The beauty of life in the country never ceases to amaze me. Leaves changing colors, wildflowers throwing straw, chamomile turning brown - the majestic purple of the hillsides. Among it all the never ending hunt of the wildlife struggling to survive as man encroaches on their territory.
Crisp days and chilly nights with velvet skies burning bright with stars of worlds we have yet to even know of. As those nights begin, the hounds snuggle into quilts and beds - tired from the days activities and taking the best of a hounds life - the everlasting nap.
With this many hounds, we rotate routines daily. Weekdays are full of the main pack and newer hounds learning the ropes, those that do not do well with group play wait until late afternoon when the others are in their hound daily coma, and they come out to chase leaves, sniff the scents and howl at the moon.
Along our perimeter the coyotes.
Fall sees many rabbits, cottontails as well as jack running into our fenced in acreage - we have often laughed and called Daphneyland the Hound and Rabbit Refuge. Once the property was fenced in, the rabbits felt a false sense of security and can run through chain link with hardly a pause. Coyotes can leap in freely - yet it does slow down the hunt.
Acton is the old gold mining towns of years gone by, and old mines exist all over the hillsides. Now turned to wildlife dens one is on a neighboring property and often I watch the cycle of life as the kits come out in the spring, and the adults hole up in the winter. Nothing can be as bone chilling as a coyote packs celebration on a meal. Silent hunters, they send a female in heat out into the community to lure back their meal. The celebration is the feeding frenzy - too late to save that life. Coyotes hunt 24 hours a day, 8 days a week, and those who come from the city new to the country are often fooled by thinking they are not out during the day. We see them constantly yet it takes a well trained eye to pick up their coats out of the countryside at this time of year.
Only once did we have a coyote come over our fence after a hound. It was in the early years, and I had a senior out for last time of piddle - Big Barney was at my side. We were inside the kennel structure tucking hounds in when we heard a ping on the chain link - ever so faint. Barney looked at me, and I looked at him and we ran outside through opposite doors. I arrived just in time to see a snarling whirling flash of basset teeth and ears at the heels of a retreating coyote - one leap clearing the 6 foot fence. My lesson was learned and seniors are not allowed out after dark without supervision and never alone.
The country is beyond beautiful. The mountains sentinels of tranquility.
Nature is often brutal - the cycle of life shocking to those far removed from the daily hunt for food.
Maybe this year I will revisit a shopping mall on Black Friday - I hear it can be as brutal, I might need that reminder.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
A Rescuer takes a weekend off
Animal rescuers NEVER take time off. Even if one is lucky enough to be able to find those willing, talented, dedicated people to cover for one of us - the act of actually traveling brings you into situations you would not necessarily encounter in a normal day.
Thankfully we have help that already know the hounds, the daily routines, are familiar with medical issues and emergency cases. Still, trying to coordinate 3 days away and plan for, have coverage for, and a back up plan for contingencies is difficult at best. Made harder by the individual needs of those willing to cover a rescuers shift. Few people have the type of life where they can dedicate 24 hours to running a rescue organization, email, phone calls, fundraising, supply shopping, medical needs, daily routines that start at 8 a.m. on personal hounds, 10 a.m. for rescue hounds and continue until 2 a.m. daily. Who would want that responsibility or stress?
It took 2 weeks to arrange. 11 volunteers, family - all friends stepped up to the plate! It was really happening, 3 WHOLE DAYS OFF! It's been two years since I last had a weekend off, and that had ended in catastrophe - very hard to rest when one's entire mental outlook is a constant mantra of: "Please keep the hounds safe!"
It is always astonishing to myself and fellow rescuers that the general population is so unaware of what the daily requirements of someone who does what we do daily involves. Part of that misperception is our own fault - we never find the time to truly explain what our days are like. So many people think that rescue is a paying job or only a few hours a day. Those of us who do this daily KNOW that is the perception, yet seem unable to explain fully how ridiculous that concept is. Fundraising constant needs for every hound requires funding that does not just magically appear, phone calls of people wanting to surrender animals, alert us to dogs we already are tracking in shelter systems, medical issues, new adoptive families needing support and assurance, old adoptive families giving us updates or asking for advice, emails with all the same content as well as some you cannot imagine. Volunteers wanting to help but not willing to spend time training, driving, or following directions on our protocol's, individual needs and requirements of those who do know how but have a family, career, companions and various hardships of their own. Not to mention those wonderful hounds that are ever changing and in our constant care requiring 2 meals a day, nutrients, exercise, cleaning, loving, walking, singing and treats. It all adds up. No ONE person can maintain a rescue organization by themselves, It's impossible.
