Markee's Physical Therapy

We found Markee recently when one of Gloria’s family members was fishing near LaMarque in a very isolated area and from out in the middle of nowhere, a dog swam up to his boat. Fortunately he was able to rescue the dog, who we named Markee. Markee had a hurt hip and leg and needed surgery. He was operated at Gulfgate on August 9, 2012 and has been staying at AC ever since. A few days after the surgery Markee tore out his stitches and had to be resewn. He has since been wearing a cone so he can heal and now needs therapy so he can regain full use of his hip and leg.

We are asking AHFA volunteers to work with Markee daily if they can since the next few weeks of therapy will be very important to help him regain full use of his leg. Also, in a week or two swimming will be great therapy for him so if anyone can take him swimming, please notify lynn@barriodogs.org.

There was a training session for volunteers who want to work with Markee at AC on 8/19/12. Here are the highlights:

Start out by getting the blue heating pad which is on the shelf above the sign in book along with the vet’s instructions. Heat it 90 seconds in the microwave in the room next door with the fridge (there is a microwave in the front room but it doesn’t work).





  



After you warm up the heating pad, get Markee to sit next down next to you in a quiet place. He’s a sweet boy and only weighs about 30 pounds. Put the warm patch on the stitches and let it sit about five minutes. Just talk to him and pet him while you’re doing this.

Once he’s nice and relaxed, very gently move his leg back and forth like he is walking. He may lay down with his head in your lap and will not complain or try to stop you. You will be able to feel the muscles moving; you are working to strengthen the muscles. .

Do this 5-10 minutes. If it starts to bother him, he will let you know and it will be time to stop.













After that, just replace the hot pad and put Markee back in his kennel. If you want more information, just check the vet's instructions.

It is probably best to do this with another person. Tauna Ready is normally in the east side of town around 6 p.m. daily and can meet you at AC; please contact her at tauna.ready@ipaper.com.

Update: August 7, 2012

Visit to AC; notes by Dulce Garcia and Lynn Rodriguez

Remember to watch your head when near the outdoor fans

 AC was full today so Derek, Darla, Raven and Cooper were outside. Thank goodness the fans are installed in the outdoor kennels; hopefully they help the dogs stay a little cooler. Ernie had watered the kennels down in the morning and given everyone potty breaks. Later, some of the student interns visited and helped walk the dogs.

Darla

While the other dogs were getting walked, Derek, Darla, Raven and Cooper got a stuffed Kong with a small treat inside. This helped keep them quiet. Darla tore up the Kong a little and will probably do better with the stuffed bones we can buy at Natural Pawz.

Markee

There is a new dog at AC we are calling Markee. A Barrio Dogs’ family member was fishing on Saturday in LaMarque, Texas in a very isolated area and from the middle of nowhere a dog swims up to his boat. Fortunately the dog was not too far off from land and was lured to safety. He had a hurt leg and twigs all around his legs; we just couldn’t leave him behind. When Markee was taken to Gulfgate Animal Hospital, we were told he was dehydrated, undernourished and had an old injury, possibly hit by a car. He will need surgery on his leg and can’t do much activity until he’s feeling better.

Bruno

Bruno is also new at AC. He is not a Barrio Dog but belongs to an independent rescuer. Nevertheless, Bruno is part of the A Home for All program although he can go only go out for potty breaks, not walks, since he is not neutered and recovering from a skin condition.

Zoe

Zoe is also not a Barrio Dog; she belongs to the owners of AC and has been living there for a long time. We are including her in our program so she can get out of the kennel and get some exercise. We recently took her for her check up and she needs to lose weight.

Cooper

Cooper also needs to lose a little weight and will be attending his first adoption event at Rover Oaks Katy on 8/12/12.

Izzy

Izzy was her usual adorable self. Her best friend  Kiddo is out visiting volunteer Marjorie’s home.

Dulce updated the board with all information about the dogs in the program. Please be sure and consult and update the board whenever you go visit the dogs. Thank you!

