All animal shelters provide the basic food, water and shelter to its occupants. The Nassau Humane Society strives to create a routine enriched for the homeless animals in its care as it is very important to provide pets with social interaction, mental stimulation, and the exercise that they need.
Special attention is given to the cats daily to reduce their stress. A soothing tone is effective in the cattery to ease anxiety, and petting is a willing mandatory by staff and volunteers alike. For some cats, adjusting to a new place takes a bit longer. For those kitties, patient individual care is given before introducing them to the rest of the free roaming colony. They are given food, water, a litter box, soft bed, blanket, toys and their own cubby where they can feel secure. The nurturing they receive from staff during this adjustment period encourages healing in some cases or continued good health in others. NHS volunteers regularly visit for playtime and for special grooming. Most of the kitties at NHS are free roaming, have access to fresh water and are able to graze food all day. These cats are provided with comfy beds, lots of cat trees and hideaways, toys galore and their environment is kept tidy which is especially important to felines.
The key to keeping dogs mentally and physically healthy is training and exercise. The staff begins socializing dogs the moment they arrive. Evaluations are done continuously by Vet Tech Abigail Thomas during the shelter stay of each dog. All dogs are taught the command "Sit", "Off" and "Lay Down". Teaching dogs positive behavior increases their adoptability.
Whenever possible, dogs are paired up to play in the yard together. The Kennel Technicians at NHS spend each afternoon tossing balls, playing tug and cuddling. The Techs also perform other necessary cares, such as bathing. You would be surprised how many dogs are not use to being bathed. Regular grooming regimens help to prepare them for what will be expected in their new home.
Volunteer dog walkers gather at NHS several times a week at scheduled times to walk all of the adoptable dogs. They further provide essential leash training, exercise and socialization. Rain or shine, these folks are there to walk or run with their favorite companions. I have never met a more dedicated group of people as the Nassau Humane Society dog walkers.
While volunteering at Nassau County Animal Services in Yulee I met a little Pharaoh Hound mix named Molly. As I approached her kennel she sat quietly. I think she expected me to just pass on by but when I stopped and said hi, her spirit immediately lifted, her tail wagged and her gentle eyes brightened. My first impression of Molly is that she has cuteness quality about her with her ears being expressive and her eyes inquisitive; it's really quite endearing. She was happy to leave the kennel with me and it was apparent that she had never been given any leash training. Myself and two other volunteers spent about 30 minutes in the yard with Molly that afternoon making an adoption video for her. My account of her was that she is fun, smart, very exuberant and driven to fetch. She only wanted to be loved. When I returned Molly to her kennel, I prayed someone would come along, see her beauty and recognize her potential as I had.
By my definition, Molly is the epitome of a rescue dog. One that had never been loved or had ever received human attention. She was unsocialized, unfocused, and had no previous training. Amazingly dogs like this still love people, want to please and only need a little guidance to become excellent family pets. Someone had obviously given Molly a bowl of food every day ... but that was it. In the end to no fault of her own, she was thrown away, abandoned at County Animal Control, and there Molly waited for whatever fate, with her sweet soul resting on a miracle to happen.
Fortunately soon after, Molly was transferred to the Nassau Humane Society. Volunteer Dianne Barches took Molly under her wing right away. Dianne picks her up from the shelter regularly for lunch, to walk downtown and to run errands. I've been told that Molly rides great in the car and loves McDonald's.
Recently while visiting NHS I got an update from the Fernandina Beach Animal Rescue Officer Sherry Merritt. Molly and Officer Merritt are now in formal dog training together working with dog trainer Stacy Moore. She first emphasized the importance of understanding certain canine behavior and then demonstrated several techniques learned. They continue to attend training classes weekly. For Officer Merritt, this is a new endeavor designed to help all shelter dogs. Officer Merritt is freely passing on her newly found knowledge and training to her staff and volunteers.
I was stunned at Molly's progress in such a short time. This little dog's dignity has been restored. She's been taught to be a good companion and will go on to have a happy long life. Some day soon Molly will know the love of her very own family. When I asked Officer Merritt how that makes her feel, she seemed humbled by her own role. She said, "Dogs like Molly are why we do what we do".
I'm captured most by the personal commitment of the Nassau Humane Society staff in combination with the support of their volunteers. It's this collaboration that bring about happy endings for homeless animals, having experienced compassion for the first time and with lessons bestowed that will last a lifetime. There is just no greater gift bequeathed than that kind of empathy.Melissa Day
Yulee
Letter to the editor, Fernandina Beach NewsLeader
Friday, July 5, 2013