old friends, new faces

Tooky talks with Bobo, our shyest Taiwanese baby.

Last week Tooky, one of our 'original' volunteers, was back for a week. Although much has changed in the 18 months since she was here - not the least of which is the drastic reduction in numbers from the post-Katrina influx! - there was a wonderful familiarity in having her here. Her warm smile and laugh, her willingness to do whatever (even in the scorching heat!), her calm presence and deep love of animals.

Despite the fact it was now hot where it had been cold, that we are based in another building on the property, that our schedule has drastically changed - there was a thread of history that connected those early days with the Tara's Babies of now. Some of the doggy faces are still the same, and Tooky could see the changes in their behaviour. But it was even more subtle than that, for me at least, it was about a sense of continuity. Those early frenetic days are long gone, but remain as the roots of who we are today, and form the seeds of the future. Tooky is an invaluable part of that, for not only did she spend two weeks here right at the start, she has been a support ever since - not to mention she adopted the adorably plump and cuddly Katie, one of our rescue cats.

Tooky came here after completing a course at Best Friends in Utah, to be certified to assist in emergency situations. I am grateful to Best Friends for organising this - as in the future, without certification, people won't be able to dive in hands-on, as happened post-Katrina. Definitely something Tara's Babies volunteers need to do. And anyone else whose heart will call them to action should tragedy explode in our faces again.
We are also gearing ourselves better for any local emergency. We live in the middle of forest, in a state that has suffered from drought for over a decade. One of the tasks we did when Tooky was here was to ensure we had one crate per dog, should we need to evacuate. There has been so much coming and going of animals since we started, our system (?) had been haphazard. Now, however, we have the crates in one spot - the next step is to identify each crate with a dogs name, so that there will be nothing to think about should an emergency arise. We will create a small covered area, easy to access, where we can store them yet keep them out of the sun.

Bobo and his playmate Baby. Nunu is peeking through the back!

Bobo is very shy, but when you are able to coax him in close, perhaps with a little tug on the leash, you find he has the softest, plushest coat - more like a cat than a dog. He is such a timid little boy, yet you know underneath is a heart just yearning to love.

Baby, on the other hand, is just an imp!! Perhaps also a little shy, she however quickly turns to play - those long spindly legs doing her well as the runs around. So amazing to think she survived distemper, and was unable to walk at all for some time. She has the cutest pixie face, looks at you with shiny black eyes, and wants to play!! Sometimes she needs some help with feeding - which is a pleasurable task. She especially likes the canned food!! (Don't they all!)

That's me beneath the red floopy sunhat!

Walking with a wagging tail!

There is so much happening, we seem to be always chasing our wagging tails! I certainly have to brush up my reporting skills, and keep you informed!

Heather continues to help us move forward in leaps and bounds. With her guidance, we have shifted our schedule, so that all the 'dog care' activities - feeding, cleaning yards, water, grooming, generally making sure everything is in order, dogs are well - happen first thing in the morning. The late afternoon/evening sessions (following a break in the searing midday heat, when neither dogs nor people want to do anything!), are for walking and training. It makes such simple sense, to delineate the activities in this way. It helps streamline the process, and mentally dogs and people alike 'get' what is going on.

At the workstation. Heather (in cap) talks with volunteers Claire, Chodron and me.

In the same way, the re-arrangement of the dogs on the field is complete. For the most part, the dogs in training for adoption (called 'the walkers'!) are grouped together, and the ferals and 'lifers' are together. Especially for the walkers, their behaviours are more easily reinforced when they are surrounded by buddies also needing to listen to commands.

Volunteer Kamil convinces our fearful feral Hailey, that he really is an O.K guy!!

The 10 Taiwanese babies are in their own larger enclosures, on the upper field. We always quarantine new arrivals at a distance from the main group, any way, to ensure no sickness is introduced. We have three large luxurious runs, one with the three older, quieter dogs - Bai, Kiki and Lucky. The next has the playful youngsters Baby and Bobo, who get along famously. Then there is the fearless five - a super-playful bunch of Tiger, a gorgeous brindle, and two of the cutest black sister-sets you could imagine - Pong Pong and NuNu and PiPi and RuRu. Except in the heat of the day, they run and cavort together happily.

