Animal Chronicles Summer 2007
Places in the Heart: A look back at our biggest animal rescues
by Carrie Harrington
In an average year, the Marin Humane Society places more than 2,300 animals into new homes. More than 1,000 stray animals are reunited with their guardians, while nearly 2,000 spay and neuter surgeries are performed.
Like a healthy heart, our pulse is strong. An 11-year-old cat is adopted to a family in Mill Valley; the abandoned Cattledog mix finds a home in San Rafael; a van filled with Pet Partnership animals from the Central Valley returns to the MHS campus. The steady flow of animals through our shelter reminds us that the heart is doing its job.
There are times when a natural disaster or cruelty investigation disrupts this steady flow and there is a sudden rush of activity. Our pulse quickens and we race to the call of duty to save animals held captive in a research facility, suffering in deplorable conditions at a puppy mill, abandoned at a factory farm, or caught up in the worst weather disaster in U.S. history. Large-scale rescues test our emotional strength, but never our will. We are part of a community that cares about animals and that supports our efforts to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome — no matter how challenging the task.
Here’s a recap of some of our more recent rescues — and what happened to the lucky survivors.
Research dogs find love in Marin
In July, 1993, 180 Beagles used in research at a California university were awarded a second chance at life. The dogs, no longer needed for radiation experiments, were to be killed and prepped for use in anatomy classes. Amid protest from animal advocates, the university agreed to release the dogs to the Marin Humane Society. MHS transported more than 100 of the Beagles to other animal welfare organizations throughout Northern California and brought approximately 40 to Marin.
Fourteen years later, most of these dogs have passed on, but their memories persevere in tales of personal triumph. Because the Beagles had been institutionalized, they were, at first, not comfortable with people or accustomed to the typical sights and sounds of the outside world. Such was the case for Buddy and the Norris-Alvarez family of Novato. Shelley, her husband and their three daughters remember adopting a dog who was terrified of everything. “Buddy was afraid of walking on grass, carpet, driving in the car, people and any noise, including the refrigerator opening,” recalls Shelley.
Thankfully, Buddy and the other Beagles found guardians with time, energy and patience. “Buddy eventually welcomed our love and attention, and he became a role model for other dogs we fostered,” recalls Shelley. “There was only one indication that he had been a research dog. When opening a door, we would always have to step and look away for him to enter.”
Another rescued Beagle, Mr. Jo-Jo, conquered his fear of people and became a registered therapy dog. Guardian Stephanie Morris of Paso Robles fondly recalls Mr. Jo-Jo’s visits with a female patient at a Northern California rehabilitation center. “On his first visit, Jo-Jo, ignoring a nearby food tray, opted to curl up in the bed with her.”
Stephanie and her husband, both seasoned Beagle owners, remember that the dogs were unlike typical Beagles in both personality and appearance. “They were definitely not cute, cuddly dogs.” Mr. Jo-Jo had a longer snout and ears, and a tail curved higher than usual.
Mr. Jo-Jo, whom Stephanie calls “one of the finest living entities I’ve ever known,” continued his visits with patients at hospitals, nursing facilities and retirement homes until 2006, and he passed away last December. “His presence touched many lives,” says Stephanie. “With his therapy visits, he spread the message that all living things are of value.”
Buddy passed away from cancer two years ago. Today, his family feels fortunate to have had him in their lives. As for the use of animals in lab experiments, Shelley believes that “every living being should be treated humanely.”
Helping puppy-mill dogs
Six years ago, the Marin Humane Society became a temporary refuge for 25 dogs rescued from a puppy-mill operation in Hollister. The property had been littered with cages full of dogs who were being used as breeding machines. In fact, two of the rescued dogs had puppies within several days of arriving at MHS.
The small-breed dogs, including Poodles, Terriers and Papillons, were underweight and filthy. Their fur was matted with feces and urine. Several dogs had skin lesions and tooth decay. Many required ear and eye medication. Attention and care revealed frightened but adorable dogs in need of loving human companions.
