Update: May 25, 2012

Visit to AC; notes by Lynn Rodriguez

Thank you volunteers for signing the Volunteer Sign-In sheet and thank you especially for spending time with the Barrio Dogs at AC! One more thing: any Barrio Dogs' literature you see at AC is available for you to take and distribute.

The dogs:

Amos

Amos seems to be feeling better. His hair is growing back and he was so happy to be outside.  While he looks and feels better, we still need to exercise care with him because of the sarcoptic skin condition.

Cooper, Kiddo and Izzy

Izzy and Kiddo were hanging out outdoors as usual. Cooper joined them in a short playtime.

Sugar enjoyed playing with Izzy and Kiddo too.

Raven is slowly becoming more socialized. He played outside a little before going back to his kennel.

Sugar and Izzy

We always get a least one good pic of Raven!

AC is full on holidays and weekends so our dogs were in the kennels outside; some of them wanted to go inside but there was no room. Please make sure they have plenty of water and don’t get overheated. If you see a problem, report it to the staff and send an email to lynn@barriodogs.org.

We are working on shade for the outside enclosed patio; we hope to get it up in the next week or two.  That should help a little when spending time outdoors in these hot summer months. Hope we can get a fan as well.

One more thing: if you have pics or notes you want published on the blog, just send to lynn@barriodogs.org. Thank you!

Update: May 20, 2012

Visit to AC; Notes by Gloria Medina Zenteno and Lynn Rodriguez.

Housekeeping

T-shirts are in a blue bin with names attached. We need more medium and large so if you can’t find yours in there, we’re working on it so please check back.

We now have a sign-in book! It is not on the front desk but next to the blue bins and dog treats. Please sign in when you go to AC so we know who is working with the dogs and when. Thank you!

The Dogs

Amos

Amos went to the vet last week for a follow up; he is doing better but has a long road ahead. He really needs human contact; he can walk on a leash and loves being out but he is supposed to be solo because he has sarcoptic mange and is contagious. You can take him out but if you interact with him, please use care and wash your hands well afterward. He is starting Pet Tabs (multi vitamin and fish oil).


James the Boston Bulldog left for foster care. We are glad he is no longer living at AC.

Izzy and Raven

Raven is improving every day. He got his nails trimmed last week and can now go for walks. He loves getting his hair brushed and has tons of excess hair. He was playing with Izzy outside, which is great; however he is still ready to go back into his kennel as soon as he can. We need to work on socializing him and helping him feel comfortable outside his kennel.

Peter and Cooper

Cooper is such a good dog! He got out in the yard for a while. Peter Klein stopped by and played with him. Cooper’s behavior was excellent; he has so much potential! He will be getting neutered soon.

Derek was also great outside. He is a big, happy dog. As Dulce said earlier, he likes to whine to get attention so we need to work on that.

Sugar continues to live up to her name. She’s a sweetie.

Wallis

Wallis needs to get out more. He is timid and afraid but seems interested in what is going on around him. With a little patience and care, he can be outside enjoying himself too. Please use care working with him; he is not used to interacting with people very much.

Best friends Izzy and Kiddo were hanging around inside and outside like they usually do.

Sheffield

New today was Sheffield! He is a sweet and adorable homeless puppy that was hanging around the Barrio Dogs’ event at Sheffield’s Ice House last night. We couldn't leave him behind so he's joined the Barrio Dogs' family. He is going to the vet tomorrow and will be going to adoption events soon. He seems like a very smart and sweet young dog.


Volunteer Terri Stark was there taking pictures today so we hope to have new pics of our dogs soon.

Thank you for your support and work with A Home for All. Our dogs are wonderful and are so grateful for your love and attention.

Update: May 13, 2012

Visit to AC; Notes by Lynn Rodriguez:

Several volunteers spent part of Mother’s Day at AC Boarding visiting the Barrio Dogs who live there.

We are grateful that our volunteers are keeping up the white board that Dulce prepared to track our dogs’ progress. When you go to AC, don’t forget to update the white board before you leave.

FYI; leashes and collars are in a drawer in the kitchen. If a certain dog usually has a collar but it’s missing, check their bin first to see if the collar is there.

We have t-shirts for the volunteers; expect an email from Dulce letting you know where they are at AC for you to pick up.

Here are some observations from Sunday's visit:
 

Raven

Raven: Raven seems to blossoming with a little TLC and attention. He loves to be brushed and has tons of excess hair that needs to be groomed. He cannot go on walks because he needs to go to Gulfgate for nail clipping, etc.; however, once that is taken care of, we think he will love to go for walks. 

James

James: this boy is new to Barrio Dogs. He was found at James Coney Island and left at AC for several weeks before we realized he did not have a home. We named him James and he’s a Barrio Dog for now but we expect that he will be adopted by someone soon after he is neutered.

