Animal HELLter

Our doggie got out of the yard on Monday, I called the pound on Tuesday at 12pm, 1215pm, 1 pm and only got a recording, left a message, they called back at 255pm, 5 minutes before close, informed me that they did, indeed, have her and that we could not pick her up til the following day.

Now, this shy, nervous, starving puppy that we brought home in July was just starting to really get comfortable with us. She was eating fairly well, wagging her tail at the site of us and no longer hiding in the corner shaking like she was awaiting her turn in the electric chair. I thought upon arriving home, she would be thrilled to see us, jump up and down, wag her tail and just go crazy with happiness at being home.

Instead, she came in and looked like we were the firing squad and she was all slouched down, nervous, scared and uneasy. She was making horrible gagging noises and vomiting, would go hide in a corner for hours and we seemed to be starting at square one with a soul that, apparently, lived a tortured life before she came to us.

We were given a note from the pound that 95% of dogs leaving there will develop kennel cough. Well, she did, and also had a severe dandruff problem and she smelled horrible. HORRIBLE!! She had a nice bath and went to the vet today for a shot, and we left with two prescriptions and instructions to put a warm towel around her neck covered in vicks. I, now, have no respect for the animal shelter, cause their housing her for two nights has cost me a bundle in boarding fees and vet bills and obviously, they are not the fabulous animal-atarians that I once believed and the lady that called back was a bitch from hell.

I was all "Can we come right now and get her, she is very sensitive, we can leave right now..". She was all, "Unless you can be here in four minutes, NO." Well, it would have taken fifteen to get there and I asked if anyone could just wait ten minutes and that, due to her past, she may be really freaked out, and it would be better to be home then spend another night. She said "Nope, not if you can't get here in two minutes, now". Compassion, sensitivity and general kindness must not be a requirement to work there.

Ryan will be home next weekend for three whole weeks! I am really excited because the first half of his sophomore year has been really rough on me. He calls less, talks for shorter amounts of time and seems all grown up now. I mean, geeze, can ya help a mother out here and just act a little like you miss her and still need her??