...Not so good for the ears...but here it goes and feel free to comment its just been one of those days where you come back to the house and attack the punching bag for a good half hour.
It was said in the movie "Jarhead" that no matter what a marine does with his hands after holding and shooting the rifle, his hands cannot and do not forget the rifle. Its almost funny that I as POG as possibly could be may never quite understand "knowing the rifle" but I've gotten pretty familiar with a sense of death that I don't think anyone whos never actually been there could understand. Let me take you on a short walk of something I go through on a weekly basis, So maybe I won't be asked " how can I do that?" or How I can say that detest people to no end, but rather be understood of just how hard the task is.
Everyday you see 3-7 animals come in to a facility, some have known owners, others have signs of being owned but are not registered, others still will be marked as Stray animals, lost and meandering about. These dogs and cats mostly (although to every rule there is an exception) Will then be placed in your care for medical treatment if needed and general care until claimed, adopted out or their time runs out and they are sent to much bigger better place you and I can only dream about. Some you'll spend so much time with or will have stories that will break your heart in two in an instant. Others may cower, hide or act aggressive in the kennel giving the wrong impression of their demeanor.
Today 11 cats (including 5 kittens that were born at the facility to stray mama cats) were put down not because of disease or temperment but rather because people just didn't seem to want them after so many days at the facility. That doesn't even begin to cover the 2 dogs, one who actually came in wearing a new collar and attached leash and a tag on the collar that said SARA. Somebody cared enough to groom her buy her a new collar and leash, only to turn around and leave her sit and wait, hoping that her family would come for her. I wish people could see a dog wait faithfully knowing in their minds that oh they'll come for me. they bought me a collar and took care of me they will find me and take me home to play ball and life will be good again.
I lose any composure to fight back tears when I have to go down that walk. Every single time, every single animal. They happen to be the most pure of heart and innocent, matched only by children. And a lot of it comes down to either people who don't realize a pet is for life not just a duty station or who just don't care. Sure we adopt a lot. But our numbers about 50/50 between adopting to a new family or being euthanized due to time. Sometimes we can save 1 or 2, usually by dragging in as many resources as possible, especially for the ones who's story is more detailed then a name on a collar.
All of them have a story. Some will literally reach for your heart and yank so hard it hurts to the core.
"Tonka" is a 2year old Akita male who is still very playful puppy mindset who bit a child( based on temperment it was probably while Playing). While he sits in Quarantine waiting to be released because his previous owner was stupid and did not register or even bother to have him vaccinated, you can see the look of " I'm so sorry i didn't mean to hurt the baby, please let me out of doggy jail so i can lick you and shake paw with you. I promise I'll be good." He can't help how excitable and playful he is, so now he sits waiting to be released, while his owner takes a stance of "oh its my wife's dog so i don't want him anymore let me sign him over to be your problem instead of mine."
"tonka" will be adopted by an MP at the end of his quarantine to go live off post.
"Chicken" now named "Hugo" was a purebred Red Min Pin, with an undocked tail and droopy ears. He had been picked up away from bad owner after bad owner. He waited patiently at the kennels for somebody to love the overexuberent good tempermented other then those of us who loved him becasue we knew he desperately needed it. His time came for that walk and I couldn't do it. Not after rescuing him from 2 different bad owners and playing with him in between clients. I found a family, good friends of mine, Newlyweds and a 5 Month old. They had been asking if i had a few good dogs for them to look at. I brought them to meet "Chicken" and it took about 2 minutes before they agreed to adopt him. His name changed to Hugo and he's been making leaps and bounds in the Housetraining department.
There's so many times "I can't save them all" to quote the other tech that had to go down there with me today, but the few i do save makes a difference. it's not big enough, but it's changed a few people's lives already. if you don't have a dog or cat at home and you can afford a best friend for the rest of their life, please go look in some of the shelters in your area. If you've already got more then enough pets, take some time and maybe drop off blakets, food, toys, at the shelters some time, who knows you might another addition to your family while your there/ But please please love your animals and show it. Don't let them go missing and just not care. Their waiting faithfully for you to come find them because they are completely lost without you, Afraid to leave in case you come back for them, scared because they don't know where you are, and are really like children. You wouldn't leave an infant out in the rain would you?
Sorry to vent guys, but I really needed to get that off my chest.