Novato resident Shirley Graves recalls the abundance of press coverage given to the notorious cruelty case. “The media attention was a good thing,” says Shirley. “We have to impress upon people how important it is to stop animal cruelty.”
For many years, this host of Public Advocate on Novato Public Access TV has invited the Marin Humane Society to promote adoption animals on her show. After hearing about the rescue (and thinking that she might want to adopt one of the dogs herself!), Shirley asked MHS to bring one of the puppy mill dogs to the next show. Upon meeting the three-year-old Poodle named Mimi, Shirley exclaimed without hesitation, “I’ll take her!”
Today, nine-year-old Mimi lives with Shirley and her husband Jeff, four cats, and 10-year-old Poodles, Philippe and François. Though she still gets tense away from home or when a stranger rings the doorbell, Shirley reports that Mimi generally seems happy. When Shirley wakes up in the morning, Mimi immediately asks for a belly rub. “She would lie still on her back all day if I could keep rubbing her stomach.”
Watching Mimi and Shirley together, it’s easy to see their mutual adoration. “I always tell Mimi that I’m sorry we missed having three years together. But now she’s found her place in life — and she’s not going to give it up!”
Paying a high price for eggs
During the summer of 2005, the Marin Humane Society worked with Animal Place in Vacaville to rescue 1,800 hens from a factory farm in Gilroy. Eight hundred birds came to MHS and, within hours of their rescue from the egg-laying factory, the chickens were making themselves at home in our barn. Here, they were free to move around indoors and out, enjoying dust and sun baths for the first time in their lives. All they had ever known was living in crowded cages with the feces of the hens above falling upon their backs day after day. They seemed delighted to be able to spread their wings.
For the last 20 years, Mary Bromwell of Bolinas has appreciated her chickens as family pets and egg layers. Motivated by an article she read about the Gilroy chickens in the Marin Independent Journal, Mary called the Humane Society to inquire about adopting several of them. She wound up adopting 50 chickens!
Two years later, Mary reports that her flock is doing wonderfully. “Once the chickens were able to roam free, they recuperated quickly. They enjoy taking dust baths. And they’re great egg layers!”
Mary has strong feelings about the way animals in factory farms are treated and thinks that small family farms are the way to go. “When you have a large production facility like that, it’s inhumane for the animals and the eggs are of poorer quality,” she says.
Saving Orphans of the Storm
Thousands of animals’ lives were saved in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the fall of 2005 thanks, in large part, to the airlifts coordinated by the Marin Humane Society. Operation Orphans of the Storm brought more than 2,500 dogs and cats from the Gulf Region to the Bay Area on nine flights during the months of September and October. Among the survivors was Mona.
When Mona first arrived at the Marin Humane Society, she was extremely fearful and remained depressed in the shelter environment. It didn’t help that Mona was in pain from an ear infection and mite infestation. Hoping that it would make her more comfortable, Mona was sent to a foster home to recuperate.
“What first got me to notice Mona was the photo of her on the Marin Humane Society’s Web site,” says guardian Rosemary Oliveira of Novato. “I was immediately drawn to her. Those huge green eyes demanded attention.” Rosemary met Mona at the home of her foster parent, Rita Wengler. Though Mona remained cautious around people and in unfamiliar surroundings, Rosemary was convinced that, given time, Mona would make a wonderful companion.
A year and a half later, Rosemary reports that Mona “has blossomed into a more self-assured cat.” While she used to spend most of her time in the safe haven of a spare bedroom, things began to change when Rosemary was having the house painted. Surprisingly, with all of the activity around the house, Mona became curious. “She started to venture out and I think that gave her more confidence.”
We’ll never know for sure what Mona experienced as Hurricane Katrina ravaged her home. We can only assume that she carries with her a painful story of survival. This once-terrified cat now feels comfortable enough to snuggle in her guardian’s lap and share her bed at night. She’s even warmed up to Sparkle, the resident dog. “I wonder what horrible things must have happened to Mona. And then I’m glad I could give her a second chance,” says Rosemary.
Carrie Harrington is the MHS public relations associate.
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