Happy tales
The following stories are examples of pets that have come through the Dumb Friends League and how our various programs and services were able to help them.
"Helpline
happiness"
Our Behavior Department receives calls on their Behavior Helpline everyday from concerned pet owners who are having problems with their pets. The volunteers who take calls on the Behavior Helpline do their best to provide suggestions and advice to these pet owners. Faith Englehart was one of these pet owners who was having a problem with her newly adopted dog, "Buster," a Lhasa Apso mix. Buster was supposedly house trained, but when Faith brought him home, he began to soil the carpet on a regular basis. Not knowing how to handle this, Faith called our Dog Helpline and spoke with a volunteer who had several ideas and suggestions. He told her to use a product on her carpet called "Simple Solutions" to get rid of any pet odors that may have been there before they bought their house because Buster was probably "marking" his territory. She was also told to put him on a regular feeding schedule and take him outside at regular intervals to go to the bathroom. When she wasn't home and at night, she would also confine Buster to a certain area. Fortunately, all of these suggestions worked and Buster is now "perfectly potty trained." Our Behavior Helpline helps pet owners find solutions to their pet problems without having to give up their pets!
"Daisy"
saves her pups
Daisy was a one-year-old terrier mix who had been abandoned by her owners. One day a man was walking by an area of town where there were a lot of stray dogs. The man noticed one dog that was barking and making frantic movements next to a muddy area. Because of the dog's actions, the man dug up some of the mud and discovered four puppies buried in the mud! He tried to take Daisy and the pups with him, but Daisy wouldn't leave. She continued to act frantic and excited, so the man dug up more of the mud and discovered three more puppies! He took Daisy and her puppies to his local animal shelter and they were soon transferred to the Denver Dumb Friends League. Daisy and her puppies were put into our Homes With Hearts Foster Care Program because the pups were only a couple of weeks old. There they could be cared for in the home of a volunteer until the pups were old enough to be weaned from their mother. Daisy and her puppies were eventually adopted to separate homes. Daisy's new owner, Kristina Nelson, said that Daisy was very cautious at first when they took her home, but now she is sweet and affectionate and very well-mannered. She's very happy in her new home and we're glad we could provide that for her and her seven puppies!
A
fresh start for "Pepper"
Too often, we receive pets that have had a difficult start in life and we try to match them up with a new family that can give them the love and care they need to make a fresh start. Pepper was one such pet and her story is bittersweet. When Pepper, a black Pomeranian, came to the Denver Dumb Friends League in 1995 she was five years old, terribly frightened, and extremely underweight. It was obvious that Pepper had been neglected and possibly abused. Her coat was so matted that it had to be shaved off. Lance and Cheryl Caplin came to the Denver Dumb Friends League that summer, and with the help of our adoption counselors, they adopted Pepper. When Pepper arrived at her new home she was too afraid to eat with people around, so she would slither like a snake to her bowl when no one was looking. The Caplins and "Fancy," their other dog, tried to show Pepper affection, but she kept her distance. It was almost a year before they were able to pet or play with Pepper. Gradually, though, with continued tolerance, and lots of love, Pepper began to accept her role as a member of the family. Over the next three years she changed even more and began to trust her family. Pepper came to understand that regular grooming, baths, nail clips and visits to the veterinarian were all part of "being taken care of." Her family doubted she was ever told that she was a "pretty girl" and it took a long, long time for her to feel good about herself. Today, she is a very confident, talkative and loving member of the household. She dearly loves and respects Fancy, her best friend, for teaching her "the ropes." She loves people, particularly little children, and has a smile on her face almost all the time. Pepper is a wonderful example of how animals, as well as people, can have a fresh start in life.