Category: Dogs

Success Stories: Nutmeg, Maxine, and Lemon Shark

Posted on by JenniferW JuliaL

Love Prevails: Success During the Month of Love 

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF), in tandem with our sponsors, promotes the love and welfare of animals. Your generous donations have helped SASF support the Seattle Animal Shelter’s programs including foster homes, veterinary care, animal behavior, and more. To honor this, we have three heartwarming success stories: Nutmeg, Maxine, and Lemon Shark! 

Beginning with an adorable kitten, Nutmeg, who arrived at Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) with her four littermates at about ~4.5 weeks old as strays in late September. They were nervous and a bit hissy, but with a little time in foster care, Sagan, the SASF-funded foster coordinator, knew they’d become social kittens. Due to their age and timing, Sagan tagged them for the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation annual gala, Furevermore, and sent them off to foster knowing that they’d be celebrities at the event. 

Foster parent, Archana, did an incredible job with this litter of kittens. One month later, it seemed Nutmeg enjoyed being handled by at least a hundred humans at Furevermore! Sweet Nutmeg stole the heart of an attendee, who adopted her on the spot. A couple of days later Nutmeg was spayed and was sent to her forever home! Foster home support in conjunction with adoption or promotion events is one way SASF helps SAS in matching people and pets. 

As if that wasn’t heartwarming enough, 11-year-old miniature Schnauzer, Maxine, arrived at Seattle Animal Shelter in May of 2023. While in the shelter, she had a slight cough, but was so lovely that she was adopted before she could be examined by SAS veterinarians. Unfortunately, her new owner took her to a vet who said she had kennel cough, and she was then returned to the shelter. 

Upon further investigation, Maxine was diagnosed with a grade IV/VI heart murmur, congestive heart failure, and Cushing’s disease, which caused some urinary incontinence. Surprisingly, these complications didn’t seem to slow her down, and she was known as an energizer bunny around the shelter! Despite Maxine’s energy, these complex medical issues did indicate a shorter lifespan, and the Seattle Animal Shelter vet team was not sure how she would respond to treatment. Maxine required a foster parent to help SAS assess her quality of life, and in June a new foster volunteer, Mary, raised her hand. 

Maxine and Mary had a long journey through medication trials, adjustments, and extensive testing which were all made possible by the shelter’s incredible Veterinary Services team. As Maxine’s health issues became more manageable, some new behavior needs started popping up. Maxine exhibited some resource guarding, reactivity, and needed to be re-potty trained after her incontinence was under control. SAS Shelter Behaviorist, Tina Hope, consulted with Mary and helped lay a good foundation for working through these behaviors. Tina also facilitated a referral for Maxine and Mary with one of the shelter’s training partners, Companion Animal Solutions, who provided additional tailored plans for Maxine. 

Although Maxine is a beautiful dog and doing well medically and behaviorally, she was having a tough time finding the best family for her! She got lucky in late October, when her perfect adopter came along, and they fell in love. The Seattle Animal Shelter was happy to provide her new home with a multi-month supply of medications and additional training to support Maxine’s transition to her new home. Sometimes it can take several months to ensure a paws-itively perfect match, but it is always worth it! 

Our last story is Lemon Shark, a sweet German Shepherd Dog who was surrendered to the shelter after her owners lost their housing. Lemon Shark had experienced generalized anxiety since being hit by a car as a puppy. Lemon Shark came into the Seattle Animal Shelter demonstrating behavior challenges such as barrier reactivity, reactivity on leash, generalized anxiety, and she had previously bitten a human. In the shelter she was highly stressed, and visibly anxious. 

Due to these reasons, the Seattle Animal Shelter’s behaviorist, Tina Hope, created a well-rounded plan for Lemon Shark which included behavior medication, desensitization and counterconditioning with treat tosses through her kennel to reduce barrier reactivity, office time to practice calm behavior, loose-leash walking training to reduce pulling and darting on leash, desensitization and counterconditioning to reduce reactivity on leash, and specialized counseling with her future adopter to prevent future bites. After spending some decompression time in the office with Tina, where she enjoyed playing with puzzle toys purchased with SASF grant funding, Lemon Shark showed a better ability to begin learning. 

Finally, Lemon Shark was adopted, with her new family continuing her training at home. When the Seattle Animal Shelter followed up with them, they reported that, “Our biggest progress has been with working on “look at me” and making eye contact to try to keep the communication open when we encounter difficult distractions like new people or other dogs. She is so intelligent, and I can safely say that I have fallen head over heels in love with her!” With Lemon Shark’s training through SAS’s behaviorist and wonderful volunteers, she was able to find her best friends fur-ever. 

The amazing accomplishments of Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation are a direct result of the love for animals that we share with our donors! With the generous donations we receive, we provide life-changing resources to the animals at Seattle Animal Shelter. Success stories are only made possible with contributions from our readers and supporters. Please click here if you are interested in supporting the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation! 

