Libres Law and the Closing of the LSPCA

I have been very vocal about how I have felt about the Lancaster County SPCA in the past. Their treatment of Cash while he was in their care upset me, but what upset me more was how they handled my complaint. What the former director used as a defense proved to be more of a look into the inner workings of the shelter. And today, the news broke that this very shelter was closing (source).

Between the information that I had learned through my personal experience, stories I have heard, and from the media backlash surrounding Libre's case (that eventually helped create Libre's Law), it did not surprise me that they were closing. But, even as someone who has been outspoken about the LSPCA during the last two years, shutting down the only animal shelter that accepts strays is a great loss of Lancaster County (source)(source).

After the former director resigned and a new director started, many people had hoped that there would be positive changes (source)(source). Their facility is amazing and the city of Lancaster is full of animal lovers. But, it must have proved to be a challenge that was too big for any one person. From what they are releasing, they are saying that it is due to a "failed business model and lack of funds (source).

So now the future of the animals in Lancaster County is in question. And unlike most counties, it affects more than just strays. Lancaster county is known for their puppy mills. It is sometimes known as the Puppy Mill Capital of the East (source). I used to spend a lot of time talking to customers and random people at the dog park. It's not something that is a secret--people are very much aware of the puppy mill problem. But, what are they going to do with the puppies that will now be liberated because of Libre's Law. The very law that started in this county. It's a sick twist of fate.

So now we can only sit and wait. Hopefully, someone will buy up the space and open an animal shelter.

Cash the Lab Celebrates Valentine's Day

Cash the Lab Celebrates Valentine's Day

For every season, I like to take Cash's photos. I buy one or two small props and have him play and pose in front of the camera. He wanted to play with the toys more than he wanted to pose, but he's still so cute, nevertheless. Cash made sure to dress up his best for church Sunday. He wore a beautiful sweater and red tie. Sometimes, it is difficult to get him to pose, but if you work with him enough, he usually will pose.  

I love when dogs pose in cute positions, that's why I have an entire Instagram dedicated to Cash and sometimes my family's cat, Cash. 

@EstherandCash 

I Bought My Best Friend

For some people, they don't understand the special bond that many people have with their pets. It's how real their dedication is to you and the joy when you get home from work--try finding a human with that kind of consistency. But, at the same time, we purchase and own our furry "best friends." 

I believe the way that society treats pets is a main factor in why we have so many pets that are mistreated and it's not headline news--that we can just kill animals because there's just too many without any remorse, but refuse to eat a hamburger because your against eating meat. Why aren't we upset about about these animals (an unknown number to me) being killed for no reason? At least the cow was killed to feed someone. 

This is what the pet industry is about--money and convenience. It has nothing to do with the lovable animal that you promised to love. Would you move and not take your child with you? Animals have a shorter life than children and are far cheaper, but since they are pets, they are traded and discarded without a second thought. And if they aren't raised well (by someone that couldn't care less) they end up practically unadoptable by most people's standards. And why? Because a family was too lazy to teach them basic manners--bet people would be up in arms if a child acted as badly as some animals. 

As much as I hope "paying" for my best friend means that the money goes towards helping animals, it will not go far if people do not take pet "ownership" seriously. 

Right now, I do not hold any cards in the shelter business, but I would like to volunteer in shelters and train dogs to make them seem more appealing. I want to teach people simple ways to make their dogs behave better. I'd like to show anyone going to adopt a dog or that refuses to spay/neuter dog the sad/scared eyes of the overpopulated shelters. Don't send this new family member back there and don't take a chance that a new generation will struggle to stay alive because there's no one to adopt them. Maybe seeing this for themselves will open their eyes--or maybe it won't 

There's nothing wrong with purebreds. There's something wrong with taking a chance for puppies when you aren't taking care of them yourself or have people to adopt them out to... Meaning they will most likely end up either strays or surrendered if not adopted out. 

For me, Cash is one of the sweetest dogs that I have ever met. And raising Thornwald taught me a lot. It's not about whether or not they were breed to be a certain temperament or if they were adopted as from a shelter, it's how you treat them and appreciate the love that they will almost always give to you. 

Our problem is how we think about pets rather than pets being the problem. Think about it. 

