Two shelties at Mahoning County Pound, Oh urgent

[Kelly]

In short the approach is time-consume, labor-intensive, inexact and prone to omission. We (mostly meaning all of you) desparately need to utilize technology to optimize our efforts. And I (mostly meaning me) am committed to creating tools to make that happen.

If there is a way that the Sheltie Nation can help all the rescue groups better communicate, I'm all for it. I'd be happy to expand or modify the forum rescue section in a way that could better help.

If someone took the lead in getting the groups organized together, or by working with the national rescue leader, I think the forum could be a great "real time" way to communicate. The trick is laying out an organizational plan that eveyone knows about and sticks to.

 

[mmcginty]

If there is a way that the Sheltie Nation can help all the rescue groups better communicate, I'm all for it. I'd be happy to expand or modify the forum rescue section in a way that could better help.

If someone took the lead in getting the groups organized together, or by working with the national rescue leader, I think the forum could be a great "real time" way to communicate. The trick is laying out an organizational plan that eveyone knows about and sticks to.

That's awesome, Kelly, thanks!

I agree that the forum is a great way to communicate, but I have a strong feeling that what we're dealing with in this case needs transactional processing and a centrally maintained status object, per dog. The confines of the forum would limit how much we could make the machine do to assist with this task. (OTOH I am open to any viable possibilities.)

I do think the forum is key to the success of this project, what better way to get the word out? It's the central point for discussing the design.

I need to focus on my day job for a couple of days, but over the weekend I plan to create the core of what I have in mind here. Then I can show you what I'm visulaizing, and we can go from there.


-Mark

 

[LadyMcBeth]

Whatever needs to be done, and whatever I can do to help, please let me know. I don't work, and am adept at the computer, have unlimited long distance on my phone, and unlimited time to devote to this cause. Any dog we can stop from being euthanized is a success.

I will follow your lead. Don't hesitate to let me know what I can do.

Oh, and I don't take "no" for an anwer easily!!!

 

[Danny's mommy]

I am lost in all the technicality of the project. So I will just add my two cents for what it is worth and from my experience. The sheltie rescue groups in each state are very much on top of the shelties needing rescue in the dog pounds and humane societies etc. They communicate with each other frequently and help each other rescue shelties. They transport shelties frequently and provide medical care for them besides good foster homes. What they really need are more foster homes. Whenever I posted a sheltie on this forum the rescue group for the state involved almost always came through to rescue them. If I never posted a sheltie on this forum I believe they all would have been rescued anyways. There were a few exceptions like Zippy and Hope who benefited by pushing for a rescue to get them where they otherwise may have not. So I guess I don't really understand the need for more posting of the dogs when the rescues really have them covered. The rescue groups are very organized and know each other. The dogs I see not rescued are sheltie mixes and there are lots of them. I feel too many people involved who are not established rescue groups may just complicate a process that I think has really been working quite well. I didn't mean anybody to think the sheltie rescue people have not been doing their job and I feel really bad thinking this may have happened. I hesitate to post shelties on the forum now for fear of having people think the rescue groups are not doing their job when they really are and more. I apologize if I fueled this opinion. But if you believe there is something lacking in the performance of the rescue effort and have a way to fix it I support your endeavor. Even if it is above my limited technical understanding.

 

[LadyMcBeth]

Danny's Mom,

I, and my limited experience to aid your efforts, have never thought you were trying to undermine the rescues or tell them they are not doing their job. I agree in most cases, the rescue groups are eager to save these dogs...that is their mission. Another set of eyes and ears can't hurt. How many dogs have been pointed out to groups that had gone unnoticed? You serve as a valuable part of the link in this process. I don't like to hear you are hesitating at posting new dogs for fear your efforts will be misunderstood.

I need to think about this some more. I realize your point is a valid one.

In my case, I have been going through the process of volunteering at the local pound, partly to scope out dogs who may qualify for rescue groups. The fact that I can love on them, help the shelter, and do something productive with my time is also a consideration. But any breed of dog, especially the sheltie, I hope will benefit from my presence. I plan on helping every dog I can get into rescue out of there. I also am a wanna-be photographer, and hope I can use my talent, resouces (I have a fantastic camera) and skills to benefit animals.

Like I said, I am available to help out in any way I can. But I think you raise some legitimate concerns and points.

 

[mmcginty]

I am lost in all the technicality of the project. So I will just add my two cents for what it is worth and from my experience. The sheltie rescue groups in each state are very much on top of the shelties needing rescue in the dog pounds and humane societies etc. They communicate with each other frequently and help each other rescue shelties. They transport shelties frequently and provide medical care for them besides good foster homes. What they really need are more foster homes. Whenever I posted a sheltie on this forum the rescue group for the state involved almost always came through to rescue them. If I never posted a sheltie on this forum I believe they all would have been rescued anyways. There were a few exceptions like Zippy and Hope who benefited by pushing for a rescue to get them where they otherwise may have not. So I guess I don't really understand the need for more posting of the dogs when the rescues really have them covered. The rescue groups are very organized and know each other. The dogs I see not rescued are sheltie mixes and there are lots of them. I feel too many people involved who are not established rescue groups may just complicate a process that I think has really been working quite well. I didn't mean anybody to think the sheltie rescue people have not been doing their job and I feel really bad thinking this may have happened. I hesitate to post shelties on the forum now for fear of having people think the rescue groups are not doing their job when they really are and more. I apologize if I fueled this opinion. But if you believe there is something lacking in the performance of the rescue effort and have a way to fix it I support your endeavor. Even if it is above my limited technical understanding.