It Takes a Village

Posted on by Tom

Shelter teams pull together to see through the hardest cases

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation strives to support each animal that comes into the shelter by funding programs above what the city can provide, whether it be behavioral, medical or environmental. The Foundation’s support helps the most in-need animals receive the care and nurturing they need in order to live their most fulfilling lives and be surrounded by love! We are happy to share these updates on animals that came through the shelter in 2023, overcame challenges thanks to the amazing team at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), and graduated to their forever homes.  

Moon

Moon after
Moon before

Sweet Moon came into the shelter as a stray with a challenging medical issue that was making her very self-conscious. She was dealing with incontinence, which had soaked her fur and created a situation where she didn’t want to eat or go for walks, or meet new people.  

The SAS team started by spending time with Moon to better assess her needs. She had office time with SAS staff behaviorist Tina, and it became apparent that Moon needed medical and emotional support.  Her physical needs were immediately addressed by getting her medication for her incontinence and a full grooming session. Getting all 80 pounds of her into the tub was not easy but she was a trooper! She was very patient and even happily accepted the not-so-great hairstyle she left with. Moon also needed surgery to remove mammary masses and get spayed, so after that was completed the team gave her space to relax by sending her home with Tina for support and to build trust in new people.  

This girl was a quick learner and after just a few days with Tina she was feeling much more confident and ready to move to a new adoptive home. To make sure the transition was smooth, Tina spoke with the adopters directly about Moon’s needs and the new family’s animals. They had been wanting to adopt a husky for some time, but many facilities will not allow huskies to go to homes with cats. Thankfully, Moon had spent time with dog-savvy cats in Tina’s home and was more than prepared for this new environment.  

Moon seamlessly found her place in her new family, and is even respecting her new feline sibling. 

Harbor

Harbor had a tumultuous and confusing introduction to the shelter. He had been lost with his sister and found shelter in a stranger’s yard. The kind people who found him called Seattle Animal Shelter and Harbor was able to be safely contained until the shelter arrived, but tragically his sister ran away in fear, leaving him isolated from his support system.  

When Harbor arrived at the shelter, behaviorist Tina noted he was fearful of humans and the environment, and he was placed in the quieter wing of kennels and put on a plan that included office time for desensitization and dog play sessions to build his confidence.  

He learned fairly quickly that shelter staff were kind and Tina continued to help him make progress by introducing him to Millie, another SAS dog. Millie accepted her role as auntie with patience and grace, helping Harbor learn to walk on a leash without pancaking and engaging in fun playtime with him.  

Soon thereafter, Harbor moved into a foster-to-adopt home. While this new environment was a much better fit for him, Harbor had a hard time being left alone. This separation anxiety was concerning to his new parents, who weren’t sure whether they were equipped to handle the challenge. But SASF was able to support them with a grant-funded trainer, and with the tools they needed his new family was able to move forward with adopting Harbor … now Dempsey!  

Diego

Diego returned to the shelter after a challenging misunderstanding. He had bitten his owner but behaviorist Tina suggested the situation had likely arisen from misreading of body language, handling sensitivities, and fear. Shelter staff discussed the situation, saw Diego’s potential and committed to making this boy available for adoption again.  

When Tina met with the pup she found him to be quite a “silly, bouncy boy” and renamed him Diego Maradona, after the much-beloved Argentinian soccer player. She considered how to make accommodations for him so that he could engage in activities safely and while learning new skills.   

Diego was fit with a harness that would make it easier for walkers to clip a leash on him without getting their hands near his head or neck, and he took part in playgroups to help maintain his social skills. The team of staff and volunteers worked together on improving Diego’s foot-mouthing behavior on walks by clicking for calm and/or redirecting him to a toy.  

Diego made such progress that he was adopted in February into a new family. He is living his best life now, a happy boy and with lots of room to run.  

Zissou

Zissou came to the shelter during what was probably the hardest time of her life. This pup had been hit by a car and her leg was broken in multiple places, leading to amputation of the limb. Zissou came to foster to give her time to heal.  

This little girl’s challenges were layered: She was fearful of new people and also terrified of cars because of the traumatic incident she had survived. So the team decided to take it slowly and help her build confidence and trust with people while she recovered, and then work with her on her fear of cars. 

Zissou’s plan focused on mental enrichment while she was healing, and then desensitization and counterconditioning. She demonstrated a severe fear of cars, so Tina adjusted their walk times/routes to times with fewer cars around, and began helping Zissou learn that someone would help keep her safe. Tina also worked with Zissou on being in public places, where there was plenty of room for her to be around humans without needing to interact with them. 

All of Zissou’s hard work paid off when she was adopted into her forever family and went home with a little chihuahua mix brother who is helping her continue to build confidence and face the world’s challenge

Marble Cake

Marble Cake before
Marble Cake after

Miss Marble Cake, a senior American bulldog, was a ball of stress when she was found in an alley, scared and confused. She came to the shelter more sour than sweet, showing fear-based aggressive behaviors like avoiding, growling and barking.  