Sugar

Sugar: she’s a sweetie. She is easy to walk and friendly although a little shy. She spent some time playing with Izzy and Kiddo yesterday. She has a slight skin condition which is probably caused by living at AC.

Kiddo

Kiddo: still shy but slowly coming out of her shell.  Once she’s used to you she will let you pet her. Because of her name we used to think Kiddo was a boy but after further investigation realized she is a girl.

Izzy

Izzy: gregarious and very smart, she’s a master escape artist. She can get out of her kennel and can open the gate in the back. She’s sweet and friendly but dominates the other small dogs. If you want to work with dogs like Kiddo or Sugar outside, try to leave Izzy inside.

Cooper

Cooper: took him into the yard; he was a little jumpy at first but soon calmed down. He was great in the yard but we discovered he is not neutered! We are remedying that soon but until he is neutered, we do not recommend taking him for walks outside of AC.








Wallis: did not get out today; he needs to spend some time in the yard as soon as we can get him out there.

Amos: went for a brief walk but is still bothered by itching. Poor Amos, we are hoping that he gets better soon. He still needs to be neutered.

Derek: he is scheduled to be neutered soon. He can go for walks but is strong and pulls so please be careful if you take him out.

Ennis and Lucy: no longer at AC because they have gone into foster. We are happy for them!

Thank you again to our volunteers for doing so much to help our wonderful dogs!

Meet Cooper

Cooper is an American bulldog mix that was picked up on Cullen drive from a vacant lot. He was starving, and had hundreds of cuts and bites on his body when he was picked up. The vet said at one point his skull must have been exposed and he had to have been a bait dog or some other fighting dog. Since he is so gentle and sweet it is not hard to imagine him as a bait dog. He had very deep skin infections.

After healing Cooper was placed into AC Boarding,where he has lived for about a year. He is very human friendly and loves to be petted and loved on. He seems to be okay with other dogs but we are still evaluating how he reacts. He is probably about two years old.

Update: May 7-10, 2012

Visit to AC; Notes by Dulce Garcia:

It's always a charm working with kenneled dogs; you learn many new things about their personalities the more you spend time with them. They are capable of performing the same acceptable behaviors as any dog living in a home environment can do.  Obviously they lack the freedom to explore the world and experience new things daily. With the program A Home for All, we hope to bring the dogs the following:

• Structure and a routine 
•  Daily walks with different volunteers everyday
• Meeting new people regularly which is essential as they begin to associate the presence of new people with positive things
• Much needed breaks from the kennels 
•  Participation in different activities. 

By providing enrichment and ways to stimulate their minds outside and inside the kennels their behavior will improve.  We will teach these dogs that when they are calm, they get attention as opposed to when they are jumping or barking at us.  This is very important because they begin to learn appropriate manners in order to increase their chances of adoption. They become more presentable dogs; not quite a show dog but a dog that a person can envision living in their home. 
This program couldn't be possible without the support of others with the same vision and willingness to help make a difference for these dogs.  These dogs are on the road to learning to cope out in the real world outside of their kennel lives. It's always a happy moment to see their improvements

Meet Our Barrio Dogs

Amos

Amos. Very social dog with a bad skin condition. It's difficult to watch him scratch obsessively but he is being treated for the condition; it will just take some time for him to recover from life in the streets. During kennel enrichment time he scratches less; also when it's time to go out for a walk. We expect to see him get better and improve healthwise.

Cooper

Cooper. I recently found out that he is a former bait dog. He does have a few scars that are visible on his face and body.  He has been responding to basic training very well and enjoys his daily walks. The only time he pulls on the leash is when he sees another dog. He doesn't bark or growl at them he's just happy going over to sniff. Training goals: teach him to walk well on leash and especially ignore other dogs as he is a strong dog that can pull.

Derek

Derek.  Found by a volunteer and was later discovered to have a bullet in one of his paws. He's a social dog towards humans and dogs--a big plus.  He has accidentally gotten reinforcement for whining and barking when he is left alone. He walks well on a leash but is a strong boy.  Training goals: teach him that when he is left alone he does not get attention for whining, crying or barking—he will not get attention that way. Also teach him some leash manners to improve his skills as he's on the right paw. 

Ennis

Ennis. He was found abandoned still inside his crate. Was fostered, then adopted, then returned. He's still a puppy so that means loads of energy. He tends to get really excited when he sees the leash; he associates it with getting out of his kennel. His favorite activities are enrichment time and social time. He's good with all dogs and people.  His only fear? CARS. Taking him on walks can be a scary experience for him and he will pull on the leash and go the opposite way to try to avoid cars. Training goals: reinforce “sits” before putting the leash on him and before taking him out of the kennel.  We have started using positive reinforcement training with him.  I have re-introduced him to cars by beginning a behavior modification program just for him. Long story short: from now on Cars=Treats=Good Things.  It's good to walk him with Sugar since she is confident and he tends to pick up on her calm behavior when walking near cars.