For me, my away team would NOT have been possible without the following folks: Marin, Sandi, Bruce, Jim & Sherrie, Kim, Jim, Rita, Sam, Lisa, Julie, and our vet staff! Your dedication and love for the hounds has me grateful on a daily basis.
I traveled to a small community in Sequoia National Park - Camp Nelson. The road is pretty tricky, 16 miles of switchbacks that take you past boulders and streams, the flume, with steep canyons. My advice is to not try this road in the dark. Once up in those giant redwood tree's it is a slice of heaven right here on earth. Cabin rentals are managed by a wonderful gal named Margret - who runs Sequoia Mountain Cabin Rentals. (They also rent Mountain bikes) We were fortunate enough to stay at Roberts Retreat. Just amazing. Gorgeous view of slate mountain, covered with redwoods, oak - everything you can imagine. The babble of a river, the daily visiting of deer and fawns. Blue Jay's who were so demanding they made a ranch full of hounds seem like a walk in the park! Squirrel's frolicking. What an adventure!
We traveled to a nearby town of Porterville and took in a community play at The Barn Theater. A historic theater which was originally a barn. They indeed have a wonderful small town troupe, and it's so refreshing to see the community running such a presentation. We enjoyed "The importance of being Ernest" - and we laughed, clapped and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The theaters claim to fame is that Turkey Vultures return to Porterville in late September, and they celebrate it! I am also HIGHLY impressed that they run a live performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show throughout the year! If you ever get a chance to visit Porterville - make a plan of visiting The Barn Theater. Your ticket donation keeps it alive! Jeans and Tshirts are the normal attire!
Thoughts and plans for a return to this wonderful area are formulating - perhaps a basset event next year. Stay tuned, I suspect we'll be having some more topics on this one!
All of my rescue friends had wagered on what rescue situation I would return with. So here it is.
We spent 5 hours with a wonderful gal in Camp Nelson whom has a serious issue with a newly adopted pit bull. The rescue dog in question has a very high prey drive and has taken the life of her two kitties. This can and does happen - one of the reasons that rescues cannot just "flip" dogs. A rescue group needs to ensure that a potential adoptive dog can fit into an adoptive families lifestyle. This is why we screen applicants, do home checks, call vet offices and interview adoptive families. We came home knowing that a very wonderful gal in Camp Nelson, with a heart of gold is in horrible emotional distress. Her dog needs a different environment and she feels that she has failed. Anyone have the skill and knowledge to take on a High prey drive, formerly abused pit bull? That is asking a lot of anyone - major experience and ability to handle this human friendly canine is a MUST.
Thankfully we have help that already know the hounds, the daily routines, are familiar with medical issues and emergency cases. Still, trying to coordinate 3 days away and plan for, have coverage for, and a back up plan for contingencies is difficult at best. Made harder by the individual needs of those willing to cover a rescuers shift. Few people have the type of life where they can dedicate 24 hours to running a rescue organization, email, phone calls, fundraising, supply shopping, medical needs, daily routines that start at 8 a.m. on personal hounds, 10 a.m. for rescue hounds and continue until 2 a.m. daily. Who would want that responsibility or stress?
It took 2 weeks to arrange. 11 volunteers, family - all friends stepped up to the plate! It was really happening, 3 WHOLE DAYS OFF! It's been two years since I last had a weekend off, and that had ended in catastrophe - very hard to rest when one's entire mental outlook is a constant mantra of: "Please keep the hounds safe!"