The team saw an opportunity to work with Marble Cake to reveal her true personality through behavioral intervention. She was able to broaden her social circle and spent time in offices for additional support and love. Soon enough this little gal was notorious for her hippity hoppity happy dance!  

Marble Cake’s transformation had her adopted soon thereafter, but it wasn’t quite a perfect fit. Her new home was in a high-rise in a busy area of the city, and she was fearful of leaving the apartment. The team provided support and training recommendations but ultimately the adopter and SAS decided it was too much to ask of Marble Cake to continue to live in a situation that was so stressful for her. Sometimes the kindest thing for these pups is recognize that an environmental change is ultimately what they need.  

And for Marble Cake, that ended up being the best decision ever, as it led to her meeting her true forever family. Marble Cake is now Myrtle, and thriving in her new home and enjoying many adventures in the water, far from the bustle of city life. 

In recent years, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation has been able to fund the expansion of the behavior program and the ongoing success of the medical program. These programs are foundational to the success of animals leaving care and has a profound impact on their overall wellbeing.   

The longevity of shelter programs is dependent upon the generosity of donors like you. If you are interested in donating, please visit https://seattleanimalshelterfoundation.org/donate-today.   

Lachy’s Strength for Success 

Posted on by JenniferW JuliaL

Today, Lachy is healthy, and you’d never guess what happened! Unfortunately, Lachy fell out of a four-story window. Although he survived the fall, that was the beginning of his recovery period. He was diagnosed with pneumothorax (air in his chest), multiple rib and pelvic fractures, and he was non-weight bearing in one of his hind limbs. After time at the vet, he was transported to the Seattle Animal Shelter a few days after his accident.   

Senior veterinarian at the Seattle Animal Shelter, Dr. Watlington, was able to provide us with more details of Lachy’s medical condition. When he arrived at the shelter, he was very sweet and easy to handle. His pelvic fractures were non-surgical. He was put on exercise restriction and pain medication to help manage his discomfort. The shelter’s behaviorist, Tina, did a wonderful job identifying his enrichment needs. Lachy is a Belgian Malinois, a very high-energy breed, so he needed a bit more stimulation in his kennel since he wasn’t going on long walks or able to play. Being confined was a tough situation for this active boy. On top of being active, his foster parent said, “He’s driven, smart, affectionate with his people, guards the house, good with other dogs. He picks things up super-fast…Things like advanced obedience, agility, nose work etc.” After some time, Lachy was sent to a veterinary rehabilitation facility for a consultation, and it was concluded that his pelvic fractures were healing very well. He was able to move to a foster home to continue his healing in a more peaceful environment for about two months. 

Since Lachy is a breed that is both active and smart, his foster family mentioned, “He’s a really good dog for someone that wants and knows how to work with driven guarding and working breeds. If I was able to fully have the choice, he would not go to first time dog owners or to someone that lives in an apartment downtown or someone that wants a “normal house” dog.” Belgian Malinois are known for being highly obedient and protective, which means Lachy needs extra room for activities! 

While in foster, his foster parents did only on-leash activity for a month with slowly increased walk time. As activity increased, Lachy’s foster family started to explore more of his interests, “I learned today that he LOVES water, from a kiddie pool in our yard. He’d be the best hiking and alpine lake swimming buddy!”  

Luckily, this good boy was adopted last week and has gone to a loving home. We are proud of our animal success stories here at the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, and we owe a lot of thanks to our amazing sponsors for making these types of stories possible!  

Scary world turns welcoming thanks to a new friend

Posted on by JenniferW JuliaL

For most dogs, going into a shelter is an overwhelming experience. There’s noise, strange smells and a lot of uncertainty. And these feelings were magnified exponentially for little Tarsier, a mini-Aussie/retriever mix. 

After being found on the streets of Capitol Hill and brought to Seattle Animal Shelter, Tarsier was immediately identified as a pup in need of additional support. She was placed in Shelter Behaviorist Tina Hope’s office to get one-on-one attention as well as a little peace. Tina spent the day with Tarsier trying to socialize her a bit, but she still wasn’t eating well or engaging with toys. 

An urgent call for foster ended up with Tarsier going home with shelter staff member Jeff. Once there, Tarsier was still showing a lot of fear, specifically hesitancy around going outside. Tina worked diligently with Jeff to manage this behavior with a specific plan suited for his environment, with clear goals and steps on what to do.  

“Bringing home Tarsier was an invaluable experience in demonstrating how we can help facilitate the space for agency in fearful dogs,” Jeff said. “With the help of Tina’s multi-step plan, we were able to have Tarsier be able to choose to go outside on her terms rather than carrying her outside, which could increase long lasting anxiety or stress by removing her agency.”  

Tarsier wasn’t in foster for long. This darling girl with soulful eyes caught the attention of Kim Bryan of Edmonds, who was visiting the shelter with her 13-year-old son to see if they could find a good companion for their current shepherd mix, Finn.  

