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ANIMAL RESCUE AND ADOPTION TALES
By Valli Aman
My cat Kitai had just passed away. He began as the neighborhood cat and a patient visitor appearing at the back door of several neighbors. His appearance was long white hair with aqua eyes, elegant gentle demeanor and the only cat my Father ever loved. I was designated to be his owner by neighbors that wanted no responsibility for his wellness, named him Kitai and took responsible care of him when I discovered he had feline leukemia.
Though convinced that I was not ready for new cat I decided to look at pets online. When looking for pets online it's easy to go off-track and look for different animals than you think you might. Since I was a cat owner for over 30 years, it seemed surely that I'd adopt a cat or a pair of them, eventually.
One day I was drawn to a site for dog adoptions. There was a very obvious notice centered on the page indicating there were 174,876 homeless dogs Los Angeles. I was shocked. Of course, that was 5 years ago. In 2004 news of pets needing rescue was not quite what it is now that the "word is out" about the crisis in numbers of animals nationally
and the dissemination of information about the growing idea of the "no-kill" shelter.
That same night I began my search of local shelters and rescue groups in the area on the Internet. There are links to all sorts of sites. There was one though that within 2 pages of dog faces was the face of this smiling, white, curly haired dog named "Noodles." I felt something just by looking at her face. Me? A dog owner?
There was a definite feeling associated with my actions and without a second thought I phoned. I was told that "Noodles' had been adopted a couple days before by a lovely couple that had another dog. So, she was adopted. I thanked the rescuer, told her if another dog "something like" Noodles showed up to contact me. Why was I even looking for a dog? I knew next to nothing about dogs and yet I still continued my online search.
Ten days after that call, I had a dream and the words I heard were, 'Call! Call! Call about the Dog. Call about the Dog! Call! Call!' I have to admit that I was taken back by the words and with the message…about a dog that was already adopted? Frankly, I thought job stress was getting to me but somehow the dream and thoughts remained with me all morning.
Periodically at work, I was distracted by the message that seemed to still be in my mind…"Call, Call, Call about the Dog!" I knew I had to call and decided to go home during lunch where I had the phone number for the Adoption Agency.
"Hello, this is Valli. Remember "Noodles" that was adopted 10-days ago?" And the woman said, "Oh Yes. She was just returned yesterday!" I felt a warm rush of blood hit my head as I said, "Can I come and meet her?" She said, "Yes, how about this afternoon." I went, I saw and I adopted her immediately.
Somehow I knew she was my dog from the minute I saw her photo. The small voice just backed-up my feeling, though I had no idea where it was coming from.
Noodles story was that she was a severe biter, was left tied to a tree with a 1-foot rope and left. Even after the rescuer took her in, it was certain and scheduled for her to be put down within an hour of my phone call.
I changed "Noodles" name to "Shoo Shoo." She is one marvelous animal-friend. She needed-to-know that there was at least one good person in the world that would be kind and patient with her and she began relaxing. I used over-the-counter herbal supplements to calm her.
She inspired my re-education to Animal Behavior Training and is no longer the frightened girl she was the day we met. Her growling and biting never deterred me from helping her. I just couldn't leave her behind. Maybe in some 'Whisper' sense I "knew" we'd be ok together and that I could learn what I'd need to know to help her have a happy life
I admit to learning plenty from my dog and she's learned a lot from me. She's a happy girl. Please adopt or rescue your next pet and educate yourself and your pet dog responsibly. If you do adopt, feel free to call me and I'll give you one free 1-1/2-hour training session!
Please send your pet rescue or adoption story along with a great photo of your pet to:
valli_ohmydog@yahoo.com
www.ohmydog-la.com
Valli Aman is Graduate of Animal Behavior College (ABCDBT); Sr. Trainer for East Valley Shelter Training Program; Owner of "Oh My Dog," "Visions Photography" (www.visionsphotography-la.com) and TV Host/Producer of "Visions" a TV/Radio program based upon metaphysical possibilities, philosophies and philosophers alive in our world today.