Cash's Diet So Far... And How Shelter Life Failed Him

When we first picked Cash up at the Lancaster SPCA, I knew he was underweight, but I did not realize how underweight. The next day, when we took him to see the vet, they weighed him at 50 lbs. If you do not know the average weights of labrador retrievers, the average female labs is between 55 lbs and 70 lbs and for, males between 60 lbs -80 lbs. You could see the entirety of his rib cage sticking out. When they adopted him to me, I was told to fill out some paperwork, that he should get some good food, and that the weird yellows scabs on his back would just come off with a good bath.

My experience with the Lancaster SPCA? Not very good. When he came home with me, I realized that he was not really eating. We tried everything until we decided to purée some chicken and heat it in the microwave. He loved it. I started to add different food with the chicken. I bought a dog food only food processor to grind up his dog food to add to the mixture and then finally Pedialyte. He would eat this meal up. After almost a week, I had finally moved him up to eating solid dog food. There were a few times he did throw up, but most of the time it was not food, just digestive enzymes.

Food Cash Would Eat The First Week*

Puréed Chicken (to a liquid) and warmed up

Ground Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula

Pidalyte (Rite Aid Brand Equivalent) 

*It is important to note that I am not veterinarian, but I did consult with professionals and I did adapt what I was told to what Cash would eat. In addition, just like a human with an eating disorder, dogs that are/had been starving should be introduced to meals slowly. They should have small meals throughout the day so that their bodies are not trying to digest too much at once. 

Days went by and Cash would be more and more eager to eat so I decided to slowly introduce solid food into his diet and it worked. He does take longer to eat it, but it worked. He is now back on a solid diet and even though it takes him a while, he seems to be enjoying it. When he went back to the vet due to his digestion system being a little off (mostly his #2 schedule), they put him on I/D dog food for a healthy digestion system. I'm not sure if it is working since he's only been on it for a little while, but only time will tell

Now how much did he weigh at this visit? 58.7 lbs. That is a huge difference in a little more than a week. I was so excited that all the work that it was making a difference. His entire attitude had changed and you could see it in his face. When I saw him, I knew I needed him and I didn't know why, but now I know, he needed me just as I need him. 

And now for the official weigh in/weight gain photo:

Day 1 of Retraining

As some of you might know, Cash was trained in a way that causes fear in him with certain commands and he rarely looks up at you. Now that he is eating solid food, I started retraining him to reassociate the negative associations with positive ones. I started with sit and just attention. With sit, I tried using the verbal and hand signal together and then moving the food away from him as a type of 'reset,' but he must have been trained not to follow the food. I had to call him to come to me in order to get him to stand up if the command stand wouldn't work. (His ability to listen to commands comes and goes). I realized that in order to go any further with his retraining, we needed to focus on attention and associating him being an equal with me. I started with every time he looked up at me, I'd click and treat. Much like the focus problems of a puppy, he was not looking at me--in his case, he didn't feel comfortable looking up at people--almost in shame. It was similar to the two times he threw up and looked at me like I was about to hit him. I gave him a good head scratch and snuggle that time. I will most likely try to start with that next time and continue to reassociate the skills he knows with good thoughts. 

Training Thornwald taught me so much about taking care of dogs and what  capable of as a person. Cash needs me and he's capable of great things. I'm thinking that he'd be a great therapy dog for retirement homes once he reassociate said training. He smart, sweet, and lovable. 

Being Adopted: The a Good, The Bad, and The Scary

As many people know, the Lancaster SPCA does not have a good reputation and after adopting a dog from them, I can understand why the rumors started. Cash (his name from the microchip), refuses to eat most the time and doesn't look up at you. But, he is the sweetest, kindest dog you could meet. He knows a lot of commands and when he's not too tired, he follows me around the house. 

The first night, I was able to get him to eat a cup and a half of dry food, but he threw up some of it. Yesterday, he had some chicken broth/chicken puréed to almost a liquid, threw up a little of it, but digested most of it. 

He is slowly getting more trustworthy. I might take him to play fetch somewhere safe. He probably would like that. He only looks me in the eye when I am at eye level so I wonder if he was abused. His skin/hair is in bad condition. Dry, yellow, flaky, skin, but it's getting better with some tlc that the lcspca didn't give him. I just don't understand why they didn't mention he wasn't eating nor given information on feeding him properly. It seems a tad bit dishonest. (They had him for two weeks)

Either way, I will make sure he stays healthy. I won't let the little guy down. :) The vet said 50 lbs and the pet store said 60lbs. Either way, he needs to be around 70-75. Maybe even 80 depending on how much muscle he is building.