“We just had this feeling, because we had Finn and we knew his temperament, that she might do better having a dog friend,” Kim said. “We knew any adopted dog who has gone through trauma would have challenges, but we were OK with that.” 

For Tarsier (now Olive), it was bonding at first sight.  

“Finn was so relaxed when he first met Olive that when she first spotted him she immediately perked up. She was still scared, but immediately started watching him and following him. The first ‘puppyness’ we saw was when she met our dog.” 

It was an obvious decision that Olive would go home with them. Kim got a lot of support from shelter staff around Olive’s needs.  

“They were great, Jeff in particular. He let us know what he’d been working on with her, which was promoting puppy behaviors. Oftentimes people are trying to get their puppies to mature, but if she jumped for joy or spun around, he would praise her for that. That was good for us to know. In our two meetings with Olive before adoption, shelter staff allowed us as much time as Olive needed. They sat on the floor with us, helped us introduce our dog Finn to Olive in a safe, drama-free way, and let us know how to best interact with Olive, who was very, very cautious at first. It feels like the shelter staff get to the core of what’s going on with each dog quite quickly: Olive was only there five or six days and they already understood her really well.”  

“On that very first day she would go up to the door and stop, but she kept watching Finn go in and out. I swear he told her, ‘It’s fine.’ By the end of the day she was going out on her own, following along behind Finn.” 

And now, two months later, Olive is living her best life. She loves playing with water, and especially playing with Finn.  

When Kim brought Olive home she had a gradual introduction planned, but Olive had other ideas.  

“They wrestle, play tug of war, they race. She’s very confident in saying, ‘You’re going to play with me now.’ They are very bonded.”  

When the family visits their Anderson Island cabin, now Olive comes along, too.  Her earlier caution has given way to a huge curiosity. Her current fascination is standing for long moments in the yard, watching the island deer. 

“It’s quite remarkable,” Kim says, “because she was literally afraid of the outdoors,  and now she’s the first one out the door.” 

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation funds many shelter programs, including the Behavior Program. To learn more about the Behavior Program click here, or follow this link for information on how to donate.  

Shelter diversion keeps pets happy, healthy, and with their families  

Posted on by Tom

The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation financially supports programs at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) through yearly grants. One highly impactful grant supports SAS’s “Shelter Diversion” program and its Owner Support Fund, which started in 2020 and continues today.  

In 2020, the uncertainty and drastic adjustments were tempered by the positive outcome of implemented changes at SAS. These changes included a new way of managing SAS intake requests – which is when owners contact the shelter to surrender their pet. Shelter staff began talking to families considering relinquishing their pets and working with them to find alternatives or to rehome their pets themselves.  The grant funds received from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, which continued in 2022, made many of these new and expanded services possible.  

SAS’s initial goals included:  

  1. Reducing shelter intake  
  1. Keeping established pets in their homes  
  1. Collecting information to better inform future efforts to create programs and services that continue to address goals one and two. Specifically, to:  
  • Identify the top reasons for owner surrender to SAS and the most common needs expressed by pet owners surrendering animals.  
  • Track how often the family leaves the shelter with their pet and resources, versus how often intake was the solution.  
  • Use information obtained to better assess SAS’s ability to provide solutions for every family that needs help.  

SAS has learned a lot from administering this grant over the past few years. The initial strategy of working with owners who called the shelter about relinquishing their pets had limited success. SAS discovered that by the time people called about surrendering a pet, they had often already made up their mind and were not open to accepting support for alternatives. SAS’s initial tracking indicated that 63% of the recipients declined support and wanted to proceed with the surrender. SAS heard comments like “We’re at the end of our rope” and “I just can’t do it anymore.”  

SAS had the greatest success when their Field Officers identified recipients while working with them in the field where pet owners are being offered support before pursuing punitive measures.  

—- 

In 2022, assistance was provided for pet medical needs, pet behavior support, and emergency short-term pet boarding. Not surprisingly veterinary care was the single greatest need requested. The cost of veterinary care is significant and represents one of the challenges of sustaining a program like this, especially as people become more aware of the opportunities for support. While parameters may need to be put in place, this often is not helpful to the pet owner in need who cannot neither afford any amount nor have any further capacity to incur debt via credit cards etc. Solutions to these challenges will exist through partnerships and collaborations that help to leverage funding and the possible expansion of SAS’s own veterinary team and the reevaluation of services they are able to provide to the public.  

“Without the help of the Owner Support Fund, I could have never kept Bella! I was having a really tough financial year with health issues when I found Bella, an 8-month-old cat abandoned next to an apartment dumpster, left in a carrier with no note or water. The apt manager where I found her saw video of a tenant bringing her out and leaving her with the trash. SAS made it possible for her to receive essential medical care, so I could keep her.  I hope the funding continues so that you can help more people keep their pets!” 

—– 

Behavioral support was the next most common need identified. Concerns included: Aggression to people and/or pets, separation anxiety, barking, and reactivity.  