It is always astonishing to myself and fellow rescuers that the general population is so unaware of what the daily requirements of someone who does what we do daily involves. Part of that misperception is our own fault - we never find the time to truly explain what our days are like. So many people think that rescue is a paying job or only a few hours a day. Those of us who do this daily KNOW that is the perception, yet seem unable to explain fully how ridiculous that concept is. Fundraising constant needs for every hound requires funding that does not just magically appear, phone calls of people wanting to surrender animals, alert us to dogs we already are tracking in shelter systems, medical issues, new adoptive families needing support and assurance, old adoptive families giving us updates or asking for advice, emails with all the same content as well as some you cannot imagine. Volunteers wanting to help but not willing to spend time training, driving, or following directions on our protocol's, individual needs and requirements of those who do know how but have a family, career, companions and various hardships of their own. Not to mention those wonderful hounds that are ever changing and in our constant care requiring 2 meals a day, nutrients, exercise, cleaning, loving, walking, singing and treats. It all adds up. No ONE person can maintain a rescue organization by themselves, It's impossible.
For me, my away team would NOT have been possible without the following folks: Marin, Sandi, Bruce, Jim & Sherrie, Kim, Jim, Rita, Sam, Lisa, Julie, and our vet staff! Your dedication and love for the hounds has me grateful on a daily basis.
I traveled to a small community in Sequoia National Park - Camp Nelson. The road is pretty tricky, 16 miles of switchbacks that take you past boulders and streams, the flume, with steep canyons. My advice is to not try this road in the dark. Once up in those giant redwood tree's it is a slice of heaven right here on earth. Cabin rentals are managed by a wonderful gal named Margret - who runs Sequoia Mountain Cabin Rentals. (They also rent Mountain bikes) We were fortunate enough to stay at Roberts Retreat. Just amazing. Gorgeous view of slate mountain, covered with redwoods, oak - everything you can imagine. The babble of a river, the daily visiting of deer and fawns. Blue Jay's who were so demanding they made a ranch full of hounds seem like a walk in the park! Squirrel's frolicking. What an adventure!
We traveled to a nearby town of Porterville and took in a community play at The Barn Theater. A historic theater which was originally a barn. They indeed have a wonderful small town troupe, and it's so refreshing to see the community running such a presentation. We enjoyed "The importance of being Ernest" - and we laughed, clapped and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The theaters claim to fame is that Turkey Vultures return to Porterville in late September, and they celebrate it! I am also HIGHLY impressed that they run a live performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show throughout the year! If you ever get a chance to visit Porterville - make a plan of visiting The Barn Theater. Your ticket donation keeps it alive! Jeans and Tshirts are the normal attire!
Thoughts and plans for a return to this wonderful area are formulating - perhaps a basset event next year. Stay tuned, I suspect we'll be having some more topics on this one!
All of my rescue friends had wagered on what rescue situation I would return with. So here it is.
We spent 5 hours with a wonderful gal in Camp Nelson whom has a serious issue with a newly adopted pit bull. The rescue dog in question has a very high prey drive and has taken the life of her two kitties. This can and does happen - one of the reasons that rescues cannot just "flip" dogs. A rescue group needs to ensure that a potential adoptive dog can fit into an adoptive families lifestyle. This is why we screen applicants, do home checks, call vet offices and interview adoptive families. We came home knowing that a very wonderful gal in Camp Nelson, with a heart of gold is in horrible emotional distress. Her dog needs a different environment and she feels that she has failed. Anyone have the skill and knowledge to take on a High prey drive, formerly abused pit bull? That is asking a lot of anyone - major experience and ability to handle this human friendly canine is a MUST.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
9/11 - Tragedy. Healing. Redirection.
Many have stories of September 11th. As the anniversary of this event passes year by year, I share the story of the two bassets that were in our Family Crisis program and reunited with their military dad. This year I am going to share the story of "What I was doing on September 11th". I think you may see it has justification being posted here.
Knowing that a basset rescue ranch was desperately needed, I had left the City and rented a property for a year. Could I live in the last area of A2 zoning in Los Angeles? Thus I was living in Palmdale on a rented acre of land and going through "Flat Lander Syndrom" at the time. In the wee hours of September 11th I was in my van, riding with a beautiful lug of a hound - Mick to the set of the first season of a show called "Scrubs". Mick and I were to be in a dream sequence where a dog show was going on. I am rather fussy when doing film or print work and will not put a less than breed standard on camera - Mick was a special case - one that Sue Shoemaker had asked me to help with, and he was living with me at the time.