Trish
It was said in the movie "Jarhead" that no matter what a marine does with his hands after holding and shooting the rifle, his hands cannot and do not forget the rifle. Its almost funny that I as POG as possibly could be may never quite understand "knowing the rifle" but I've gotten pretty familiar with a sense of death that I don't think anyone whos never actually been there could understand. Let me take you on a short walk of something I go through on a weekly basis, So maybe I won't be asked " how can I do that?" or How I can say that detest people to no end, but rather be understood of just how hard the task is.
Everyday you see 3-7 animals come in to a facility, some have known owners, others have signs of being owned but are not registered, others still will be marked as Stray animals, lost and meandering about. These dogs and cats mostly (although to every rule there is an exception) Will then be placed in your care for medical treatment if needed and general care until claimed, adopted out or their time runs out and they are sent to much bigger better place you and I can only dream about. Some you'll spend so much time with or will have stories that will break your heart in two in an instant. Others may cower, hide or act aggressive in the kennel giving the wrong impression of their demeanor.
Today 11 cats (including 5 kittens that were born at the facility to stray mama cats) were put down not because of disease or temperment but rather because people just didn't seem to want them after so many days at the facility. That doesn't even begin to cover the 2 dogs, one who actually came in wearing a new collar and attached leash and a tag on the collar that said SARA. Somebody cared enough to groom her buy her a new collar and leash, only to turn around and leave her sit and wait, hoping that her family would come for her. I wish people could see a dog wait faithfully knowing in their minds that oh they'll come for me. they bought me a collar and took care of me they will find me and take me home to play ball and life will be good again.
I lose any composure to fight back tears when I have to go down that walk. Every single time, every single animal. They happen to be the most pure of heart and innocent, matched only by children. And a lot of it comes down to either people who don't realize a pet is for life not just a duty station or who just don't care. Sure we adopt a lot. But our numbers about 50/50 between adopting to a new family or being euthanized due to time. Sometimes we can save 1 or 2, usually by dragging in as many resources as possible, especially for the ones who's story is more detailed then a name on a collar.
All of them have a story. Some will literally reach for your heart and yank so hard it hurts to the core.
"Tonka" is a 2year old Akita male who is still very playful puppy mindset who bit a child( based on temperment it was probably while Playing). While he sits in Quarantine waiting to be released because his previous owner was stupid and did not register or even bother to have him vaccinated, you can see the look of " I'm so sorry i didn't mean to hurt the baby, please let me out of doggy jail so i can lick you and shake paw with you. I promise I'll be good." He can't help how excitable and playful he is, so now he sits waiting to be released, while his owner takes a stance of "oh its my wife's dog so i don't want him anymore let me sign him over to be your problem instead of mine."
"tonka" will be adopted by an MP at the end of his quarantine to go live off post.
"Chicken" now named "Hugo" was a purebred Red Min Pin, with an undocked tail and droopy ears. He had been picked up away from bad owner after bad owner. He waited patiently at the kennels for somebody to love the overexuberent good tempermented other then those of us who loved him becasue we knew he desperately needed it. His time came for that walk and I couldn't do it. Not after rescuing him from 2 different bad owners and playing with him in between clients. I found a family, good friends of mine, Newlyweds and a 5 Month old. They had been asking if i had a few good dogs for them to look at. I brought them to meet "Chicken" and it took about 2 minutes before they agreed to adopt him. His name changed to Hugo and he's been making leaps and bounds in the Housetraining department.
There's so many times "I can't save them all" to quote the other tech that had to go down there with me today, but the few i do save makes a difference. it's not big enough, but it's changed a few people's lives already. if you don't have a dog or cat at home and you can afford a best friend for the rest of their life, please go look in some of the shelters in your area. If you've already got more then enough pets, take some time and maybe drop off blakets, food, toys, at the shelters some time, who knows you might another addition to your family while your there/ But please please love your animals and show it. Don't let them go missing and just not care. Their waiting faithfully for you to come find them because they are completely lost without you, Afraid to leave in case you come back for them, scared because they don't know where you are, and are really like children. You wouldn't leave an infant out in the rain would you?
Sorry to vent guys, but I really needed to get that off my chest.
Trish
Iknow it hurts, Baby; but at least they have you for the end. I'm proud of you for standing up to it. 
I've never had a better, smarter dog. Mutts rule :O)
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