“I am beyond grateful for the assistance that the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s Owner Support Fund has offered me and my dog, Koda. He is an adult husky with severe separation anxiety and has trouble walking in unfamiliar neighborhoods. So, an overall very nervous pup. The assistance fund came to me during a critical time. He was getting more destructive, and his stress and anxiety was pouring into me to the point I thought I should rehome him after the 8 years of having him. The fund helped me afford an amazing trainer that I would otherwise not have been able to afford on my own. My dog means the world to me and seeing him less stressed on our walks and unfazed when I leave home truly gives me peace of mind. This program not only helped Koda become a more confident dog, but it helped me become happier and healthier mentally. I can only hope more people get to utilize this program and get a second chance like Koda and I did.” 

____ 

Without the support provided through the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation funding this program, many pets would have been relinquished or may even have suffered through medical conditions or other substandard conditions. One of the additional benefits of this program is that it enabled SAS staff, particularly field officers, to create positive relationships in the community.  

An essential ingredient to reducing intake is shelter diversion. As the old saying goes—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And to cure animal homelessness, we must continually invest in programs that address the root causes of that homelessness. This is how we move the needle of lifesaving forward—and keep it there.  

Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s support of crucial shelter diversion programs assures our community can meet the growing needs that exist for pets and the people who love them.  By providing as many resources and services as possible, we reduce the barriers to keeping pets and people together, healthy, and safe.  

Furry 5K turns fun into funds that make a difference 

Posted on by Tom

Sign up for this year’s Furry 5K here!  

The best part of the Furry 5K Fun Run and Walk varies depending on who you ask. For many of us it’s simple: the dogs and their people. For others, it’s seeing the strength of the animal welfare community coming together to support such an important cause.  
 
But for some, the best part is that it saved their life. Although they wouldn’t be able to tell you that.  
 
In 2022, the Furry 5K made possible 226 veterinary visits for 135 animals, and many more lab tests and prescriptions in support of that.  

The event raised $115,000, which goes specifically to the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) “Help the Animals” fund. 

“As opposed to grant funding for behavior or foster programs, this fund goes into the ‘Help the Animals’ fund, so it is more nimble for the SAS,” said Seattle Animal Shelter Deputy Director Jocelyn Bouchard. “That’s one way it’s different, and that’s a positive thing. If we have a large impound or an urgent medical need, we can access it right away,” she said. 

In 2022, most of the funds were used for vet costs, because the shelter was without a veterinarian so needed more external support. Some money went back into the foster program for reimbursements to foster homes for supplies, and toward the purchase of leashes and collars, and cardboard carriers to send cats to their forever homes. It also helped support the Canine Corral, where the shelter dogs are exercised.  

“This fund was invaluable this past year. There was one surgery in particular, an orthopedic surgery for Styx, who needed both his front legs splinted,” Jocelyn said. 

Styx was rescued when he was injured but thanks to multiple treatments funded by the Help the Animals Fund and the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation he was adopted and is well on his way to a full recovery. 
 
For Styx and all the other animals helped by past Furry 5Ks, there’s a lot to love about the event. And for attendees, no matter what your favorite part, you’ll find it this year. 
 
“The thing that always stands out … is everybody and their dogs. It’s just the best,” she said. “And it’s an opportunity to get together with like-minded people, support a great cause and see a bunch of cute animals.” 

Sign up for this year’s Furry 5K here!  

From abundant adventures to sidelined by surgery and back again 

Posted on by Tom

Ra is still available for adoption! If you are interested in meeting him or other currently adoptable animals, visit the Seattle Animal Shelter adoption portal. To help animals in need like Ra, please consider making a valuable donation to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation. 

_________ 

If there’s something that can dim Ra’s adorable smile, this sweet bully boy hasn’t come across it yet. And considering the challenges he’s faced, that’s saying a lot. 

Ra’s journey to finding his forever family has been a bit bumpy. The Seattle Animal Shelter was Ra’s home when he was a puppy, and again at 3 years old after an owner surrender. And unfortunately, another challenge was coming his way. 

In March 2022, Ra needed a break from shelter life. For some dogs, the noise and activity can be mentally taxing, and Ra was thriving less over time. SAS put out a call for foster homes for some of their animals, and Devin Reynolds and Kelly Knickerbocker of Seattle were in the perfect position to help. 

The two had just said goodbye to their second dog in four years (both pit bulls, Diego and Jersey), and they missed the daily presence but weren’t fully ready to recommit. “Because we knew fostering would be temporary, we thought, we can help in this way, we can provide a dog with support and love while they are looking for a forever family,” Kelly said. They met a couple of pups but Ra was the standout.  

“When we took him out for a little walk he had the ear-to-ear bully breed smile, something we fall for 100 percent of the time,” Kelly said. “He was so happy to be out and about. We thought he could benefit from being outside of the shelter.” 