Hmm, well I certainly didn't infer, from reading things here, that the rescues aren't doing their job. Also I wouldn't want you to change the way you post here, I enjoy following the rescue stories, and I'm sure others do too. I must admit I was completely unprepared to see anything bad happen to Buzz and Woody -- thankfully it all worked out for them!

But about the current process, I have a few questions and an observation:

Of all the dogs they save, how many do the rescues learn about via unsolicited 3rd party tips (such as emails sent by concerned forum users)? When the rescues communicate/collaberate, do they have a central list of dogs in danger that all can access, or is it just emails and phone calls? Do they use technology to figure out distances, map routes and determine which drivers are in proximity to help?

And the observation: Dawn A mentioned the site in some number of rescue circles on Facebook, which resulted is a relatively large increase in traffic. Requests from 115 different IP addresses were logged. Sadly there really isn't much to see there at the moment, but I interpret the traffic surge to be an expression of interest in tools.

From what I've seen (and I don't mean this to be offensive) the rescues in general are somewhat low-tech, their adoption application intakes are not mechanized, their adoption applicant data is managed on paper and in someone's head, their web sites are not sophisticated, and few if any aspects of their operations are automated.

I'm sure part of the reason is it can be very expensive to build automated processes that are trusted to be as good or better than manual ones. Another part is likely that they don't think they need to automate, but if they ever have difficulty finding time in the day to get everything done... the decision not to automate based on perceived need isn't always an objective one...

Anyways, before I get completely lost in rhetoric, I should say that I was really hoping to get you onboard with this thing. It seems I have a ways to go on that score -- but that's ok, rising to challenges is my business (and business is good.)

 

[Danny's mommy]

I am on board even though I don't understand the tech stuff. I am a tech illiterate. I couldn't even log in to the site for some reason. Did you think of sending out a questionnaire via email to all of the sheltie rescues on assa also Dorothy's website asking them what they think and how you can best help them and what you have to offer. Most of the time these rescues see and know about the dogs before they get on petfinder. These rescues are very connected with each other and offer help in transport, pulling dogs, etc. Sheltie rescue is very much on top of these dogs. The pounds trust these licensed rescues who can not only pull the dogs but also get them medical care, check their behavior, transport them via their many volunteers. But I would start by asking these rescues how you can help them with your technical skills. They can best inform you. My observation is that sheltie rescue needs more foster homes and money to address medical issues with their rescues. I applaud your endeavor Mark even though I don't understand the tech stuff. We are all on board in helping any way we can. Sorry you thought I wasn't supporting you - I am.

 

[rose]

i will try and explain this the best i can ( i am not good with explaining things in writing), i got involed with Hope, i want her, i truly feels she belongs with me, and was trying to figure a way to get her here. was/is a transport issue. danny's mommy is great. did tons of calls. the ideal thing would have been, to be able to jump in a car a drive down to get her, the moment i saw her. but being legally blind, i can not get a license. and people here(forum) offered some help and gave me leads to try to get her. i am still trying to get her, i just feel like such a failure, i will help this out anyway i can

 

[Danny's mommy]

You are not a failure Rose. I was so excited when you said you wanted Hope. The first thing that had to be done for your wish to happen was to get Hope into a rescue asap. In other words to save her life. Even if you had driven to the pound where Hope was you still couldn't take her across state lines without a health certificate which the sheltie rescue will be able to provide because they will get the vaccinations she needs. Your dream is still possible.

 

[mmcginty]

I am on board even though I don't understand the tech stuff. I am a tech illiterate. I couldn't even log in to the site for some reason.

On both the Home page and the Login page, you'll find links that say Register, just make up a user name and password (enter the password twice) and enter something for an email. If that doesn't work, please let me know.

Unfortunately, once past that step, there isn't anything there that will look useful or cool, yet, I'm still gathering/creating building blocks.

Did you think of sending out a questionnaire via email to all of the sheltie rescues on assa also Dorothy's website asking them what they think and how you can best help them and what you have to offer.

In this specific instance, no, but I have in the past on several occasions, and have been politely declined in all cases. IT consultants have to be trusted implicitly and completely. For an unknown to offer such services is kind of like offering to adjust a stranger's underwear, because you noticed them walking funny. If you thought their tighty-whities were in a bunch before you asked, just wait til you see them after! So my plan was to put together something hopefully useful enough for them to try, build a rapport, get them thinking about what might be possible, and *then* open a discussion. It's a more comfortable progression.

Most of the time these rescues see and know about the dogs before they get on petfinder.

That's all good for *most* of the dogs in pounds. So then is it fair to assume the rest of them are only discoved through laborious searches, or else they fall through the cracks?

What if I could extract from PetFinder a list of all Shelties not specifically described as a mix, in kill shelters only -- weeding out all that are already in rescues, and all that have more than just "shetland speepdog sheltie" in the breed field? Wouldn't that be a timesaver?

These rescues are very connected with each other and offer help in transport, pulling dogs, etc. Sheltie rescue is very much on top of these dogs. The pounds trust these licensed rescues who can not only pull the dogs but also get them medical care, check their behavior, transport them via their many volunteers.

I'd love to have the in's to know just how they connect, and how they organize/mobilize the volunteers.

My observation is that sheltie rescue needs more foster homes and money to address medical issues with their rescues.

No doubt, and I have donated to rescues before... will again after I pay off my recent surgeries.

I applaud your endeavor Mark even though I don't understand the tech stuff. We are all on board in helping any way we can. Sorry you thought I wasn't supporting you - I am.

Thanks, and no apology necessary, I inferred it from the fact that you hadn't created an account, without even considering the possibility that you weren't able to.