We are ready to play now!! Won't you come inside?!!

We have begun walking them. The more sedate ones are excellent. Some of the youngsters are OK. But for a coupe whose energy exceeds ours, a jog would be a better option! This is Pipi and RuRu, whom I featured a few posts ago. It does not surprise me Ms Wu called them the flying leapers, who loved to get over the fence and run and play! No escape attempts have been made here, but they are joyfully charged to head into the world and explore!

I went on-line and explored a bit about conditions for dogs in Taiwan - it will make you weep. I look at these lovely, happy dogs and cannot imagine the alternative fate.

Here is an excerpt of Ms Wu's most recent letter to me:

In Taiwan, few people care about dogs’ lives. Most campus stray dogs will end up being sent to detention center, waiting to be killed, or being left wander everywhere, giving birth to even more babies, which will be in the same shadow of fate. Schools should be places teaching people how to respect life, but obviously they don’t take chance to set good examples for society; therefore we can easily imagine how the street homeless animals will be treated.After I retired, I intend to transform my local association into a national organization to educate people and promote the concept of animal protection. Since I can’t adopt dogs anymore, that’s the only thing I can do. Hopefully in the rest of my life, I can witness Taiwan people change their attitude towards animals.

I found that in 1994 an investigation by the World SPCA cited Taiwan as the worst country in the world for dogs; evidence that in GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED animal facilities dogs were clubbed, buried alive, boiled alive to be killed. Things may have changed some, but there is a long way to go. This site of another rescue shows some heartbreaking stories www.savedogs.org/english/

Finding homes for these beautiful dogs and the 20 more still on death row at Ms Wu's school, and maybe even more after that, is a goal we hope to accomplish.

RuRu, still a little shy.

the motor is running!

Today was an exciting day up on the field, as we call the main flat area where the dogs are housed; it was a bit of a shake-up for dogs and people alike. Hurrah!

Recently we asked Heather Roberston, an accomplished dog trainer who lives only 45 minutes from here, if she would be willing to come once a week to work with us. She has been coming off and on as a volunteer almost since the word go, and we had directly experienced the benefits of her intuition and skills, even on some unruly dogs. Her speciality (and love!) is pitbulls - right up our alley - but she generally just has the common sense and willingness, plus years of training experience, to work with any dog.

She was happy and excited to be part of our team - and has so many great ideas, and energy - that it feels like the engine has been oiled and primed for some action. Today it really began! Nearly every single dog on the field - i.e. around 24, I think - was moved from one run to another. A lot of to-ing and fro-ing and barking and hoop-la all around. Several of the ferals who had never been on a leash before walked! (well, sort of ran hither and thither) to their new accommodation. But they had real human contact in a way that has not happened before. Nails were trimmed, body weights assessed, coats groomed of excess hair: everyone touched and stroked, perhaps after a little tussle of fear, and being subdued by 2 people. After a while, they could relax into it and see that no-one was going to hurt them, that the stroking means love.

Heather has confidence and calmness, and is prepared to test the dogs - never beyond their limits - to that place where they (and we!) have to move out of our comfort zones and take the next step. It is just what we need. It has been great doing what we have so far with them, but everyone is ready to stretch that little bit further.

Ebony, seen above hiding out in her igloo, was one recipient of attention - nails clipped, massive clouds of hair coming off in the hand. Next week, Heather says - a bath and shave!!

It wasn't only the ferals that got a look-in; the 'walkers', as we call the gang, also got moved around, and the ones who are now targeted for adoption training have been grouped together in a row.

It's funny how one person can create a ripple of change like this. I see we are all hungry for it, as Tara's Babies continues to develop and transform. Heather's input gives everyone skills and confidence to know that the best way forward for the dogs is right at the end of the leash already in our hands. We look forward to more days of learning, growth and having fun!

A travelling twosome!

Meet magnificent Pi-Pi, soon to be a new face at Tara's Babies; I caught my breath when I saw this photo - what a glossy, elegant majestic stance.