Summer Interns for AHFA

Adelayda, Kassandra, Yvette and Jackie with Dulce Garcia, coordinator of the AHFA program

Barrio Dogs would like to say thank you to Adelayda, Kassandra, Yvette, Iliana, Nancy and Jackie, senior students from Yes Prep - Southeast who have been volunteering this summer in our A Home for All program. They have been going to the AC Boarding regularly to walk, socialize, play with and groom our rescued dogs.

The students were asked as a school project to choose a place where they could offer their volunteer services for the summer. They chose Barrio Dogs because they love and care about homeless animals. This has been a win-win situation for both the dogs and students; the dogs obtained much needed socialization and exercise time while the students learned about proper animal care, training and how to address the overpopulation problem in their communities. Each day they come in they not only help enrich the lives of the kenneled dogs but learn about the importance of spaying and neutering pets. The students have really enjoyed spending time with the dogs, have fallen in love with  them all and wish they could take each one home. Barrio Dogs’ mission is to educate, empower and transform; we believe these young students have taken this mission to heart and are future leaders in the making.

Adelayda with Derek

Kassandra with Derek

Kassandra and Adelayda with Darla

Update: July 20-29, 2012

Notes by Gloria Zenteno, Buffy Martines, Wendy Theissen, Tauna Ready, Marjorie Jackson, Eva Belendez and Dulce Garcia,

Great news: thanks to volunteer Wendy Theissen, fans have been placed over the outdoor kennels at AC! They will provide relief to our dogs while they are kenneled outside.However, we need to warn all volunteers, particularly the TALL ONES to watch their heads in the outdoor kennels. Because the ceiling is not very high, the fans are hung somewhat low and just clear the walls between kennels. If you’re under 6’ you are probably okay but duck anyway. A sign on the door has been posted to alert and remind people. There is a covered outlet above the AC that works when the fans are turned on and the switch by the door is marked but be careful.The fans at AC have made a big difference the dogs seem much more comfortable. Thank you Wendy!

On to more good news, some of the rescues will be sporting the new Barrio Dogs collars. Soon they will also have id tags to go along with them to help identify Barrio Dog rescues. Collars will be placed in the drawer so we always have some collars and tags for our rescues.

Derek: Was at the Natural Pawz adoption event at Bellaire last Saturday. He’s a good boy and really loves toys; his favorite are the tug kind. He will soon be enrolled in a training class. He is great boy and with improved manners from training, he is bound to find a home. Dulce will keep us posted on his upcoming classes.

Darla:  Got to attend her first adoption event at Natural Pawz Bellaire on Saturday. She’s very social and has put on some necessary weight compared to how she looked when she was found. She loves when volunteers take her out in the yard and play with her. She enjoys being sprayed with the sprinkler on hot days and doesn’t mind splashing in the water.

Kiddo: Has been away from AC because he is spending some time at volunteer Marjorie's home! Marjorie plans to take Kiddo home occasionally for a few days at a time to give her more social time in a home environment. Marjorie is really enjoying the experience and is helping Kiddo become more confident. Kiddo is doing well although still very timid. She is walking better on leash (left side); she still sits down but gets up and walks again with a gentle pull on the harness leash. Kiddo is showing marked improvement; she's been sleeping on a dog bed at the foot of Marjorie's bed and all had a good night's sleep. Marjorie has also been working on her interactions, interactive play and being comfortable with new people. It will take a lot of work to combat Kiddo's shyness but she is an affectionate, very worthwhile dog and Marjorie is confident that the effort will pay off.

Zoe:  Likes to go out in the yard and being brushed. Her coat is looking much better. She went to the vet for her check up and needs to lose some weight. Please help her by taking her for a walk when possible.

Izzy: Does well on her play times and knows how to “sit” on command. She is very responsive to training so we encourage volunteers to remind her to sit to minimize her jumping. 

