Remember Bella? I took a drive out to Toronto Animal Services West on the weekend to hang out with her for a bit. I haven't seen her since she was transferred from TAS South.
Jennifer, one of the staff at TAS West has been working with Bella and wanted to show me how much she's improved. So, check this out:
Bella's transformation is nothing short of amazing. Given the limited amount of time Jennifer has had with her, Bella's walking, sitting and attentiveness are so vastly improved. Bella was always a smart girl who just needed someone to guide her and Jennifer has done an amazing job of doing just that.
Now check out what a great fetcher Bella is. She drops the ball at Jennifer's feet every time - well, almost every time, except when she gets a little confused and doesn't know which ball to fetch.:
It's lovely to see her enthusiasm and energy directed into a fun activity for everyone.
Bella's training is not perfected yet, of course, but it's plain she's capable of being a fantastic dog with some continued effort. All she needs is her very own person in order to learn what it is to be a great dog and you know she'll put in 110%, just like with everything else she does, to be the best companion for that special someone.
The best way to check on the adoption status of Bella (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services adoption website or call 416 338 6271 for the Toronto Animal Services West shelter. If Bella is no longer on the TAS adoption website, it's probably because she's been adopted already.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
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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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- Update 2 on Polka the Great Dane
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- Molly transferred to TAS North
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- Look What I Found
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thank you Fred, TAS and the very talented dog trainer Jeniffer for putting in such an effort to get the ever loveable Bella a forever home!. If that special effort doesn't work I will be really surprised. Good work all and good luck to Bella
What a great pup! I love the videos too! Makes your heart warm knowing there are people like Jennifer caring for these poor guys!
Thanks for posting this - I'm a voluteer at TAS West and walk Bella on the week-ends. She's come a long way!
Please let us know when this fabulous dog has been adopted. I wish I could adopt her myself. My heart breaks thinking of this lovely girl without a home.
I am interested but this would be my first pet, I'm not sure if I am ready to provide the care necessary for the dog to be happy....
Hi Stark, if you're interested, I think the best thing to do would be to go visit Bella and talk to the staff at TAS West about her (http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=TRNT.A639401v) . Experience is great with dog ownership but more important is a connection with the dog and a willingness to put time and energy into one's pet. Cheers.
Hey folks, I'm a volunteer at TAS West - Bella was adopted last Friday! I was sad that I didn't get one final walk with her on Saturday (she'd come such an incredibly long way!) but thrilled she finally found a home of her own.
Stark, did you adopt her?