Rescue Stories

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo

Romeo is a flame point Siamese mix and was part of an extended feline family group with 10 other young cats and kittens. They were living in a trailer until their owners moved and left them all behind.

When our Feral Cat Coordinator Margaret Griffith learned of the situation she immediately stepped in and all 11 cats were moved to her home, which has an outside enclosure and a 2 story cat house.

All of the cats but Romeo were adopted quickly. He was the friendliest, but didn’t see as well as the others and an early injury to his back legs sometimes caused an uneven gait when he runs. He doesn’t know that though and still loves to play with the string and climb trees.

Romeo is now just over a year old and all of his playmates have been adopted out. He is still looking for a family that will love him and his confident personality. Romeo socializes well with other cats and all people, he is litter-boxed trained and comfortable both indoors and out. Romeo will come when called and loves to meet his foster mom at the gate at the end of her day.

Update: August 29, 2012- Romeo was adopted and found his forever home.

Savannah

Savannah came to the HSMV July 2011. She was very obese and had difficulty walking due to her size and lack of exercise and at the time did not “play well with the other dogs”. Savannah’s original owner, no longer able to care for Savannah due to her own maturing age and health, surrendered her to the HSMV. After a visit to the vet Savannah was diagnosed with a thyroid condition and gum disease. She is now on medication and feeling better than ever. Her foster volunteer takes her on daily walks and she’s beginning to smile again. Savannah longs for a loving forever home where she can be a part of her new family.

Update: “ADOPTED!! Our senior dog, Savannah was adopted by a wonderful home and is now content living on a small ranch in Wyoming."

Shelter cats Squeek and Floyd

“Squeek (the large orange tabby) is the official cat greeter at the Moab City Animal Shelter. He has decided this is his home and the shelter humans respectfully agree. Ten months ago, Squeek decided to keep his friend Floyd (white and orange tabby).These two share their bed and every morning Floyd gives Squeek a back massage and then they make their rounds of the cattery together to check on new guests.”

The Odyssey of Scott...
A Rescue Tail with Heart

I met Scott when I came to interview for the Director of Animal Services position in September of last year. He was (and still is!) an older Shepherd/Rottweiller mix who is extremely personable, nice with other dogs, people, babies, plants, molecules, anything. He just liked watching the world go by. While many of the other dogs barked their heads off, Scott just chilled, enjoying the show.

When I arrived in Moab to start my position as Director of Animal Services, I went out to where he was boarded and found out very quickly why he had been in the adoption pool longer than any other dog: he had this thing about escaping. It bordered on phobic. If a door was open, he was flying for it!

As I ran to try and catch him, I watched as he flung himself on barbed wire at the boarding facility. I saw his expression as he got over the fence-absolute joy! He lived for that moment when he out smarted whatever was trying to contain him. He thrived in chaos. In essence he was an anarchist. No wonder I hit it off with him!!

We transferred him to another more secure location and his escape opportunities were non existent. He pouted for a few days, but enjoyed the ever changing population at the day care. He still liked to be high, so they built him a ledge on top of the entrance way to the dog area, well away from the exterior fences and it made him the official greeter.

Nice guy, unrealistically adoptable in the land of the 5’ field fence, he stayed in boarding way too long. The reality of dogs that habitually escape is that eventually people get tired of looking for him, deep down their feelings get hurt because he continues to run away and or they just simply don’t come home one day as “something” (car vs dog-the dog never wins) gets in the way of their return.

One day it hit me “If he was in Los Angeles, he would have been adopted 20 times by now! Scott needs to be moved to a higher crime area!”

I made arrangements to swap him with another dog at the Utah Animal Adoption Center. I had him micro chipped right before-just in case he got loose again and lo and behold, he already had a micro chip!! Scott may not have to go to SLC after all!

I found out that his name was Taz and that he was probably about 6 years old. That he had lived in Vernal and the last time he had been to the vet there was in 2005. They remembered him and his escapist ways! I called the numbers listed on his file as well as wrote a letter to the address but got so response. So off we went to the Great Salt Lake.

They were pretty crowded at the facility, but they had 10 foot fences and promised that he would never be out there unsupervised. I felt that they would care for Scott and hopefully find him a nice family.

We brought back a very sweet heeler mix (the official dog of Moab) and she was promptly adopted by a very nice lady. Scott stayed in SLC and I became worried that maybe he would end up long term there as well.

About a month after we moved him, I got an email saying that Scott was adopted by a nice older couple who lived in a condo (a controlled environment-whoo hoo!!) and that he was finally home.

Sometimes we just have to think outside the box and go that extra mile for the dogs that through no fault of their own languish in the system. Scott deserved nothing less.

by Elaine Allison, CPDT

Casper - The Lucky Ghost

Poor little Casper arrived at the pound in very bad shape. Just five-weeks old and very thin, his eyes were so infected that it looked like someone had inserted a marble under each eyelid. He could hardly hold his head up. The humane society’s kitten fosterer or “Meowmie” (as she is called by her cats) took in the tiny starved kitten. He was named “Casper” because he was such a little thin white wraith. It was defi nitely touch-and-go for the first few weeks.

At first, Casper need to be tube fed, because he was too weak to suck on a bottle. His eyes were soaked, washed and medicated every two hours and he received antibiotics twice a day. It was several weeks before Casper was strong enough drink on his own, maintain his body temperature, or even walk. Gradually, he was able to eat out of a dish and his eyes began to clear-up. He had made it!


A new and improved Casper
Casper is now 4 months-old. He is no longer white, but a lovely semi-longhaired blue point. His one eye still needs medication, but hopefully will heal. Although he only has partial sight in his eyes, he now runs and plays with his toys and the other cats. Meowmie just couldn’t let go of this wonderful little guy and has adopted him as part of their furry family. A definite success story!

by Pam Walston

Two Hearts Make a Whole

Nala is a beautiful pitbull mix that came to the Humane Society in the fall of 2004. Nala had been kept penned in a backyard with little to no socialization for the fi rst year and a half of her life. She was fostered by a Humane Society volunteer who worked with Nala to housetrain and socialize her both with people and other animals. Nala also received one-to-one instruction for basic commands and leash training.

In September of 2004, Sheila Maxfield came to the Humane Society Adoption Days to fi nd a loving companion for her fourteen year old grandson Jake. Jake’s therapist had recommended a pet for Jake. Jake and Nala immediately bonded and Nala went home with them that day.

Best buddies Nala and Jake
enjoy a cozy moment together.

By December the two were inseparable. Unfortunately, the Maxfields were renting a home and their landlord had decided to evict them for having a dog. But Sheila, seeing the difference Nala had made in Jake’s life, decided to fight for both her grandson and Nala. Sheila contacted a disabilities lawyer in nearby Monticello to help her with the eviction order. Because Jake’s therapist had recommended a pet, the lawyer was able to have Nala declared as a “service dog”. Happily, Sheila, Jake and Nala were able to remain in their home.

Jake walks Nala every morning before school, after school and once again at night. He has continued to help Nala socialize with other people and dogs, as well as crate training her. Nala stays in a fenced yard when Jake is in school and sleeps inside every night. In return, she has helped Jake to set a consistent routine and learn both the responsibilities and joys of caring for an animal.

by Tricia Gundlach