Guinevere

I’m calling her Gwen; or sometimes Gwennie.  This little gal was a pound dog. 

Older Daughter has been getting as many pound dogs out as she can find space for at the shelter where she works.  She will no longer have that job, however.  Apparently, she is saving too many.  She was told at a board meeting that it is understandable that she would wish to save as many as possible, but that space and money won’t allow it.  So Older Daughter will not be going back to the pound.  Two other employees will now make those decisions.  My daughter will not go into the pound, pick out a couple of small “placeable” dogs, and leave the rest behind.  She just can’t do it.  She’s not made that way.

Following the board meeting, Older Daughter was VERY upset (there was more than one issue).  She and I talked at length.  Among other things, we talked about how she cannot save every animal.  Neither can I.  But I reminded her of my *BIG Dream.  I told her with as much of a smile as I could muster that if I should ever find myself with BIG book sales, and therefore BIG money - my kennel would become a full-time rescue building, offering the very space that doesn’t exist anywhere else in this area at this time.  She tried to smile with me.

Anyway, on one of Older Daughter’s last trips to the pound, she brought Gwennie and her brother out.  It was not good that the two had been living in the pound together (and before) because neither was altered.  Of course, the fear was that Gwen might be pregnant.  As soon as Older Daughter got her hands on Gwen she knew it was too late for a spay.  A vet check confirmed.  Gwen is possibly only about two weeks away from giving birth.  So Gwen came to a run at my kennel over the weekend.  And this is where she’ll stay until, and for a while after, her puppies are born.

Here she is - my newest foster.  Soon-to-be-momma Guinevere.





Please stop by tomorrow.  I need you to click on some things.   :)  

Comments

[Liz Garcia]

I couldn't have that job either. As a matter of fact, I would have a hard time working at any of these places. Each animal has something that draws you and you want to save them all. Kudos to Older Daughter for all that she does. Looks like you are going to be pretty busy with "new life"..

[Goldie Goodwin]

I don't mean to start out my message with a cranky but ...what in Heaven's name would the pound have against the dogs being saved? This makes no sense! Thankfully she and the pups are being saved... otherwise they would be gassed. I guess that's the option the pound wants?
God Bless you and your daughter for saving Guinevere

[Ginny & The Fur Family]

I can understand why daughter would want to save Guinevere. She is a cutie and needs a place that is safe to have those pupps. She will be safe now. I DO NOT SEE WHY A NO KILL SHELTER WOULD HAVE THAT ATTITUDE. Maybe she should check out her options for a different job - one where she can save more. Maybe there is another no kill shelter with in driving distance - one that has a different policy. A few days ago someone dropped a female kitten in our drive way. OF COURSE it made its way to my neighbors house. He brought her to me and ask if she could hang out on our front porch along with various other night visitors. I fed her and put a cat collar around her neck and this morning I made an appointment to have her spayed Thursday. She will have shots tests and spay and set back out on the porch to live there and if it gets too cold I will drag her inside to live in an inside cage until the weather warms up... That is not perfect but it is the best I can do for now.. Give Gwinney a hug for me and tell her she is worth while to this world. She and her brother deserve love - they are innocent souls -Ginny & The Fur Family

[Random Felines]

We are glad Gwennie and her brother are safe. How sad though that a shelter thinks she is working too hard to save too many animals. What kind of an attitude is that? I have said it before, it should be about saving lives, not making themselves look good. Give Older Daughter a hug from me and tell I understand more than she knows.....

[Jan (Milo and Alfie's mom)]

I so understand your daughter ~ it must be heartbreaking to have to choose. xx

[Connie]

Color me confused too. Unless by "saving too many' she was spending too much of the shelter's resources?? I just can't fathom any other reasoning.. (if it is something else I'd love to understand simply because I love learning)

I'm sorry your daughter faced this. I completely understand the not being built that way issue. I hope in time there is a place for her somewhere that can appreciate exactly how she is built and what she can do.

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Aww, poor little girl! She wouldn't be in this situation if they'd put her in with another girl.. that's just foolishness on the pound's part.
Saving too many.. is that possible? Spending too much money saving them, ok, but saving too many, come on! I'm sorry your daughter had to deal with this, with people who don't get it, with being repremanded for doing the right thing.. Give her a hug from me, heck, from the whole blog world probably!

More little mouths to feed.. I think you, dear fellow readers, know where I'm going now.. :) We need to move some of the 'mouths to feed' out of the cat house and into their perminant forever homes! Please help find those great homes! Spread the word everywhere, and look inward too, see if your next kitty is currently living in the cathouse waiting for you to take him or her home.

The book, yes please buy the book! Tell your friends to buy the book! Share it everywhere, put up fliers, post on facebook and twitter and whatever else you use. Email all your friends! Makes a great gift!

Please don't forget there's a FUNdraiser going on to help the Winnie's Wishers over at my blog!
And bricks coming up again in.. I think she said October? November? Start saving up and thinking of what you want on your brick!

[Ginny & The Fur Family]

Just had to come back on and tell Andrea and all that the cat toys from the fund raiser came today and all my cats are delighted.. a real hit.. love the winnies wish pillow.. hung the ones with feathers up on knobs of a dresser and all are batting at the feathers.. played with the new porch cat with the orange feather and she loved the fun fun fun.. great fund raiser with rewards... Ginny & The Fur FAMILY --Can you hear the Ha'penny cat with the crippled foot playing the piano? She just composed a new song- she looks at the keys a long time before she decides what to play.... cats amaze me.

[The Poupountte]

What a sweet girl, and lucky too, to be with you now!

We were really sorry to read about the poud issues. We know that you all do so much to save as many as you can, but you're right: nobody can save everybody, sad as it is.

[Lana G.]

Oh, what a sweet sweet face. I wish I had a permanent house situation - I'd swoop that baby up in a heartbeat. UGH! People make me so mad sometimes. I admire all that Older Daughter (and you, hubs, and Younger Daughter too!) does for these precious critters. It takes a really special type of person to do that kind of work. I don't know how y'all do it. Keep doing what you do - the world needs more folks like you and yours.

~L

PS The cats LOVE the FUNdraiser toys from Andrea and crew. The kicker toy is the resounding favorite. Hell, even kids of the 2-legged variety like them! My 2-year-old niece took much amusement from them yesterday (much to Kito's chagrin). :D

[Matthew]

That has to be almost a impossible situation to be in. I don't think I could handle that. Your daughter is a great person.

[Peter]

I can't even go to the pound or rescue shelter without trying to take everyone home much less work in one. Your daughter is a better person than I.