So off he went, to a home full of physical and mental stimulation, which is just what he needed. Right off the bat, he was “a little adventure guy,” going on three-mile-long runs with Devin, where he picked up directionality easily, and car trips, but also loving sunning in a grassy patch in the yard.  

“He’s so amped on life,” Kelly said. “He is as excited to wake up as he is about ending the day.” 

But then, he started showing signs that something was definitely not right. 

“It turned out he had a piece of rubber Kong in his intestine,” Devin said. “We kept noticing runny stool, and we figured he was anxious from all the change in his life. We added some pumpkin to his food to (help), that seemed to trigger vomiting and diarrhea. We had to take him to Animal Medical Center for evaluation.” 

They took Ra in on a Wednesday and were sent home with some instructions to try to fix him up, but by Friday it was worse. They took Ra back and when the clinic did an ultrasound, they found the obstruction. 

The doctor advised that Ra needed immediate surgery. Though it was an expensive treatment with a long recovery time, there was no other option in the minds of Devin and Kelly and Seattle Animal Shelter. 

“We felt very supported and were so grateful to have access to the SASF support during Ra’s time of need,” Kelly said. “It made a huge difference in Ra’s life, and probably saved it.” 

Ra needed two weeks of home care and bed rest after his surgery, something Devin, a former vet tech, and Kelly were serendipitously prepared for. They had spent months caring for Jersey (their pet who died in February 2022) when she was sick with cancer, and were well-versed in how to support Ra. While they had come into fostering with the expectation they wouldn’t be back in this situation so soon, they found a silver lining. 

“It wasn’t what we were signing up for, but it gave us an opportunity to bond with Ra. It engendered more trust,” Kelly said. 

As Ra recovered, they started helping him get out some energy by doing “nose work” with him by scattering kibble around, and found he responded very well to it. They got him a fun activity mat to encourage even more mental engagement. 

And it wasn’t long before Ra started making his way back to his old playful self.  

“If you didn’t know (he’d had surgery), you wouldn’t know,” Devin said. “He’s doing zoomies around the back yard.”  

Ultimately, Devin and Kelly just want this wonderful boy to be able to fulfill his potential by finding the perfect person or family. 

“He has amazing potential to be a wonderful family member,” Kelly said. “The support we got allows him to ultimately make it to the place where he is with the forever people who he deserves. It would not have been possible if he hadn’t made it through that traumatic experience.” 

Thankfully, Ra won’t ever have to worry about that. 

From Helpless to Happy: How Rue Found Her Courage

Posted on by Leah Traxel

When Rue came to the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) in October 2021, she could barely look at anyone. For weeks, the four-year-old American pitbull terrier mix remained curled up in the corner, averting eye contact, and avoiding all human interactions. The more staff and volunteers tried to engage with her, the tighter she curled up against the wall, even staying in that position overnight.

One of the shelter’s more difficult cases, Rue was rescued by the Seattle Police Department from a hotel room, where she was found penned in her own waste alongside several other dogs. Her companions were covered in scars consistent with dog fighting. While SAS’s medical examination showed Rue to be physically well, her emotional scars ran deep.

Rue scared
Shortly after arriving to SAS, Rue curled up in fear.

“If you looked at her, moved towards her—even to just place a food bowl down—she would curl up tighter or push herself even further against the wall,” said SAS’s lead behaviorist Kimberlee Spicer. “We would attempt to take her out on walks, but she did not want to move. If we needed to get her out to clean her kennel, she would walk with a tense body—tail tucked, ears back, closed tight mouth, and pupils dilated.”

Kimberlee explained that Rue was exhibiting behaviors consistent with a condition known as learned helplessness, which can develop when a dog is repeatedly frightened or abused and learns to shut down, believing they have no control.

SAS’s behavior team immediately stepped in to help, starting by moving Rue out of her kennel and into a quieter shared office space. Typically, a behavior training session consists of walks, treats, and lively positive reinforcement. For Rue, the trainer would come into the office, sit down at a comfortable distance, read to her for several minutes, drop a tasty treat on the floor, and then slip back out.

Rue and Kimberlee at the shelter
Kimberlee sits with Rue in a non-threatening manner.

Progress was slow and steady. Rue would not eat in front of anyone (a significant show of trust for a dog) or move from her corner, even to go to the bathroom. But around a month into the behavior program after constant and consistent support, Rue began improving, moving about the office space, taking a treat from an outstretched palm, and allowing the staff and volunteers to take her on brief walks around the parking lot.

Rue dog getting pets
After a brief walk with Kimberlee, Rue allows a shelter volunteer to pet her.

Finally, Rue was taken in by an amazing foster family. Her foster parents, Krista and Andrew, were endlessly patient with her, allowing her the time, space, and praise to learn to be a normal dog again. They worked with Rue on house training, leash training, being around people, exploring the yard. They also exposed her to different people and rooms in the home, sounds and textures.

Rue especially benefited from being around her foster brothers and sisters. While she was hesitant to seek out interactions with them, she was observant, watching how the other dogs behaved and slowly mirroring their behaviors.

