I volunteer at my local animal shelter. It's a kill shelter so it's sometimes extremely emotionally draining. If I am there when animals get put down I try to be right there with them and hold them on their journey to the other side.
I do have some good stories my favorite is when I first started volunteering they knew me from the food/snack/litter drop offs I used to bring down to them. They all knew I had a Boxer and was passionate about them. They said they had two young Boxers a brother and sister (that I named umm Brother and Sissy..I know not that original). They had been horribly abused physically and mentally. The shelter was going to put them down but I begged them to give me 1 week with them to see if I could make any progress.
They werent aggression just terribly afraid of humans. If you went into the kennel with them they would shake so bad they would lose both their bowels and urine. I had to carry them outside to the play area everyday because they were terrified of leashes. Kind of tiresome carrying two 65 pound dogs!
When they were in the play area they would romp and play but wouldnt come anywhere near me. I used to sit for hours everyday with my eyes downcast and my back to them gaining their trust and hot dogs helped too
Within 3 days of this the male finally came over and sniffed my back and in time allowed me to toss him hot dog pieces. By the end of that week I was able to be within about 10 feet of them without too much trouble. The shelter staff gave me the promise if I worked with them daily they wouldnt put them down.
It was hard to swing it because I was working two jobs but I worked with them daily for about a maybe 2 weeks before the male finally took a hot dog from my hand. About that time a lovely older couple came in and fell in love with them despite their faults. We agreed if they made the effort and came down and worked with me and the dogs on the weekends they could possibly adopt them. Well they did do their part and in time the dogs accepted them...well as much as they could at that point. I made it clear these dogs would never be "normal" dogs. They would need constant work and patience. Since the couple had rescued an abused Mastiff(it had recently passed) they adopted both Brother and Sissy(now named Mosley and Layla).
This couple lives about a mile from me and I visit the dogs often. They have come a long ways. They are spoiled and loved by this wonderful couple who accepts them as they are. It's the best outcome I could have hoped for.
I dont do a lot of hands on training like I used to do there, but I coordinate with breed rescues all over the US willing to take some of the great dogs we get. It's extremely rewarding. Although it can be heart breaking and emotionally draining, I love what I do! I know I have personally been part of saving several dogs and some cats from sure death.
I took next Saturday off for our biggest event of the year Bark In The Park...I cant wait!.
Just a thought for those who love to take pictures. Most shelters would be overjoyed to have someone volunteer to take pictures of the animals up for adoption...your talents could save a life
