Indy is FREE!!!

Mom2Melli said:
In California, can a shelter even release an unaltered animal to a member of the general public? I thought they could only transfer to another shelter/rescue which then had to spay/neuter before placement. Pups/kittens are altered at 2 months and then available for placement. Aren't they just following California shelter protocol?
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Don't know, but that is what Elizabeth was told at one point.
 
JacqueZ said:
I'm not going to take sides in this issue, because I'm sure the breeder of Indy is a responsible individual and they have proven to care what happens to her dogs, however lets also take a minute to look at everything from the shelters side of things as well.

a) there is no question that they are drastically overwhelmed by this situation. They have 61 dogs that need vet care, grooming and socialization. They have hundreds of people filing applications that they need to sort through, and investigate to make sure that the dogs are going to the best home possible.

Yes on one hand having a ready made solution for one of the dogs that can be quickly taken care of would seem like a good thing, however...

These workers do not know this breeder, what they do know is that one of her dogs ended up in a situation, where if it isn't outright abuse, it is under all considerations wrong.

61 dogs on an acre of land (that is crowded, I live on an acre, I do not consider that enough room for proper exercise). They didn't apparently receive proper grooming, they didn't receive flea medication, they didn't receive proper dental care, they didn't receive proper socialization.

I don't know how Indy ended up with her, but they would want to be sure that he doesn't end up in the same situation again. They waited until they had an intermediary known to both parties who could vouch for the breeder. They nurtured him, why? Probably because they felt he had been through enough.

I know there are plenty of reasons for the breeder to not want the dog fixed. Whether it's because he has wonderful genes and personality and they want to progress the breed, or maybe they would like to hold off for medical reasons, but there is also the worry for the shelter that it is because he is worth more intack.

He's a wonderful dog fixed or not, but at least fixed they have an assurance that he would be more valuable to someone as a companion rather than stuck in a cage purely for breeding purposes.

Again I know this can sound inflammatory, I do not believe that the breeder has done anything wrong, she's done everything right, jumping to rescue a dog of hers that fell into a bad situation, offering to compensate the rescue for the help they provided in getting him out of it and fixed up, ..but the rescue is also trying to handle an immense amount of work, a horrible situation and trying to do it in the most responsible manner possible to guarantee the health and a good life the animals.

Their decisions are understandable even if we don't agree with them.
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Well said. There are definitely 2 sides to the story. I asked a couple of questions yesterday about how the dogs were housed. The shelter worker said that there really was no time to assess the situation. The dogs were in and outside of a house that was on fire. All they could do was get them out! These county workers deserve credit for getting all 61 dogs out safely!!
 
Thank you, it's wonderful to hear that you had such a smooth time retrieving him in the end. And very heartening to hear that that the rest of the shelties are in such a nice facility. Hopefully they all end up in equally loving homes.

And it was fantastic of you to step in and help facilitate this case. Shelties everywhere are lucky to have such loving helpers out there.
 
I pulled a BC once. He was a stray from my neighborhood and the owner wanted him back but they wouldn't let them have him since they didn't have fencing. They agreed for me to adopt him (and keep him, not return him to them but let them visit him at times). He wasn't neutered but the day he was going to surgery he came down with KC in a major way. They wouldn't neuter, they wouldn't release him to me, they wouldn't treat him. Their solution was PTS and for me to choose another animal. The only thing I could do to save his life at that point was have a shelter pull him. I agreed to take another of their dogs to make space for him so he could be treated and neutered. They adopted him out to local people with a beach home and it was a good fit for him and for his previous owners. I was told in CA they will not release an unaltered animal except to a group who won't release him until neutered.

In any case, I think Indy is going to the best place to get him back on tract with life. I hope the people who are adopting these pups have a support group to help them through the transition since the dogs have had a rough and traumatizing time lately. I hope some of them find their way here too!
 
Unclear...

I guess I am a bit unclear as to:

1. Why all the shelties were not given to a sheltie breed specific rescue?

2. How many of the 60 shelties still need homes?

3. Are only 2 still going to Southland Sheltie Rescue?

Not sure why this shelter being so overwhelmed would not go straight to a breed specific sheltie rescue.:gaah

Sorry - I am a novice at all this...
 
1. The shelter decided to see if they could handle it at first, and they knew the Sheltie rescues were ready to take in dogs if needed. I think what ended up helping them the most was all the breeders and enthusiasts who came in to help groom. I think the shelter was equipped to handle all the dogs, it's just still overwhelming for 60+ dogs to come in at the same time, especially Shelties with grooming requirements!

2. I think the last I heard was over 200 people showed interest in adopting the Shelties and there was a waiting list. I think you can count of all of the Shelties finding homes. It just takes a while to process applications and do home checks. The Sheltie rescues are stepping in to help with that too.

3. Yes, as far as I know. 2 senior males.
 
This has all been so very sad. I'm encouraged by the kindness I've seen emerge as this unfolds.
 
Dawn, what a fabulous thing you did for Indy and his breeder. I was so very glad to hear your positive impressions of the shelter as well. That lifts my heart up a little over what has been such a crazy story.

Indy is so cute - I bet it is easy to fall for him.

The two senior boys at Southland Sheltie Rescue have been at the vet's with pneumonia and very bad diarrhea. Their costs are mounting, but they are in good hands.
 
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