Rue
Rue takes cues on how to relax from watching other dogs.

After two and a half months in foster, Rue was adopted on February 9, 2022. Some animals will backtrack when they are adopted, but Rue leaped forward. Less than a week after her adoption, she was eating in the kitchen (not in her crate), sleeping on a dog bed in an open room, and spending time with her new family in the open living spaces. Like her namesake, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, she was courageous.

Her new favorite activities are performing zoomies and leaping over the small stream in her backyard; taking car rides with her little head out the back window; and eating vanilla ice cream from Salt & Straw with her big brother, Spike, another SAS rescue.

“Our goal was to get Rue’s little tail to wag, even just once, by her 1-year ‘Gotcha Day’ (adoption) anniversary,” said Shannon Ryan, her adoptive mom. “I am happy to report that Rue’s little tail now wags daily, and it makes my heart so happy every time I see it.”

Successes like this would not be possible without the continued generosity of SASF donors, who provide support for programs such as dog behavior training and the vet clinic. If you are interested in supporting the important work SAS does in getting animals to their forever homes, consider joining the annual Furry 5K. Held at Seward Park on June 12, 2022, the proceeds from this fun walk/run go directly to the Help the Animals Fund at the Seattle Animal Shelter, which supports medical care for pets in need.

Rue dog snuggles
Roo is comfortable in her forever home and loves snuggling with her new mom.
Rue dog snuggles

Faces of the Furry 5K 2022 – Lemon and Walter

Posted on by Leah Traxel

This year’s Furry 5K is just around the corner. On June 12, hundreds of King County animal lovers will gather at Seward Park alongside their four-legged companions to walk or run in the name of helping pets. A good event needs a good ambassador, or maybe even two. This year’s face(s) of the Furry 5K are Lemon and Walter: two very good dogs.

How did these two pups become such an important part of this race? Each fall, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) hosts an auction and gala to raise funds for the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). While the pandemic caused a few changes in plans over the last two years, it did not stop Lemon and Walter’s owner, Chris Priest, from making a generous donation to secure his pups as the Face of the Furry 5K. We had the privilege of sitting down with Chris to learn more about his beloved dogs, his history with the Furry 5K, and who is really in charge of their household.

Lemon and Walter (two dogs) posing nicely
Lemon (left) and Walter, this year’s Faces of the Furry 5K, sit pretty for their headshot.

Our conversation with Chris

SASF: First thing’s first… – Can you tell us a little bit about Walter and Lemon?

Chris: Lemon is a border collie/terrier mutt we adopted from a shelter in Sun Valley, Idaho. We had lost a wonder dog (Daisy Mae, who was from the Seattle Animal Shelter), and there was something about adorable, crazy Lemon that reminded us of her.

Lemon is a gregarious herder who loves people (especially kids) and certain other dog pals. She is the fastest thing, crazy agile, and very smart. It’s hard for us to keep up with her quite often.

Little Walter is a little terrier mix who was found wandering the streets; some kids took him to a vet, and they cared for him for a month before relinquishing him to the shelter. We fell in love immediately, and so did Lemon. Walter is a smarty pants and the boss. He rules the roost, and Lemon loves him more than she might [love] us. They are the best of friends and bring us delight every day.

Why were you interested in having your dogs be the Face of the Furry 5K?

We love the Seattle Animal Shelter and the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation, and a highlight of our year is the annual auction. We’ve had our dogs on the side of buses (twice), in the calendar (three times), and all sorts of other prizes. It just made sense to do the Furry 5K — that, and Lemon is crazy fast. We wanted to support the Seattle Animal Shelter and do something fun and different!

Two dogs (Lemon and Walter) playing
The two dogs discovered they were perfect playmates right away. Here, Lemon (left) and Walter display their polite playing technique.

How do Lemon and Walter affect your life? Do they help you maintain any sort of daily routines or bring a new appreciation to your daily activities?

Lemon and Walter ARE our daily lives. Besides work and food, everything we do centers around our pack. We go on lots of walks every day, go on runs, and play fetch and all sorts of games.

They have both gone to more training and more classes than either of their humans have. They love to be challenged and to play, so we spend a lot of time training, doing exercises, and having fun. We go down to Yelm a few times a month so Lemon can herd sheep and Walter can bark. They love it!

[Because we work] from home, they are very rarely alone. We have morning walks, afternoon walks, and night walks. We go to a lot of places that allow dogs, too, so they go out to eat with us or meet friends with us all the time.

These two make every day extra special. From crazy play episodes that take over the entire house to all the people in our neighborhood who greet them, every day is more fun and more interesting because of these two.

What are you looking forward to about this year’s Furry 5K?

Both Lemon and Walter love to go on runs. I used to run to and from work with Lemon, and her and I have participated in the Furry 5K three times. It’s such a fun, entertaining, and healthy event — we love to participate.