Since their childhood, Pi-Pi and his female companion/sister Ru-Ru, had wandered about at the rear of Yang Mei Senior High School, in Taiwan. Suffering from serious skin disease, they usually slipped into the school kitchen to find something to eat. Consequently, they were often beaten. Ms Wu, a schoolteacherwho began an animal rescue from the schoolyard, finally intervened, and placed the two dogs in an animal hospital for treatment and safety.

The skin disease cleared up, and Ms Wu secretly brought them back to the school dog park to settle down. Every weekend she took them to a department store to try and find adoptive homes. Unfortunately, it seems black dogs are not popular pets. They are friendly and playful, including with kids, and have never shown any aggression nor bitten - despite having been beaten.

They were briefly adopted by a factory owner, but it was not to their liking, and they escaped after two days. It took Ms Wu one month to locate them again, they were already sick and weak, and as thin as material draped on bone.

Now they are fully recovered and are healthy again, playing happily in the dog park at the school. However, those long agile legs enable them to jump over the fence into the campus whenever they get the chance. What fun for two young lovable dogs! But this has put them at risk, as this is breaking the rules, and the principal may decide to have them carted off to a detention place where they will be euthanized within 7 days if not claimed by an owner.

So now they are packing their trunks and moving not across town, but across the ocean. Hopefully their stay at the Valley will not be too long, but instead they will find a secure large yard to romp around in, without fear of execution for simply being big gorgeous dogs.

Ru-Ru

i'm going home, i'm going home!

This is Susie Q's song, sung to a drumming tailbeat and a rollicking dance. We all join in the chorus - this is the moment we all wish for, for most every single one of the dogs in our care. Only a couple of those with us now will probably never leave, because there is an edge of unpredictability that means Dakini Valley is the very best loving home for them. But for everyone else, the wish is that they will pack their swags and move on - to a forever home overflowing with love.
Well, Susie Q has her destination in sight. And it's someone she already knows! Susie was one of many dogs rescued by KAT 5 Animal Rescue last year, from a terrible hoarder situation. KAT5 is a 501 (c) (3) comprised of volunteers from across the country who came together in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to rescue animals. It intervenes to protect animals when a natural or man-made disaster strikes, and is named after Hurricane Katrina ("KAT" for Katrina), and category 5 storms, symbolizing any disaster.

Four of these dogs headed west to the high country of Arizona. One, a delicious Swiss Mountain dog (true Swiss chocolate eyes) was fostered several months ago, and is now being adopted by his carer (hurrah!!). Two others - a sweet older two-some, who now live apart and are happy with that! - still wait hopefully for a home together or individually. Susie Q was the fourth - a full-of-energy bundle of love, who tip-taps her paws with excitement at the very thought you might come in and visit. Not to mention the ecstasy of belly rubs!!!

Well, Scott is a KAT5 volunteer who formed part of the network re-locating the rescues to their new homes. He fell in love with this pale golden girl. He told me of sitting in Nashville, at the transfer point for the next relay of drivers, cuddling with her and feeling forlorn that they would part. He thought, at the time, it was for the best - that she would surely find a new home very soon. It didn't take long to regret that decision.

Scott has a heart bigger than the State he lives in, and ended up adopting other rescues from the hoarder, joining the family of dogs he already had. His heart breaks when he hears of or sees the suffering of animals, and his life is living proof of that. A couple of the dogs now sharing his home shows signs of having been abused, and he is working through love to teach them to trust.

So Susie Q stayed in his mind, and when he heard she was still here, that was IT! It doesn't matter that it will take days to drive here and fetch her, he is simply overjoyed to know that finally he again will be able to hold her in his lap and rub that tender belly.