Driving from Palmdale to the set in North Hollywood entailed my driving on the 14 freeway. Call time on set was 7 a.m., and thus I left Palmdale at 5 a.m. knowing Los Angeles traffic would be a parking lot. As we drove onto the 14 freeway, cars were literally standing still, so I turned on KNX 1070 to hear the traffic update. I immediately exited the freeway on ramp and took a side road, Sierra Highway.
KNX was talking about a plane crash into the Tower. My mind was numb as I wondered how in the world an air controller could allow this to happen. The side road was moving, and thus 55 MPH was achieved, as I half listened to the radio, crooning to Mick the Basset we were making good time.
Then it happened.
The announcer started screaming "Oh my god - another plane!" and with total horror I listened as the second tower was hit. In my mind I knew at that moment we were under attack. My mind reeled and the tears started - I hit the brakes HARD and spun out, hitting soft dirt on a side turnout I finally parked the van. Shock. Disbelief. I climbed into the back and uncrated Mick, cuddling and hugging him dearly. Tears unchecked - the world had just gone upside down.
September 11, 2001.
The road I spun out and was parked on is what today is the turn off to Daphneyland.
The tragedy of 9/11 I never saw coverage of - I was on the roads until 11 a.m., no other vehicles in sight - no air craft. Mick and I traveling back from the set where we had shared the news of the attack - the shoot was cancelled and filmed another day - the return trip was so very eerie - no cars, no traffic on the streets of Los Angeles nor the Air. The world forever changed.
To those whom lost their lives - candles burn here at Daphneyland in your memory - to honor your lives, and those who love you eternally and their loss. For the K9 units and military personnel - the first responders and hero's of 9/11 - and for all the troops.
I will never forget.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x-kTEE19BU
Knowing that a basset rescue ranch was desperately needed, I had left the City and rented a property for a year. Could I live in the last area of A2 zoning in Los Angeles? Thus I was living in Palmdale on a rented acre of land and going through "Flat Lander Syndrom" at the time. In the wee hours of September 11th I was in my van, riding with a beautiful lug of a hound - Mick to the set of the first season of a show called "Scrubs". Mick and I were to be in a dream sequence where a dog show was going on. I am rather fussy when doing film or print work and will not put a less than breed standard on camera - Mick was a special case - one that Sue Shoemaker had asked me to help with, and he was living with me at the time.
Driving from Palmdale to the set in North Hollywood entailed my driving on the 14 freeway. Call time on set was 7 a.m., and thus I left Palmdale at 5 a.m. knowing Los Angeles traffic would be a parking lot. As we drove onto the 14 freeway, cars were literally standing still, so I turned on KNX 1070 to hear the traffic update. I immediately exited the freeway on ramp and took a side road, Sierra Highway.
KNX was talking about a plane crash into the Tower. My mind was numb as I wondered how in the world an air controller could allow this to happen. The side road was moving, and thus 55 MPH was achieved, as I half listened to the radio, crooning to Mick the Basset we were making good time.
Then it happened.
The announcer started screaming "Oh my god - another plane!" and with total horror I listened as the second tower was hit. In my mind I knew at that moment we were under attack. My mind reeled and the tears started - I hit the brakes HARD and spun out, hitting soft dirt on a side turnout I finally parked the van. Shock. Disbelief. I climbed into the back and uncrated Mick, cuddling and hugging him dearly. Tears unchecked - the world had just gone upside down.
September 11, 2001.
The road I spun out and was parked on is what today is the turn off to Daphneyland.
The tragedy of 9/11 I never saw coverage of - I was on the roads until 11 a.m., no other vehicles in sight - no air craft. Mick and I traveling back from the set where we had shared the news of the attack - the shoot was cancelled and filmed another day - the return trip was so very eerie - no cars, no traffic on the streets of Los Angeles nor the Air. The world forever changed.
To those whom lost their lives - candles burn here at Daphneyland in your memory - to honor your lives, and those who love you eternally and their loss. For the K9 units and military personnel - the first responders and hero's of 9/11 - and for all the troops.
I will never forget.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x-kTEE19BU
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Mycobacteria - my lesson for August
Such an incredibly sad case. A loving owner, a well loved basset. 6 years of loving and togetherness.
Summer vacation and the hound goes to a boarding kennel for a week.
