The Blytheville Humane Society has been hard at work over
the last few weeks. We have made several
adoptions. One special girl Paris, who
had been at the shelter for 5 years, found her forever home. Needless to say there were many tears of joy
shed, Paris had waited patiently at the shelter, seeing other dogs come and
go. She never gave up. She never became
angry or sad. She lived her life with us, knowing that the volunteers loved her
and someday she would find her forever home. Paris we miss you but we are
beyond happy that you, our special girl, have a forever home. 
Of course the never-ending job of rescue also continued. We
have several new faces at the shelter and in foster homes, including one big
boy named Burt who is Mastiff and German Shepard mix. Burt was living on a
chain (the kind of chain you use to tow a vehicle). The chain was padlocked to
his collar. He had no shelter and little
food. When we received him he was at the
least 50 pounds underweight and the flies had chewed sores on his ears.
When he walked through the door his eyes looked hollow, he
would not make eye contact, his tail was between his legs, and his ears were
bleeding. But, when he entered the
kennel a big soft warm blanket and a volunteer was waiting. When he entered his kennel space, he
literally crawled in the lap of a volunteer sitting in the kennel. We can only guess that he was trying show us
how grateful he is for being out of the weather and having food.
Do you ever wonder what a dog living on a chain thinks??
Dogs are naturally social beings who need interaction with
humans and/or other animals. Intensive confinement or long-term restraint can
severely damage their physical and psychological well-being. An otherwise
friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained or intensively confined
in any way, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious or aggressive.
It is common for continuously tethered dogs to endure
physical ailments as a result of being continuously tethered. Their necks can
become raw and sore, and their collars can painfully grow into their skin. They
are vulnerable to insect bites and parasites, and are at high risk of
entanglement, strangulation, and harassment or attacks by other dogs or people.
Tethered dogs may also suffer from irregular feedings,
overturned water bowls, inadequate veterinary care and extreme temperatures.
During snow storms, these dogs often have no access to shelter. During periods
of extreme heat, they may not receive adequate water or protection from the
sun. Owners who chain their dogs are less likely to clean the area of
confinement, causing the dogs to eat and sleep in an area contaminated with
urine and feces. What's more, because their often neurotic behavior makes them
difficult to approach, chained dogs are rarely given even minimal affection.
Burt is gaining weight and getting healthy. He will be ready
for adoption in the next couple of weeks. If you are looking for a forever big
friend, Burt would love to meet you.
~ ConnieKayA
~
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.
A Southern Girl sharing her passion for living an abundantly blessed life.