Izzy

Izzy.  Sweet, good-natured, social with dogs and people, already knows how to sit. Why hasn't she been adopted? We don’t know but think it may be her breed; also, she hasn’t been attending adoption events, something we plan to change. She is good on a leash and would be a star in doggy sports. Training goals: teach her not to jump on people. Reinforce “sits” at all times before getting any attention.

Kiddo

Kiddo.  Timid puppy = red flag. Now is the time to begin introducing him to the world slowly...to sounds, people, new experiences, all in a positive way. New visitors are encouraged to walk slowly and quietly near or around him. He seems to feel more comfortable that way. Let him be the one to come up to you and say hello.  He loves toy balls. They're his favorite and if you give him one, he'll pick it up when you're not looking and run with it. Training goals: Teach him to be calm around strangers and hopefully you will be able to take him out on a walk. His best friend is Izzy but we encourage working with him alone at times.

Lucy

  
Lucy.  She's very sweet, calm and enjoys going out for walks. She runs perfectly next to you and would make a perfect jogging buddy.  Her skin condition was terrible but it is improving. She loves company and always seems very happy to see guests.

Raven

Raven.  He looks scary to some people because he’s a big, black, loud dog that tends to bark when you approach his kennel. I suspect kennel reactivity; once he’s let out, he is doesn't bark or display aggressive behavior. He also has a skin condition that has not yet cleared up. He is good with other dogs but barks at strangers. He doesn't offer much eye contact and has developed a routine from living in a kennel for so long: he goes out to potty and tries to run back to kennel. We want to encourage him to spend time outside the kennel playing or socializing. Training goals: ignore when he's barking. He gets treats and attention when he's quiet. Please reward him when he makes eye contact and work on his confidence.

Sugar

Sugar. A calm puppy, great on a leash and perfect for beginner level volunteers. Training goals: improve her leash walking skills and teach a few basic manners (not that she really needs it).

Wallis

Wallis.  Great looking dog, beautiful coat but very timid. He will not approach strangers and will not eat in front of people. Training goals: work on associating the presence of humans/strangers with a positive experience.



Facts: on May 11, 2012, there are 10 total Barrio Dogs boarded at AC

4/10 dogs have a black coat
3/10 have "pit" in them
5/10 suffer from skin conditions (treatable)
4/10 have some kind of scarring
3/10 are not comfortable around strangers but it's manageable

Meet Raven

Raven was rescued from the streets of Sunnyside a little over a year ago. The vet guessed he was about a year old.
 After he was rescued, he was vetted and neutered and has been living at AC Boarding ever since.

Raven has a skin condition that he has been treated for several times. It’s noncontagious and the vet thinks it might be an autoimmune issue called "pemphigus". Raven needs to go to the dermatologist for another diagnosis and treatment; however, many dogs in boarding suffer from skin conditions so Raven’s might improve a lot if he got into a home.

Raven is a happy dog; a little shy but so grateful for love and attention. He’s big and loud and kind of scary-looking but that is just a façade. He’s really a big sweetheart.

Meet Kiddo

Kiddo was dumped in the Hardy Street/Cavalcade area of Houston. She was lost and confused but obviously smart since she found a safe place to hide and caring rescuers who fed and watered her. She was a bit too shy at first so Kelle Davis was brought in to trap her so we could get her off the streets. The Wednesday after Easter, Kiddo found herself at Gulfgate Animal Hospital for a check up and on her journey to find her forever home. She is no longer shy and loves having her ears rubbed.

Kiddo is a darling seven month old mixed breed, is heart worm negative, spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and ready for adoption.

Kiddo is living at AC Boarding where her favorite thing to do is spend time in the back with her best friend, Izzy.

Visit to Boarding Facility, 5/8/12

Visit to AC; Notes by Lynn Rodriguez:

 Dulce, Carmen and I were all at AC for a couple of hours today. Gina and Mike Moreno were there also to check on Amos, who is doing a little better. Dulce and Carmen took Sugar and Ennis for a walk which they both enjoyed. Izzy was not around at first; she was getting a bath. She had a big scratch on her side; don’t know how she got it but we took her to Gulfgate so Dr. Palmer could check her out. It is a superficial scratch, nothing to worry about.

Derek enjoyed his time outside. He seems to be doing much better. His foot where he got shot is healing and his skin is improving. He’ll get neutered in the not too distant future.

Kiddo was hanging around but not really engaging; she was waiting for her best friend Izzy to come outside and play with her.

 Raven came out for a while and we were able to get some pictures of him. He is a big dog who looks kind of scary but is a sweetheart! He has some skin issues, probably from living in the boarding facility for such a long time (a year).