Comes out coughing and sneezing with nasal discharge.
2 weeks of veterinary intervention to get referred to a specialist who does an exploratory and testing to the tune of $15 k.
The young professional owner is over whelmed, the specialists all warn and predict dire outcome.
Mycobacteria. A very scary word. If you look it up you'll see the hype - those being leprosy and tuberculosis, both of which recommended protocol is euthanasia, both of which a teacher can not continue her career if this disease is present in her living situation. The reality is there are MANY mycobacteria these could be.
The hound came to us, this owner trusted us enough to surrender her baby - many tears and much heartache.
Every free moment of my time for the last 2 weeks has been spent in reading medical journals, treatment options, consulting with mentors. While we await the final pathology report.
Isolation for this hound. Both of these diseases are contagious and deadly. Zoonotic.
Tuberculosis as one mentor points out to me, used to be called Consumption.
If the symptoms translated "Consume everything in sight" then I might have believed in this very expensive and run around potential diagnosis. One of our older vets uses an analogy I love..... he says: "When I hear horses hoofs on the pavement, I look for a horse, not a zebra."
Within a day of preparing the Jean Dodds DVM Liver Cleanse diet, this hound was eating up a storm.
Adding milk thistle, acidophilus, raw honey, carrot juice has the yellow of her eyes - an obvious liver condition beginning to lessen.
And finally today they decided to share the final report - which they have had for a week.
None Found.
The hound in question is now released from ISO, we can focus on healing a liver issue - which can indeed be corrected. The hocus pocus and scare tactics are over. She is running as I watch her, free from her confines of the last month. High energy, great appetite, only the light yellow of her eyes to show any problem exists at all.
Somewhere to the South of us, an owner with tears in her eyes as she climbs into bed without her constant companion... having been forced to choose between huge vet bills and constant tubal feeding something a working professional cannot do - and the life of her fur child. How is that okay? How is it okay to take 1/3 of someone's annual salary and scare them to death?
Summer vacation and the hound goes to a boarding kennel for a week.
Comes out coughing and sneezing with nasal discharge.
2 weeks of veterinary intervention to get referred to a specialist who does an exploratory and testing to the tune of $15 k.
The young professional owner is over whelmed, the specialists all warn and predict dire outcome.
Mycobacteria. A very scary word. If you look it up you'll see the hype - those being leprosy and tuberculosis, both of which recommended protocol is euthanasia, both of which a teacher can not continue her career if this disease is present in her living situation. The reality is there are MANY mycobacteria these could be.
The hound came to us, this owner trusted us enough to surrender her baby - many tears and much heartache.
Every free moment of my time for the last 2 weeks has been spent in reading medical journals, treatment options, consulting with mentors. While we await the final pathology report.
Isolation for this hound. Both of these diseases are contagious and deadly. Zoonotic.
Tuberculosis as one mentor points out to me, used to be called Consumption.
If the symptoms translated "Consume everything in sight" then I might have believed in this very expensive and run around potential diagnosis. One of our older vets uses an analogy I love..... he says: "When I hear horses hoofs on the pavement, I look for a horse, not a zebra."
Within a day of preparing the Jean Dodds DVM Liver Cleanse diet, this hound was eating up a storm.
Adding milk thistle, acidophilus, raw honey, carrot juice has the yellow of her eyes - an obvious liver condition beginning to lessen.
And finally today they decided to share the final report - which they have had for a week.
None Found.
The hound in question is now released from ISO, we can focus on healing a liver issue - which can indeed be corrected. The hocus pocus and scare tactics are over. She is running as I watch her, free from her confines of the last month. High energy, great appetite, only the light yellow of her eyes to show any problem exists at all.
Somewhere to the South of us, an owner with tears in her eyes as she climbs into bed without her constant companion... having been forced to choose between huge vet bills and constant tubal feeding something a working professional cannot do - and the life of her fur child. How is that okay? How is it okay to take 1/3 of someone's annual salary and scare them to death?
The beginning
Daily life with over 60 rescued basset hounds, living the Dream of rescue and helping hounds through abuse, neglect, despair and health issues has certainly been an adventure. Many have asked me to write a book, to share more stories or to blog. I've decided to start with the blogging. I have zero idea where this adventure may take us, so I'll post the first post with the back ground of Daphneyland - and move forward as the wind may take me.
