It was getting dark and the snow was falling so I only had enough time to take photos of the blue Great Dane but I'm happy to say that all three dogs have improved much since the last time I saw them about a week ago.
Cone, renamed Connor, is doing wonderfully. His personality is really shining through and it turns out he's like a happy pup. He bounds through the snow like a gazelle, or I imagine he would if he weren't on leash, and loves to play with whoever will indulge him. He's a bit nippy, like a puppy, but immediately stops when given a vocal warning. Inside, when I sat down, he placed his chin on the seat beside me and when I patted the empty spot, he jumped up and curled up beside me.
The fawn Dane has become very friendly with people. She's settled into her environment at TAS and is no longer nervous about the outside world. She likes to jump up and place her front paws on your shoulders and look you in the eyes - care to dance? - which should probably be a habit to be discouraged considering she's taller than a lot of people when she's standing on her hind legs.
There was some worry with the blue Dane a few days ago when she started throwing up and refused to eat anything for four days. She was already skinny enough and the four day diet certainly didn't help. I thought she was maybe 20 - 30 pounds underweight but yesterday when I weighed her, she was only 80 pounds which makes her more like 50 pounds underweight judging by her height.
Some nice people from the local Great Dane Meetup group brought in a few Great Dane jackets (basically, mini horse coats) last week which was very timely considering the cold snap this weekend. Still, I didn't want to keep the blue Dane outside too long - just long enough to snap a few pics.
I really like the personality of this one. She's a considerate, gentle girl and when she gets some weight on, she'll be a real beauty.
Update on the fawn Dane, Dane Judy, here.
Update on the blue Dane, Jorja, here.
For adoption information on these and other dogs (and cats and other animals), please visit Toronto Animal Services.
Monday, January 24, 2011
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A request
The reason for this blog is to help get specific dogs adopted from TAS but equally important is to try to normalize the idea of shelter dogs being just as good and just as desirable as any other dogs including those which are regularly merchandised by backyard breeders, puppy millers and those few remaining pet store owners who still feel a need to sell live animals. The single greatest stigma shelter animals still face is the belief that shelter animals are substandard animals. Anyone who has had enough experience with shelter animals knows this is untrue but the general public hasn't had the same experiences you've had. They see a nice dog photo in a glossy magazine and too many of them would never think of associating that dog with a dog from a shelter. After all, no one abandons perfectly good dogs, right? Unfortunately, as we all know, perfectly good dogs are abandoned all the time.
The public still too often associates shelter dogs with images of beat up, sick, dirty, severely traumatized animals and while we definitely sometimes see victims such as these, they are certainly not the majority and, regardless, even the most abused animals can very often be saved and made whole again.
Pound Dogs sometimes discusses the sad histories some of the dogs have suffered. For the most part, though, it tries to present the dogs not as victims but as great potential family members. The goal is to raise the profiles of animals in adoption centers so that a potential pet owner sees them as the best choice, not just as the charity choice.
So, here's the favour I'm asking. Whenever you see a dog picture on these pages you think is decent enough, I'd like you to consider sharing it on Facebook or any other social media sites you're using (I know many of you do this already and thank you for that). And when you share it, please mention that the dog in the photo is a shelter dog like so many other shelter dogs waiting for a home. If we can get even five percent of the pet buying public to see shelter dogs differently, to see how beautiful they are and how wonderful they are, and to consider shelter dogs as their first choice for a new family member, we can end the suffering of homeless pets in this country.
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The public still too often associates shelter dogs with images of beat up, sick, dirty, severely traumatized animals and while we definitely sometimes see victims such as these, they are certainly not the majority and, regardless, even the most abused animals can very often be saved and made whole again.
Pound Dogs sometimes discusses the sad histories some of the dogs have suffered. For the most part, though, it tries to present the dogs not as victims but as great potential family members. The goal is to raise the profiles of animals in adoption centers so that a potential pet owner sees them as the best choice, not just as the charity choice.
So, here's the favour I'm asking. Whenever you see a dog picture on these pages you think is decent enough, I'd like you to consider sharing it on Facebook or any other social media sites you're using (I know many of you do this already and thank you for that). And when you share it, please mention that the dog in the photo is a shelter dog like so many other shelter dogs waiting for a home. If we can get even five percent of the pet buying public to see shelter dogs differently, to see how beautiful they are and how wonderful they are, and to consider shelter dogs as their first choice for a new family member, we can end the suffering of homeless pets in this country.
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January
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January
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So Fred.....are you thinking about it? Those eyes look like they hold the wisdom of the universe. There is always room for just one more...no????
Hi Joanne, I'm always thinking about it but it wouldn't be fair to Rocky right now to introduce another dog into the household.
The second photo melts my heart. I am sure that anyone who meets this lovely Dane will want to take her home. I met her and I was in love with her instantly. She is extremely sweet. I also love the fawn girl. She is a bit more out going, but if I were looking to adopt, I would find it a difficult choice to make between the two.
I'm really glad to know Cone/Connor has no apparent permanent damage, and still turns to a human for love. After what that guy went through, it's nothing short of a miracle.
And glad to know Rocky is still there....
Hi Fred -- the Shelter seems to have put up a new picture of Cone - some kind of wierd wide angle shot that is blurry. How is anyone to get a good look at Cone's sweet goodness like that? Maybe you could bring to their attention? Thanks for all you do.
Hi Anonymous, must be a glitch. I'll pass along your comment to TAS.
Is there a further update on Cone? I was not able to find him on the TAS site...
Thank you for a wonderful blog.
Hi Deva, Cone was adopted out a few weeks ago. I haven't heard of any updates on him coming into TAS yet but I understand the couple who adopted him are very nice and already have one other TAS dog.