private, and he came home a Captain. He wanted to return to normal life and his family, but he found it impossible. Nightmares, fear, anxiety all led him where traumatized people go for escape: abuse of drugs and alcohol.  George was a troubled man and finding a peaceful, normal life was out of the question. His training as an accountant led to work in industry, but eventually he lost everything and at one point was homeless. His story is not unusual, though each person has his own unique version.

It was years before George was able to seek help, and when he did he was diagnosed with, among other things, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  The psychiatrist who finally got through to George prescribed that he get a dog. And so he did. He was lucky when he found Rocky, a massive and loving Rottweiler who had been surrendered to a shelter.

The bond between man and dog was instant.  They became constant companions, and now George had someone in his life for whom he was responsible. He had to provide a stable home, food, and exercise for Rocky, and in exchange the dog gave his greatest gift, unconditional love. As anyone knows who has lived with a dog, this love can heal a broken human being.

George and Rocky were together for nine years. Listed as a Companion Dog with the National Registry of Companion Dogs, Rocky was allowed to live in places that usually do not accept animals. When Rocky finally died, the grief George felt was almost more than he could bear.

It took two years before he could consider another dog, but then a friend introduced him to a white faced pit bull named Smoke.  Now when George drives anywhere, you see Smoke’s handsome face poking out the rear window of the Jeep, sniffing the wind, and smiling.

George says he’s been called the poster boy for PTSD because it took him so long to seek help and get the treatment he needs. He takes his meds faithfully, he attends AA meetings (sober 18 years), and he can always be counted on to reach out to anyone needing help. He walked a long road himself before he found Rocky; now he is a strong voice telling other veterans, “Get a dog.”  George has learned that devoting yourself to another being who loves you just as you are–no conditions, no judgment–changes your life.

Companion dogs are waiting for adoption at local animal shelters. There are many pit bulls looking for homes, and they seem to be a perfect match for a strong person willing to give these powerful, loving dogs the exercise they need.

The good news for veterans and for shelter dogs is that there are organizations whose mission is to unite a companion dog with a veteran seeking help. These groups work carefully to choose the right dog and give the veteran and the dog all the training and support they need. George is not only a poster boy for PTSD, he is also an example of how a good man was able to find his way again with the help of a loving, loyal companion.

The post Soldiers With Dogs appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

Most of us who are paying attention already have our family emergency kit organized. Water, food supplies, toilet and hygiene items, warm clothes, blankets etc. But what about our pets?

We must ask ourselves – will the dog and cat come with us if we have to leave the house for our own safety? If we must go to a shelter that doesn’t allow animals, will they have to remain in our house, garage? If not, what shelter can they go to, how will they be cared for? Do I have a backup plan for caring for my pet? How will I find them afterward?

First step: Get a Rescue Alert Sticker

FoPAAS made this sticker for your home. This easy-to-use sticker will let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers. Come and get your free sticker at our table at Downtown Farmer’s Market.  

Remembering most of the city workers, the fire and police we depend on to help us in time of trouble, will not be able to reach us – most live in other cities. If roads and bridges are down, how will they get here? We should expect to be on our own for up to 5 days after the event.

We should be prepared for all possibilities. Have a kit set up, preferably a crate or other carrier where you can place your pet quickly. Have all his documents, including his vet’s name, any special health concerns, meds, and also a photo of you with your pet for identification purposes. Most people have their pets micro-chipped but make sure that crate contains an extra leash and collar with his tags.

Here is a list of items that should be included in the pet carrier, including the Pet Emergency First Aid Kit.

This should be ready and stored in an easily accessible location.

Pet Emergency First Aid Kit

About the Author
Jeremy Lindston Robinson, our Vice President

Photo Credit: The U.S. Army

The post Before a Disaster: Plan for Your Pets appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

Blobfish live in the ocean. They live in the deep sea. Blobfish spend a lot of time on the ocean floor. They live off the coasts of mainland Australia, in Tasmania. Blobfish can also live in New Zealand.