Cooper: Is a bright boy and becomes very excited when he sees people. He is good on leash when taken out for a walk. He knows how to sit on command so we encourage anyone who takes him out to practice asking him for sits so that he minimizes his jumping behavior.

Wallis: Slowly but surely making progress. He comes out of his kennel more easily for Ernie, who he’s used to seeing daily. Volunteers should feel free to offer him treats when they pass by his kennel; he takes treats from Tauna and Marjorie at times. If anyone is interested in working with Wallis, please ask Tauna or Marjorie for tips.

Amos: Still in foster care at Lisa First's home. We are certain he is enjoying himself immensely.

Meet Darla

Darla was abandoned at Gulfgate Animal Hospital when someone left her tied to the front door in June 2012. Dr. Palmer took her in, vetted and spayed her and has been trying to find her a home. Her staff contacted every rescue group in Houston they could think of and were told by everyone that no dogs are being accepted.

Darla is living in boarding and Barrio Dogs is helping to find her a home. When abandoned, she had recently had puppies and was lactating but the puppies were nowhere to be found. Darla is approximately 1½ years old and weighs 53 lbs. She is microchipped, spayed, vaccinated, heartworm negative, and has the Proheart shot (6 month heartworm prevention).

Dog to Dog Interactions

In working with our kenneled dogs in the “A Home for All” program, we have observed their interactions with each other and with our volunteers. Like people, some dogs like each other a lot and other dogs, not so much. The fact that the dogs are already under stress because they live in a kennel environment can make their interactions unpredictable at times.  Also, the dogs tend to become over stimulated when they play together.  That is why we do not recommend group doggy play times and prefer the dogs play individually with volunteers.  The only exception is if the dogs are kennel buddies and we know that they will do well together.

Amos, Cooper, Derek: They should be kept away from each other when out of the kennel, on a walk or during play time. They do not like each other and we do not want to aggravate the situation.  Derek and Amos have gotten into a fight before; Derek was the aggressor and it is best to keep him away from other dogs altogether.  Cooper will only bark at the other two if they bark at him and most time he tries to stay away but we do not want to test the situation.

Darla: She is a new dog. She is reactive to female dogs so keep her away from Izzy, Kiddo and Zoe.  To be on the safe side, it’s best to keep her away from all dogs.  In this way we can keep her calm and not cause her any more stress. 

Izzy and Kiddo: These two ladies are best friends and spend most of the time in the yard area and not in a kennel.  Izzy can escapes from a kennel if left alone so she is stays outside to prevent her from hurting herself. If you take a dog out to the yard or outside the kennel, make sure these Izzy and Kiddo are placed elsewhere temporarily. 

Wallis: Doesn’t seem to care too much for the other dogs and our main goal is to more human socialization with him. 

Raven: Plays beautifully with other dogs but he too should have solitary play time.  Although he’s fine with other dogs , we don’t recommend he spend time with playing with other dogs.  There may be times when he limps and his skin condition worsens; if he is not feeling well, other dogs jumping or play biting him will probably make him feel worse.

We would love to be able to coordinate volunteer teams so several people are present at the same time. That way, a person can walk a dog while some else works on socialization.  Please feel free to contact each other to coordinate a day to go as a team and help each other out with the dogs. As always, please be sure to keep yourself informed about the latest information on the dogs through the blog or check the “A Home for All” white board for star ratings and notes. 

Update: June 26-July 3, 2012

Visit to AC: Notes by Buffy Martines, Eva Belendez, Dulce Garcia, Marjorie Jackson, Tauna Ready and Wendy Thiessen
 

Wallis: Thanks to very dedicated volunteers Tauna and Marjorie, Wallis has been making minor behavior progress. Tauna and Marjorie have taken this fearful dog under their wing and on July 26, 2012, Wallis took a Canine Carry Out treat from Tauna’s hand. That is a major step considering how timid he is around people. If we adapt consistent feeding schedules,volunteers will be able to help Wallis make progress since he is “treat motivated”. Only thing is to be careful when capturing pictures of him since that tends to spook him. If you want to work with and help socialize Wallis, please let Dulce, Tauna or Ernie know; they will help you get started.

