Ok, im finally at a PC where i can talk about this at length. Bear with me as i muddle through this exstensive post and i hope that its helpful.
First things first. Franklin County Animal Shelter(FCAS) is under new management as of November. The new director is awesome. She took over from the people who were euthanizing WAY to many animals and were making it VERY difficult for rescues to come in and evaluate dogs to alleviate the overwhelming number of animals that come into FCAS. The previous management was horrible. They were using antiquated methods for evaluation (which were highly advised against by professional dog evaluators) they treated volunteers terribly, and ignored the public/rescues requests.
HOWEVER. FCAS is a new place now. The new Director is a highly acclaimed woman who made drastic changes that affected the whole system immediately.
There are MANY more dogs at the shelter than what they have listed online, please dont hesitate to go down there and look around.
So - Now for my experiences as a volunteer and an adopter.
I give you Fergus, Noel and Henry and Beatrice.
Fergus (prison dog)
Fergus by Trish Halterman, on Flickr
Noel (prison dog)
Noel by Trish Halterman, on Flickr
Henry (FCAS)
browndogsquad-20-20150517 by Trish Halterman, on Flickr
Beatrice (PP)
Beatrice and Lola at Heritage Trail Dog Park by Trish Halterman, on Flickr
I have been volunteering for PetPromise for almost 3 years now. I love it. They are a great rescue. I have met so many great dogs and i love thier screening process.
I adopted Beatrice from there. PP tends to pull dogs from very high kill, rural shelters in Kentucky/West Virginia. They also are pretty good at rescuing dogs that are going to be euth'd locally if they can get in to evaluate them and make sure they can get them into a good foster home.
Beatrice has been an awesome dog, and I adopted her as a puppy. I had a different experience adopting because i had been working with them as the photographer for so long they knew how I was with dogs, so my home visit/paperwork was merely a formality; for others though, they will call your references, and vet preference (if you have one yet) and they will come look at your house, and talk to you.
The Prison program was brought up- I have had a positive and a negative experience with them.
Fergus has been an absolute doll. A friend of mine adopted him after the loss of her dog. He and Beatrice have basically been boyfriend/girlfriend since the day they met. its a little gross and we wish they could have cute puppies together because we have humanized our dogs and are weird. <3
Beatrice and Fergus by Trish Halterman, on Flickr
Barb decided to get a second dog because despite Fergus's everlasting love for Beatrice, he had so much energy to give other dogs they felt he would benefit from having a sibling. They had such a great experience with Fergus, it was decided they would adopt from the Prison Program again.
They adopted Noel. Noel is a dog who slipped through the cracks of the prison system. Despite her sweet quiet demeanor it was very obvious after adoption something wasnt quite right. After MANY MANY appointments, and two short months later Noel had to be put to rest because she was neglected by the previous rescue and prison program (IMHO) of the health care problems she had. Barb had an autopsy done and she was found to have have severe cranial damage, and necrosis of the brain as well as other issues which were determined prior to her death. The program director (again, this is MY OPINION) handled the situation terribly, and guilt tripped Barb and her husband when they approached the rescue about what was going on.
I will say Noel was VERY loved those two months she was with us. She stayed at my house on days that her and her husband worked, and we went on walks every other day with her and fergus and my two kids. She ate homemade gourmet treats, she snuggled, and loved and sat happily in the sun. (i felt like she was around us for years not months) RIP Noelley
As devastated as we all were by Noel, They knew they wouldnt wait long to find another dog. This time, they let Fergus pick.. and pick he did.
Fergus picked out Henry at FCAS. He was not on the website.
Henry, (previously Quizno) almost immediately became instant family, and was introduced to our crazy dog life within hours of being adopted. He came over with Fergus and thier parents that evening, where we brainstormed a new name for him, and let him see how his relationship would work with beatrice.
Beatrice pretty quickly made it clear the order of things.
browndogsquad-9-20150517 by Trish Halterman, on Flickr
My point in posting this is.. Go meet the dogs. Go talk to as many rescues as it takes to find "your dog" but also be aware that problems happen. Research wht you want out of a dog, be realistic about your funds (if you gawk at the cost of adoption, wait till you go to your first vet bill. ) Decide on foods, training, and be realistic about yoru actual lifestyle not what you hope it will be if you get a dog.
Lola is my oldest dog. She will be 15 in August. Her Sister (my first dog as an adult) was 14 when she was put down.
What will you do if you have a child (or have one) that turns out to be allergic? What if you have to move?
There are SO MANY great dogs out there, big and small, active and lazy. You dont have to have a specific breed in mind, but traits will help you find that right dog, even a mutt.
Some of my favorites.
Powell Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S)
Pets without Parents
Pet Welfare Society
Columbus Dog Connection
Breed specific rescues are easy to locate too if you do want a specific breed.