Did you know?

Did you know that
the blobfish won the
contest for the ugliest
animal on earth?

Diet

Blobfish don’t actually catch their food. They wait for the food to come to them. So, if a crab decides to see what that big, pink, blob is, the blobfish will swallow the crab before the crab can scamper away. Blobfish are omnivores. That means that they eat plants and meat. Blobfish eat crabs, microscopic bacteria, and sea pens.

Did you know?

Blobfish live 2,000-
3,900 feet below the
surface of the ocean?

Helps the environment

Blobfish help the environment because they eat bacteria. Sometimes bacteria can be good, but sometimes it can be bad. Blobfish eat the bad bacteria that can make us really sick.

Did you know?

Blobfish don’t chew
their food. They
swallow it whole.

Key facts

Blobfish can be pretty weird. Blobfish look like big, pink and white wads of bubble gum. Blobfish have a really big nose, and have a huge frown. They have tiny black eyes. They are usually about 15-20 pounds. Blobfish are 2-3 feet long.

Did you know?

The flesh of the
Blobfish is a gelatinous
Mass that allows them
to float above the ocean
floor?

Survival

Blobfish are endangered because of trawling. Trawling is kind of like fishing. It’s when you put a large net underwater, and scoop up a bunch of fish. Blobfish often get stuck in the nets. That’s what’s making them almost extinct. If a blobfish is accidentally caught in the net, the trawler is to put it back into the water immediately. In order to save these creatures we would have to ban trawling, but that law has not been passed yet. It’s really hard for blobfish to survive because they don’t have any muscles to move away from the net. Blobfish would be extinct if they were not inedible. Humans can’t eat blobfish because they are poisonous.

Vocabulary

The post Blobfish appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

This is a foxtail. It’s hard to believe this sharp pointed seed with its barbed tail is not a malevolent intelligent being whose sole objective is to seek and kill.

My beautiful collie Mr. Chadwick, with his heavy flowing coat, was a victim of a foxtail. Luckily, I discovered the lump on his chest.  Seeing the inverted seeping entrance wound sent us straight to our vet and emergency surgery. The foxtail they found had journeyed within a quarter-inch of entering his heart muscle. That foxtail almost killed the best dog ever.

Foxtails are everywhere now. I just found one on my beagle that had already entered her skin, aiming straight for her throat. We live in the city—no weeds or foxtails anywhere in our manicured lawns and gardens—and yet, there it was. Sneaky, determined, mindless.

Foxtails get into your pet’s ears—both dogs and cats. If not discovered, the seed burrows along the ear canal, causing deafness before entering the brain. A good sniff can suck one into a dog’s nose to begin its relentless journey, again straight to the brain.  Even when the organ it enters is not vital, infection ensues. When it enters the foot, finding the delicate tissues between the pads, the seed can cause lameness and infection. And when it enters the eye, surgery may be required before blindness and infection result.

Check your pet frequently—around the eyes, ears, and feet, running your hands over her body—searching for the tell-tale sharp talons of this frightful seed. And remember, this malevolent threat can be anywhere; it attaches to your clothes, sticks in your socks, gets into your shoes—so check those as well. We must be constantly vigilant for our beloved pets.

About the Author
Jeremy Lindston Robinson, our Vice President

Photo Credit: Adobe Pet Hospital

The post Hunting for Foxtails appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

Window of Three Hares in Paderborn Cathedral in Paderborn, Germany

The Easter Bunny has been around for a very long time. As early as 1682, there was a reference to the German tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter Eggs for the children. Sometimes a live rabbit would be brought to the church, representing the Easter Bunny. The rabbit can be found in medieval church art as well, as it has been connected with the Virgin Mary, the Holy Trinity, and the fertility of springtime. Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church would dye eggs red for Easter, recognizing the blood of Christ but also the renewal of spring. Some used the color green to honour new foliage, and the Ukrainian art of decorating eggs for Easter dates to ancient, pre-Christian times. Who but the Easter Bunny would carry these eggs to the children?

