Dogs rely on rescues to help; they rely on you to adopt
Raclette will celebrate her one-year anniversary on January 29th and Animatch is trying to prevent that from happening. How you might ask? By finding her forever home before that date. She has some requirements (only pet) but surely someone out there can help her. We want to change her life from the one described below to that of a family dog!
Raclette here. Each day feels like a waiting game. There’s hope, but also uncertainty. I hear and see people walk past my kennel every day and I wonder, “Will today be the day?”
7:00 a.m. I’m wide awake and just heard the kibbles hitting the metal food bowls. I let out a “woof” to let them know I’m awake. Don’t tell anyone but if you are a fussy eater, you may even get some BBQ chicken thrown in. A smiling face opens my kennel, out I go for a quick pee and back I go for breakfast. The bonus is I will see a smiling human face.
7:30 a.m. Out again but a very quick trip. I must go out alone and there is a whole troop of dogs with their legs crossed needing to go out. I go back in the cage and try to relax. Hard because dogs keep passing my cage. Although my vision is blocked, I hear them and tell them off if they try to sniff.
7:30-9:00 a.m. I try to relax, chew on an antler, sometimes I even get a Kong filled with a treat or two. I think I just heard a familiar voice. The DOGWALKERS are here! A few times a week specific volunteers come just to walk us. For me, it is my happy time. The walks may be only 15-20 minutes (lots of us are waiting for our walk), but they are the highlight of my week.
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. I’ve had my walk (ahhh) and I will get to go out again for a short run around the yard. If Volunteer has time (they are so busy), I might get some company out there for a few minutes. Maybe he or she will throw me a ball or even just a good scratch behind the ears. My time is limited – many more are waiting to go out. Sadly, I always go out alone because I am not great with other dogs. So, from 9:00 to 12:00, I’ve had a 15-minute walks and one or two 10-minute outdoor breaks. The morning Volunteers leave – they have to get home to their own dogs.
12:00-1:00 p.m. All the barking and activity has stopped. Sleep does not come. I’m really not tired – bored yes, tired no. I try to chew on my bone, lick out the rest of the peanut butter from my Kong. Anything to distract me.
1:00-4:00 p.m. Finally, it’s 1:00 p.m. and I hear voices again. The afternoon crew is here! That means at least two chances to go outside. I just love relaxing out there – the colder, the better. I’m a Northern girl and being confined is really tough on me. I am happy outside but two 15-minute sessions and that’s it. Other dogs get to go. If I look at some volunteers with very sad eyes …. I might get a 10-minute walk. Sometimes if I look at Volunteers with my big soulful eyes, they will give me a treat on my way in to my kennel. The afternoon volunteers leave – they have to get home to their own dogs.
4:00-7:00 p.m. Feeding time; I woof again just so they don’t forget me! Then after a quick trip outside, it’s quiet time until the evening Volunteers arrive. I try to take a nap but I’m not all that tired; if I’m lucky I will nod off for a while.
7:00-9:00 p.m. The evening shift volunteers are here! Yippee. There are a few that give me a little extra attention in the evening. We go out together and look at the moon and the stars -- I just love being outdoors. Every now and then if I make very sad eyes, I can get a 10-minute walk out of them. They are so busy; I understand. It's 9:00 p.m. and the evening shift is leaving -- they have to get home to their own dogs.
Well, I’m still not all that tired, but I eventually fall asleep hoping and praying that tomorrow is my lucky day. I was so hoping that I would spend Christmas with a family. My one-year anniversary at Animatch will be in January 29th. My wish is that I I don’t have to celebrate it.