Cooper: Has been coming out of his kennel and walking all the way outside without jumping. Volunteers have been working on sits and leash walking with him and he is mastering it all. The goal is to reduce his jumping up at people and learning proper interactions with strangers, but overall he is such a love bug and enjoys company. As a precaution he should be out in the yard playing with no other dogs because he and Derek can get feisty.

Derek: He enjoys play time out in the yard. He likes to play, play, play! His favorite toy is the tug rope and he is a very good fetcher. He and Cooper are sometimes kennel neighbors and when they pass each other, they bark and bark. To be safe, take one dog out at a time and make sure the play yard is not occupied by another dog. We had noticed Derek wasn’t himself and took him to Gulfgate Animal Hospital to get checked out. In the recent past he had surgery on his paw to remove a bullet which may explain why he can become easily tired and won’t walk or play. The vet says he may be in pain at times and that the heat contributes to him not feeling well.

Raven: Buffy noticed that Raven’s toenails on one paw were bleeding. Raven’s skin condition seems to worsen at times and the vet indicated that kennel stress may have a lot to do with it. Volunteers have indicated that Raven limps sometimes when taken out so he is only kept in the play yard. He will have to get checked by a vet and his walks will have to be limited if he is not limping. The meds the doctor prescribed for his skin condition can only be given from time to time; the only real cure for Raven’s skin condition will be a real home away from the kennel.

Amos: Special thanks to Lisa First for the special day with which she treated Amos. She says he had a loose stool and vomited his breakfast, probably because he is not used to long car rides. Otherwise, as you can see in the pictures, he got to enjoy a day in the outdoors (no swimming this time because of staples from a prior injury but Lisa says if he does not get a foster soon, she will pick him up again). You can tell he would have rather stayed with Lisa but after two or three good hugs from her, he went into the AC kennel area. He is so ready for a permanent home! Lisa shares a word of caution to the foster or anyone driving him anywhere: Amos's persistent goal while riding in the car is to get on someone's lap, if the only lap available is the driver's "big danger". She strongly advices that Amos rides in a crate or with a doggie seat belt in the car. Thanks Lisa. I know Amos is thankful too!

Izzy: She is really good on walks and can benefit from working on sits for attention. She tends to get really excited with some people and will greet them by jumping up at them.  Let’s help this social butterfly out by showing her that when she comes up to us she shall “Sit”. She’s a bright girl and knows sit on command she can do it for a belly rub instead of treats, Wow!

Kiddo: Has been going on walks with Izzy and they both do well together. Kiddo is a bit on the shy side and feels more confident around Izzy. We are all trying to give her activities away from Izzy so that she is not as dependent on her as there is a possibility that they may not be able to be adopted together. But that would be a dream come true that they both go to a home together.

Thank you to Buffy for donating the “Kong” toys for the dogs at AC! These will help with providing enrichment and positive mental stimulation for the dogs being kenneled. Derek, Amos and Wallis have been caught playing with them they seem to love their new toys. We will get them washed up and ready to fill up for our next visit.

Another special thanks to Wendy for the raised beds and for looking out for the dogs at AC in this heat. She has taken an electrician over to the facility to find out about the possibility of installing fans for the fans for the outdoor kennels. We prefer to keep the dogs kenneled inside but sometimes they are outside in the heat. Outdoor fans will help. With the latest temperature increases, we are aware that our dogs must be kept safe. If it’s too hot opt to play in the yard instead of going for a walk as the concrete may be too hot for the dogs’ paws.If any dogs are on the outside kennels in the heat, please ask the staff to move them inside. If you see something that makes you concerned about any dog’s well being, please send an email to lynn@barriodogs.org or gloria@barriodogs.org.