Thus in modern America, the Easter Bunny visits children with baskets of chocolate or candy eggs. And sometimes a real bunny is given to a child at Easter. What could be sweeter than your own soft, cuddly little bunny rabbit to cuddle and play with?

Before you bring home a rabbit for your child, here are some thoughts to consider:

Buckaroo with rabbit toys

House Rabbit Habitat. Use an old blanket or rug under the exercise-pen. This protects your floor, and can be easily washed and gives your bunny a soft place to play.

When the bunny—now a full grown rabbit—is more trouble to care for than expected, that well intended Easter gift may be dropped off at the local animal shelter. In fact, each year by six weeks after Easter, shelters have an abundance of rabbits who need new loving homes. A worse choice of irresponsible rabbit owners is to dump the creature outside on its own. In such a case, the rabbit ends up as a meal for a predator because a domesticated rabbit cannot fend for itself in the wild.

For some great suggestions from organizations that specialize in the care and adoption of rabbits, visit these websites: www.saveabunny.org   and www.rabbit.org  . These wonderful non-profits take in abandoned rabbits, providing veterinary care, spay/neuter surgery, and finding new homes. You can make donations easily online.

A rabbit litterbox. Use a plastic cat litter pan, put a layer of pellet stove pellets on the bottom, next put a few handfuls of hay, and top with fresh grass hay daily.

If the idea of having a pet rabbit still appeals to the children of your house, suggest they visit the local animal shelter where they can become acquainted with the rabbits. Watch to see how rabbits are cared for, get to know what owning a little creature like that is really like. Another excellent option would be to contact a rabbit rescue group near you to learn about fostering a rabbit. No one can deny rabbits are soft and adorable, but as one boy who volunteers at a shelter caring for the rabbits said “They don’t play with you like a dog would, and they won’t come when they’re called, unless they feel like it. They have their own way of doing things, and there’s stuff going on in their heads that you can’t know unless you really watch and pay attention.”

Right now our local Palo Alto Animal Services has some beautiful rabbits available for adoption. This Easter, when you visit the pet store and are tempted by the soft, furry, cuddly little bunny rabbits, be sure in your own mind that you are ready to take responsibility for proper care and feeding.

About the Author
Jeremy Lindston Robinson, our Vice President

The post The Lure of the Easter Bunny appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

An allergy to pollen caused her paws to become extremely itchy, especially in summer. And because her licking created a warm, moist place, a yeast infection quickly followed—thus exacerbating the irritation. A savvy vet recognized the problem, and recommended Benadryl for Cookie’s allergy. (A basic antihistamine, Benadryl is available over the counter at local drugstores.)

In addition, the veterinarian prescribed a medicated shampoo for Cookie, who is now bathed with it once a week to keep the secondary yeast infection at bay. When it works, topical treatment such as the shampoo is preferred over pills.

In another case, the family of Elsie, a one-year-old Brittany Spaniel, found her lying unconscious in their back yard. At the Emergency Veterinarian’s office, they learned that Elsie had been stung by a bee, to which she had an extreme allergy. Elsie had gone into anaphylactic shock, which can kill a dog within minutes.  If dogs roll on grass or bite at a bee as it buzzes around them, they are susceptible to bee-stings.

With treatment Elsie recovered quickly, and now her family is never without an epi-pen nearby in the event of another episode.  Since the initial attack, Elsie has been stung once again and has been stabilized by the family that loves her, using an epi-pen.

Our pets are subject to allergies, just as we are.  They can be allergic to foods, all the airborne allergens we suffer from, as well as fleas, cleaning products, insecticidal shampoos, drugs, even perfumes.  And like us, the symptoms of their allergic reactions include sneezing, itching, vomiting, or diarrhea.  If you recognize a problem, your veterinarian is able to offer fast and effective treatment.