And Susie Q - well, she isn't fully in on the secret yet, but I think I detect an extra hop in her dance. I know I will see it when Scott finally arrives. And for us - we couldn't be happier. Not only because Susie will soon be exactly where she deserves to be - in a home where she will be treated with respect and tender love, but also because Scott's kindness is another reminder that goodness and compassion is to be found everywhere.

new girl on the block

Meet Perxais, the sweetest, cutest, golden pit bull you could imagine! This photo doesn't begin to do justice, especially to her green eyes.
Perxais came to us just a week ago; a situation had arisen in her home that meant she had to leave asap - and being a pit bull, the chances of a good outcome in a pound in the Phoenix area were not high. The brother of her owner has volunteered here, and called late Friday night, asking if we could take her. We had no empty kennels - though plenty of vacant space - so he very generously offered to buy our FIRST EVER proper modular kennel system. To date, we are still using the somewhat dilapidated panels kindly donated to us when we hurriedly created a facility to house the Katrina rescues. We get by, but we need better.
So Monday morning, he drove to PHX and picked this baby girl up - she is just over a year old. She loved the ride in the car!! He met Norbu, who is helping out for a couple of weeks, in Payson - and they arrived together: dog, panels - a complete do-it-yourself set!! The modular panels are a joy - so easy to configure, the kennel was ready in no time. Perxais had her new (temporary) home!!
Settling in is never easy for a pup used to a family and home, but we hope she will find a new one soon. She went to the vet this week and was spayed, so now she is ready to move on. In the meantime, we will all love her and enjoy her beautiful face and sweet disposition.

Changes, large and small

Rose

Working with the feral dogs is so rewarding because the changes you witness, and have been part of the process in bringing about, are tiny and monumental all at once. I mean, we love all the dogs, but the ferals offer us a precious opportunity to transform their lives from entirely fear-based, to ones based on trust.

Some milestones, from my view:

Rose is a smaller medium dog, very timid and shy; perhaps a little non-descript in some ways, could be the painfully shy wallflower whose presence does not even register on on your mind. Nothing flashy or flamboyant about her.

Some months ago - perhaps Thanksgiving or Christmas, we had turkey - I decided to try and get her to hand feed. Until that point she would feed with you sitting a foot or two away, but anything closer would send her scurrying off behind her house. It took quite a few days. I would offer the food in my hand, she would come forward a step or two, then retreat. Each day I tried it again and again, although allowing her to eat from the bowl after she had made some attempts to overcome her fear. Little by little, her panic receded, until she began to eat from my hand.

Some weeks later I upped the ante, holding out my empty hand for her to touch with her nose, before she got the food in my other hand. The lesson was more quickly learned, this time, although she would still run back and forth between mouthfuls. Next, I began moving my free hand while she ate, which startled her every time, her eyes round and worried, ready to bolt, and again sometimes retreating. One time I managed to touch her ear, fleetingly.

Well, yesterday, I began with her ear and by the end of the feed, I was able to stroke her head down past her collar while she kept feeding. This was such a joyful moment for me; this is the first time she has been petted in over a year, perhaps much much longer, given we know nothing of these dog's histories.I am so proud of her, because it is very hard to shed that deep-seated fear, and she tries every day, again and again.

Today there was a lot of building commotion going on - backhoe, people - so even to have her feed from my hand was a miracle, as normally such a big change in her environment would send her hiding. The entire time, she was looking, listening, jumping back, coming forward - but although it took longer, she ate it all.

Timmy is another one making great progress. He is a striking black and white pit/dalmation mix, who has spent almost the entire year - day and night - hiding in his igloo; we would hand feed him in there, his brown eyes big and uncertain. Scars on his face suggest he may have been a bait dog used to train fighters: his fear of people and dogs is enormous.

Well, some weeks ago, we began to leash walk him: took some chasing around his yard the first couple of times, but now much less so.A couple of days ago, while handing out treats, he ran to the fence and took one from me - right out in the open, straight from my hand. And several times now, when he has seen me coming at dinner time , he has come outside of his own volition, to greet me. He then retreats to safety, but will now hand feed with his entire body, bar his back legs, out side his igloo - stretched out like a spring ready to recoil, yet mustering his confidence and trust in us.

These dogs are remarkable, I cannot do justice to the efforts they put in to overcome months - a lifetime - of terror, and learn to feel safe with us. I appreciate every moment, every change, every time they hesitate for one second less. We teach each other so much, this is definitely a reciprocal relationship of patience, trust and developing love.

On another note, Raven unexpectedly decided to leave here, so I will be the sole writer, at least for a while. Karen, who also lives here, and I are caring for the troops right now - such a rowdy, loving bunch they can be, en masse - and soon some familiar faces will probably be back here, to continue caring for Tara's Babies.