I am from 4 generations of Basset Hound People. That does not mean we all have long ears, although I am more likely to remember a name of a human if they DO have long ears. The most common question I get is "Why Basset Hounds?" and the answer is: I speak their language. Bassets have always been in my family, and despite their clownish behavior, adorable looks and constant food fetish - they are not for every dog lover.
In 1999 while working with the City of Glendale as the rescue representative on a giant basset hound float for the Rose Parade, it became apparent that the current rescue methods to rehome Basset Hounds was not working well. A group of us joined together and began working with the concept of pack socialization and rehab. Basset Hounds were originally bred to live together with up to 100 other hounds, think independently yet socialize well. The Basset's that found their way into shelters and abuse situations were not "Well Bred" basset hounds - they were backyard and puppy mill bred bassets who had not been properly socialized in their early formation. The concept of a rehabilitation center where we could work hands on with our own hounds, introduce them to pack management and socialize them before adopting them out was "The Dream". We worked very hard towards that reality.
On July 20, 2002 the dream became a reality when a 5 acre ranch located in Acton, CA was dedicated as "Daphneyland" - and the first hound moved in. For any of you rescuers that think you want acres to live on with your current rescued dogs, let me assure you. It is more work than you ever thought possible. It's also more rewarding than you had ever hoped. "Living the Dream" is not for everyone. A week after our grand opening, we moved 10 rescue hounds from a boarding kennel to Daphneyland. I remember sitting down and crying at the end of that day. POOP! So much POOP! I called my mother and was sobbing over the difficulties of the day. I have the world's best Mother. She listened and then said "Dreams are not supposed to come easy, they require work and dedication - you will find your routines, volunteers will come and help - it will get easier". Mom was right. It did get easier in some aspects.
Every day at Daphneyland is a new adventure. Going on 12 years living with the Hounds certainly has proven to my friends and loved ones that I truly have "Gone to the Dogs". There is never a day where I fail to learn something. I suspect I will be sharing laughs, heartaches and smiles.
My Princess - Cocshall ATB 10-2-02
Barnaby Devil Dog - my constant companion ATB 4-15-07
I am from 4 generations of Basset Hound People. That does not mean we all have long ears, although I am more likely to remember a name of a human if they DO have long ears. The most common question I get is "Why Basset Hounds?" and the answer is: I speak their language. Bassets have always been in my family, and despite their clownish behavior, adorable looks and constant food fetish - they are not for every dog lover.
In 1999 while working with the City of Glendale as the rescue representative on a giant basset hound float for the Rose Parade, it became apparent that the current rescue methods to rehome Basset Hounds was not working well. A group of us joined together and began working with the concept of pack socialization and rehab. Basset Hounds were originally bred to live together with up to 100 other hounds, think independently yet socialize well. The Basset's that found their way into shelters and abuse situations were not "Well Bred" basset hounds - they were backyard and puppy mill bred bassets who had not been properly socialized in their early formation. The concept of a rehabilitation center where we could work hands on with our own hounds, introduce them to pack management and socialize them before adopting them out was "The Dream". We worked very hard towards that reality.
On July 20, 2002 the dream became a reality when a 5 acre ranch located in Acton, CA was dedicated as "Daphneyland" - and the first hound moved in. For any of you rescuers that think you want acres to live on with your current rescued dogs, let me assure you. It is more work than you ever thought possible. It's also more rewarding than you had ever hoped. "Living the Dream" is not for everyone. A week after our grand opening, we moved 10 rescue hounds from a boarding kennel to Daphneyland. I remember sitting down and crying at the end of that day. POOP! So much POOP! I called my mother and was sobbing over the difficulties of the day. I have the world's best Mother. She listened and then said "Dreams are not supposed to come easy, they require work and dedication - you will find your routines, volunteers will come and help - it will get easier". Mom was right. It did get easier in some aspects.
Every day at Daphneyland is a new adventure. Going on 12 years living with the Hounds certainly has proven to my friends and loved ones that I truly have "Gone to the Dogs". There is never a day where I fail to learn something. I suspect I will be sharing laughs, heartaches and smiles.
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