To cut down on dust and allergens, clean bedding is important for your pet. Frequent bathing removes pollens and allergens from their skin.  If your veterinarian suspects a food allergy, she may prescribe a hydrolyzed protein diet followed by specific foods, or a home-cooked diet that eliminates the offending food, once it is identified.

Being aware of your pet’s health and behavior is key to a happy animal. Cookie was very lucky to have Gwen who was determined to address the licking problem and succeeded. And little Elsie was fortunate indeed to have a family that dropped everything and found help for her quickly. We must be mindful that our beloved pets have similar concerns to ours, and they need us to take care of them. That is our promise to them.

About the Author
Jeremy Lindston Robinson, our Vice President

The post Allergies in Pets appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

Sadly Toby has left us. Here is a video made by his human, Jim Martin, in loving memory of Toby.

I miss you so much; my four-legged friend
I ask myself each day; if the pain will ever end
Your loss is so hard; for one person to bear
because we were a team; an inseparable pair

You were by my side; when I got up each day
waiting so patiently; to go out and play
You were there each night; when I got home
waiting to go to the park; where you could roam

You always knew; if I was having a bad day
so you’d snuggle up close; and try to get me to play
If that didn’t work; you’d put your head in my lap
then make yourself comfortable; and take a nap

One way or another you; would brighten my day
like only you could; you had a special way
You gave me a lifetime; of memories to hold
through all the years ahead; till I’m gray and old

I promise I’ll see you; again one day
when we’ll be together again; to go run and play
Your loss is a cross; I will just have to bear
because you and I know; we’re an inseparable pair

John Quealy

Two years ago Jim and Toby came to the Bay Area to care for Jim’s elderly father who was in frail health. They thought the visit would be brief, but that was not to be. When Toby began to show signs of illness, tests revealed spleen cancer.  Toby was given just a week to live. The veterinarian was not optimistic, saying Toby might not survive spleen removal, and even successful surgery would not buy him much extra time.

But possibly the veterinarian had not counted on Toby’s stout heart and the deep love between this dog and this man.  In spite of all the cautions, successful surgery was performed and has prolonged Toby’s life.

We recently introduced ourselves to Jim with Toby riding happily in his cart along the Bay Trail, where the two can be seen every single day.  Almost 3 months have passed since surgery, and Toby sometimes walks alongside the cart as Jim pushes it; they usually stop at the creek and Toby will paddle around, as Labs love to do, and when he’s tired, he gets back into the cart for the ride home.

No one can know how long Toby and Jim will walk the Bay Trail together, but as long as they do, they remain a perfect example of love between a man and his dog.

About the Author
Jeremy Lindston Robinson, our Vice President

The post What Love Looks Like—A Dog Named Toby appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.

We had dogs growing up in rural Michigan. Mostly hunting dogs. A beagle named Gyp for rabbits and a couple of English Setters (Lady and Bandit) for pheasants, partridge, and the occasional woodcock or snipe. The smartest and most special dog I ever had, though, was a little black terrier/scottie/poodle mix that I found abandoned alongside the road when I was 10.

We lived just outside a small town. Marion, Michigan. Population 800… then and now. One afternoon while riding my bicycle along the main road into town, I spotted a small black dog cowering in the bushes beside the road. Of course everyone in small towns knows everyone else… their kids, their business, and their dogs. So I knew right away he wasn’t a local.

I rode by, and he growled at me. Fifty yards later and curious, I turned around and rode by again with the same result. Undeterred, I parked the bike a few yards down the road and walked cautiously back. He was all black, dirty, skinny, and scared. Just on a hunch, I called out, “Blackie, is that you?”

He came bounding out of the bushes like his tail was on fire. Spinning around, jumping up and down on me, and trying to lick my face. A small hand-written note he had attached to his collar read. “My name is Blackie. Please give me a home.”

That’s why I volunteer. Same feeling.

The post The Gift of Volunteering appeared first on Friends of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter.