The rains in May

  It certainly seems like the rainy weather has led to a surge in dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.  With our expansion into the Berryville facility formerly used by Go East Young Dog, the crest of incoming dogs has not stopped.  Both the BV facility and the Eureka Springs facility are at capacity, and the calls from the community about animals needing space have not stopped.  If anyone reading this has friends looking for a new pet, or can spread the word to friends and family, please stop by!
  Construction of a pad for the new expansion building at the Eureka facility started this past week, so it's been slightly chaotic here.  But, it is exciting to think about the possibilities.

  One of our shelter goals this year is to try and find homes for some of our long term dog residents.  We have a pair of "bonded pairs"--big dogs who need to stay together for their physical and mental well-being.  Let me introduce you.
  The first pair are brothers--Barney & Loki.  Yes, they are litter mates. 

  Barney and Loki are 3 years old, and they've never been apart.  They are quite playful now, although when they first got to Good Shepherd, they were extremely fearful and distrustful of people.  That has changed thanks to the efforts of some great dog techs and volunteers.  They're still big, still goofy, and still bark a lot, but once they know you have treats, they come running.  We've learned that they also get along well with other big dogs. 

  Our next "bonded pair" are sisters--Shadow and  Shelby, two black lab mixes.  The girls love to play with Barney & Loki in our big dog pen. 

These adorable dogs are 7 1/2 years old, and of course, they've been together their whole life.  Shadow has seizures, but she is well-controlled on a simple medication, and it hasn't seemed to affect her ability to play or socialize with other dogs. 

   Staff and volunteers at the shelter love these dogs and try to treat them like the wonderful pets they are--or like our own pets.  But the sad part is that these two pair of dogs have been waiting for a loving family for two years.  Wouldn't it be wonderful for them to find a permanent family?  These dogs have lots of love and loyalty to give to the right family.  Won't you please help share their stories and photos, and help our pairs find a new summer home?
 
  As exhausting as the work at the shelter can be, it's the love and appreciation we get from the animals each day that keeps us coming back.  Goofy big dogs barking, puppy breath, baby kittens whose eyes aren't open but who clutch tight to the baby bottle as we feed them, the dogs who just lean into you for comfort and security, and the adult cats who act so indifferent but really just want catnip--that kind of love can't be bought, nor can it be manufactured. 
  If you haven't been to the shelter in the past few years, come back and visit with our adoptable pets.  The staff can share many more wonderful stories about our pets.   See you soon!

It's a New Year at Good Shepherd!

Hello, everyone,

  Yes, it has been several months since I had time to write a new post.   The fall was very busy here at the shelter and for the organization too.  Our annual fundraiser, "The Doggie Style Show," was held in November and was a success.  The only disappointing part was that the venue did not allow us to bring any animals to the event.  However, we had lots of food and fun, and a great time had by all!  Most importantly, the event raised money to help our shelter dogs and cats. 
   Then the holiday season was upon us!  We participated again this year in the Best Friends Animal Society holiday event "Bring Joy to Your World."  The shelter staff also had help decorating the grounds this year.  All the dogs and the cats got stockings, and thanks to our generous donors, all got special treats and toys on Christmas.  Our volunteers put up lights on the front of the building, put new decorations on our front gate, and helped us string decorations inside the building.  It looked very pretty and festive!
  Our adoption numbers for December and the year showed an increase over last year, and that is a blessing indeed.  The sad thing is that the need for our services--to care for the homeless and unwanted companion animals of Carroll County Arkansas--has not diminished.  2014 was a year when GSHS took in Apollo, a beautiful Great Pyrenees who'd been shot and hit by a car and left to die.  Thanks to the dedicated efforts of shelter staff who cared for him, and generous members of the public who donated for his care, GSHS saved Apollo, his leg, and helped him find his forever home!
It was also the year that brought a little Sheltie to us, that we named Timmy.  A good Samaritan found Timmy on the roadside with his little belly cut open.  Again, thanks to our generous donors and the hard work of staff and our local vets, we saved little Timmy, who is now playing with his new forever family.
  2014 was also a year that we rescued animals from abusive situations, from the pit bull we saved from an owner who was planning to beat the dog to death with a hammer, to the cats rescued from an apartment complex where the teens were spray painting them and throwing rocks at them to hurt them, to the multiple dogs and cats simply abandoned in apartments or houses when the tenants vacated, left to starve.  We cared for kittens with birth defects, puppies with parvo, cats with respiratory viruses and corona.  Despite our best efforts, we could not save them, but we did save more that 96% of the animals that came to us in 2014.  In fact, our save rate for 2014 was higher than 2013 and 2012 (we reduced the number of deaths by half).  That is a trend that we are all working to continue in 2015.
  So far, 2015 has started with the same "bang" that 2014 ended with.  In the first two weeks of the year,  we have brought in dogs abandoned in a house without food, a cat left by a tenant, and another dog saved by the animal cruelty investigator who had been stuck in a small cage so long that the dog has pressure sores on his bottom and legs and is at least 30 pounds underweight.  So far, all of them are responding well to treatment and to lots of attention. 
  Even though it's a little late for the end of the year, I want to say a special thanks to my shelter staff, who work in often dirty conditions, and still manage to keep the kennels clean and shiny, the animals healthy, and give lots of love and attention (if you don't believe me, come listen to Sandra or Cassie, James, and Jimmy singing to the animals while they work).  I also want to say thanks to our board members and volunteers who spend lots of time and energy working so that the shelter stays up and running.  Lastly, I want to thank those in the community who don't look the other way when an animal is in trouble, but instead try to find some way to struggle and save the dog or cat. 
  For all of us who work so hard and struggle so valiantly and wonder if we make a difference, perhaps a little Dylan Thomas will remind us:

                      Do not go gentle into that good night.
                      Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

We are all the "light" for the companions in our care.  We are their voice and their advocates.  Remember.
  I'll try not to wait another 5 months to write.  GSHS has lots of fun things planned for the end of winter and spring.  We've got a pancake breakfast and a spaghetti dinner coming up, we've got special Valentine's Adoptions planned, and lots of fun things.  I hope to see you at the shelter!!

A good pet is a heart song, sung to the rhythm of lifes enduring drum.

Read more at: http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/gifts_627549

A good pet is a heart song, sung to the rhythm of lifes enduring drum.

Read more at: http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/gifts_627549

A good pet is a heart song, sung to the rhythm of lifes enduring drum.

Read more at: http://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/gifts_627549

 The introduction of the poem "Gifts" by M.L. Kiser

        A good pet
     is a heartsong,
  sung to the rhythm
of lifes enduring drum.


Enjoy.
Janice