We hope our volunteers will spend more time with this sweet guy. Poor Raven, he's so used to his routine that he tries to go back into his kennel after he's let out to use the bathroom! He is not used to playing outside in the yard.

Raven's skin issues would probably improve if he was in a foster home; Dr. Palmer at Gulfgate thinks that the skin issues we see in many of the dogs at the boarding facility are caused by the stress of living at the facility. We will be working more with Raven to socialize him so that he can make someone a perfect companion!

  

Carmen brought in eight puppies that were abandoned off of Shepard and Tidwell. Their mama was nowhere to be found. They are about five weeks old and had their first vet visit today, where they were treated for worms and fleas. They'll get their shots soon. We’ll have more about these puppies later. Puppies do not do well in boarding so they are going to need foster and permanent homes very soon. If you know anyone who can foster these puppies, let us know so we can tell Carmen!

Visit to Boarding Facility, 5/2/12

Visit to AC; Notes by Dulce Garcia:

First, we will not be using treats (for hand feeding) for a while some of the dogs may have had a reaction to the change of diet. However, I'm suspecting it could have been the rawhides I gave them for enrichment. I want to clarify I'm not a fan of rawhides, but I needed something to keep them quiet and entertained (I forgot the organic goodies I had prepared at home). So right now I just want to make sure they are clear before we add any treats. In the mean time I'll be taking in chicken or organic treats to give to them when doing other things. Also you may ask for a portion of the dogs’ normal meal and use their kibble instead of treats which will actually be the best thing. I want to get them used to only eating their kibble instead of too many treats.

Sugar would love to go for a walk

Special project dogs: Raven, Kiddo and Wallis are on my list of special training if you guys are up for the challenge and would like to assist me with them let me know.  Raven has kennel reactivity, Kiddo is very timid and so is Wallis. I've changed up a little of the training for them, but still sticking to the chart just added a few things.

Heads up: Sugar is a really great dog on leash if you want an easy dog to walk. She'll need to gain a bit more confidence though so I will be starting some leash walking techniques with her. If you're interested in learning how to walk dogs on a loose leash let me know when you'll be at AC. I can do a quick demo. The baskets with the dogs names are in the small hall next to the room where we held the meeting. Also there are different baskets with toys, grooming supplies, poop bags and other things. IF you need anything it's most likely there.  Some of the dogs have their own favorite toy which I've placed in their baskets.  The chart hasn't been mounted on the wall yet, but you may check in the shelves near the baskets and you will find it there.  For the mean time you may still check it off I promise I'll have it up soon!

Bins for each Barrio Dog's medication, etc.

Healthy treats for all!

Visit to Boarding Facility, 5/1/12

Visit to AC; Notes by Dulce Garcia:

I got a chance to get all the doggies out and do all the things on the activity chart. They all had their enrichment, activities, hand feeding, social time...and so on. I enjoyed the peace and quiet!

Wendy T. was there and she helped me a lot with all the dogs and giving them walks. Mike also came over and bathed Amos (Amos has been itching and scratching a lot and probably needs to go back to the vet). Lucy was also really itchy, but I figured poor thing, she's getting better. I worked separately with Wallis and Kiddo since they're more on the shy side. 

Tomorrow I'm taking ice cream and stuffed cones for the doggies while I'm working with the others. The baskets have been set up I just need to place the board up on the wall don't know how I'll do that yet. Over all it was a good day. I showed the staff how to use the chart.

I've attached some photographs just quick snap shots of the dogs working on their treats this for enrichment. Some of them fell asleep while others played with toys and got walks. Not the best pictures, but wanted to capture the moment of what quiet happy dogs looked like in a boarding facility. BTW, Wendy T. donated a whole bunch of treats and toys I left some in there too so we have quite enough.

Kiddo lounging in the shade

Lucy looking sweet

Sugar is ready for a walk

Meet Sugar

This sweetheart met the right people at the right time.  She was roaming the streets near Black and Brock Streets close to Old Spanish Trail. She had skin issues and was very undernourished  She was spotted by a Barrio Dog volunteer who took her to Gulfgate Animal Hospital to see if they could help.  Sadly, the vet was honest and said we don’t take dogs in; if we receive abandoned dogs with no ownership, we have to call the city pound.  Upon hearing the news, the volunteer got upset and started to cry; fortunately, Dr. Palmer with Gulfgate Animal Hospital gave in and decided to sponsor Sugar with total vet care if we could find her a home.

Sugar was treated for her skin issues, received all of her vaccinations and was spayed.  She is in boarding and could benefit from a foster.  She is a young girl, not quite a year and is sweet as can be.  We thought Sugar suited her since she was found near the historic Sugar Hill Recording Studio on Brock Street.