Lemon loves people, so I think her getting attention and being recognized as the Face of the Furry 5K will make her very happy. We plan to arrive early and take photos and do whatever helps the Foundation increase participation and the fun factor. Come meet Lemon and Walter!

Okay, last question. If someone was interested in potentially participating in the Furry 5K this summer, what is one thing you’d tell them?

It’s all about the animals. The work the Seattle Animal Shelter and Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation do for dogs, cats, critters, and friends is remarkable. This is a chance to run or walk, have a fun time, support each other, and raise money for the shelter. There are lots of teams, so there’s lots of support. It’s fun, and it is so important to show how much our community supports the animals!

How to join in on the fun

There’s still plenty of time to sign up for this June’s Furry 5K! Check out the Furry 5K website to learn more about participating.

If you’re interested in your pet being the Face of the Furry 5K at a future event, keep an eye out for the Furevermore Auction & Gala coming this October. Who knows – maybe your best friend will be the star of next year’s race!

How to Help Protect Your Pets in Extreme Weather

Posted on by Carol Eicher

Recent summers in the Pacific Northwest have brought with it extreme weather that was not necessarily common even just a decade ago. This year alone reached record temperatures, and there is still the possibility of wildfires this summer that threaten our air quality. Scorching temperatures and poor air quality can affect the wellbeing of our pets, so it’s important to be prepared.

Hot temperatures

During July’s heatwave Seattle Animal Control was in action to assess and support in emergencies involving pets affected by the record high temps. In fact, Officer Wieringa was called in when he heard a report of a puppy left in a vehicle. The car was parked in the sunshine without any shade, and the temperature outside the vehicle was almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

“According to the National Weather Service, temperatures inside a test car parked in the sun under similar conditions reached 110F in less than an hour, and 123F in only two hours, even in a car cooled via air conditioning before the test” states Officer Wieringa, who we spoke to regarding the incident. “Adult dogs under heat stress will pant excessively and may act agitated. If things progress to heatstroke they can start to act weak and confused, and may vomit or have diarrhea. Puppies in particular lack that ability to cool themselves off by panting, and so will act depressed and lethargic even in the initial stages of heat exhaustion/heat stroke.”

If you’re concerned about your own pet in hot weather, watch out for signs like lethargy, an unusually rapid pulse, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness. These can all be symptoms of a pet who has spent too much time in the sun. If you’re concerned, make sure to keep your pet inside in a cool area with plenty of clean water. If symptoms worsen, immediately contact your veterinarian.

So how do you know if it’s safe to leave your pet in your car while you’re getting groceries or grabbing takeout? Officer Wieringa advises to always stick to a very conservative mindset when you’re questioning if it’s safe to leave your pet in a car by themselves. “Weather in the Pacific Northwest can change quickly, and cars are like greenhouses in that they can heat up fast even in partial sun or on hazy days. Any animal left in a vehicle for any reason needs to always have clean water available for them to drink and within reach of them.”

Smoky weather

According to reporting by the New York Times, 2020 was the most disastrous year on record for wildfires on the West coast. Unfortunately, over five million acres burned and with it came poor air quality in regions that are seeing a rise in smoke each fire season. In September of 2020 air quality reached an unhealthy rating, and there is always the possibility Seattleites will have to face that again.

With pets involved, this can seem even scarier, but we’re here to help. The most important thing to keep in mind if smoke rolls in is to keep your pets indoors, where they’re able to breathe in clean air as much as possible. That means short potty breaks and walks for dogs, and as much as possible keeping cats and critters inside.

While your furry friend may not like a week without the dog park, the best thing for their health is to keep them inside, cool and hydrated. If you do have to step outside with your pet when the air quality is poor, make sure to keep an eye on them after you return home. If they are having any respiratory issues, make sure to contact your veterinarian.

How to help pets in extreme weather

Fortunately, the pets at the Seattle Animal Shelter are given great care by the staff and volunteers, no matter the weather. As for what you can do if you see a pet in need, Officer Wieringa has a few tips.

“If somebody notices a pet in a vehicle and they’re concerned for its safety, whether because it’s hot out or for any other reason, they can contact Seattle Animal Control at 206.386.7387. If the situation seems like an emergency they can also call 911. We don’t recommend people confront the owners of these animals directly out of concern for the caller’s safety. It’s worth noting that here in Seattle it’s not illegal to have an animal in a car, or even to reside in your car with an animal. If there is a concern for the animal’s health or safety, however, we’ll absolutely get involved.”

Thanks to the team’s quick response, Officer Wieringa was able to get to the puppy in the parked car in time to help. She was taken to an emergency veterinarian, and has recovered.

“She’s been doing fine since then, though, and has already grown bigger and bolder in our care. She’s learned how to chase cats, but hasn’t yet caught one, which will probably change her mind about the wisdom of chasing them in the first place.”

Want to keep up with more pet health news? Subscribe to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation newsletter, or check out these giving opportunities to help pets meet their forever families.