18/11/2020
Hop Sing and Missy's Journey to Happiness!
Early April, 2019 Res Q Angels received a call from a local Hop Farmer in Moxee. There was a pregnant Shepherd mix and a Pitty mix in their field. We went to the Hopfield and were able to locate the dogs. After evaluating the situation we came up with a game plan to catch them. The next day we took a large Kennel (trap) out but as soon as we set up they took off. We were not able to locate them for almost two months. Now the middle of May, we get a call from Megan with Roy Farms stating that a Shepherd mix had delivered a litter of puppies under one of their equipment storage containers. It was the third time in two years that she had delivered pups there. Megan still has one of the pups from the first litter. Megan had tried to locate the owners of the two dogs but no one knew anything about them. Each time they showed up they were together and she was ready to have pups. We set up a containment fence around the storage unit with a kennel attached to that, so that when momma went under the storage unit to feed the pups we could close the gate to trap her under the unit. Once she was trapped under the unit we closed the gate to the kennel in front of the storage unit and opened the gate to allow her to get out from under the unit. Once out and clear of the gate we closed the gate going under the unit so that we had her contained and could get her into a crate. Once she was in the crate we contacted Megan’s Boyfriend, Legrand. He came out and crawled under the unit and retrieved eight puppies. They were put into a crate and taken to YVPR. The male was in the area so we opened the kennel with Momma in the crate still inside the kennel and the male entered to check on her, we closed the gate. We now had Momma, Dad and all eight puppies. Once the male and female were loaded into the pickup they were taken to Our shelter, where they were fed and bedded down for the night. The following morning, both of them were taken to Our Veterinarian to be altered. They ask for names and the only way I would be able to remember their story was to tie a name to them. I called the male Hop Sing since they were roaming in a hop field and being a fan of Bonanza, Hop Sing was their cook. His girlfriend in the series was Missy. That is how they got their names. They stayed with us until they had healed from their procedures. During those two weeks there were no signs of aggressiveness by either Hop Sing or Missy. I was actually able to touch him but she was more hesitant and would not allow me to interact with her. With Roy Farms approval they were released back into the Hopfield where they were used to roaming.Late April we received a call from Charity Seitz. She stated that the female was here dog (Sadie) and needed help catching her as Sadie had forgotten who she was. We met with Charity and her boyfriend Joey at the location they had been seen. Charity and Joey both saw the dogs and said that they were 150% positive that she was their Sadie. I discussed the situation with them about how Hop Sing and Missy (Sadie) were a bonded pair and would need to be kept together. They assured me that they would take them both and care for them. The only way we would catch them was if they were both taken and
cared for. We were allowed to set up our pen in the hop fields again to catch them. While we were letting them get used to the kennel being out there we took a large pen out to Charity and Joey’s place and set it up. We informed them that they would have to secure the bottom of the pen so they could not dig under it. Once set up and ready we were able to catch them both again. We took them out to Selah and put them in the pen. After about a week and a half Charity and Joey said that it was not their Sadie and Hop Sing had become aggressive. By mid-May they both escaped the kennel. Charity and Joey knew they were in a local apple orchard and would catch them, They never did. They set up a small trap but never maintained it with any regularity. Hop Sing and Missy learned to survive on their own again but this time in a completely different environment. They were seen in many different areas but had not really settled down. At one point they had dug a den on the hillside next to Speyers Rd. On June 1 they were reported to be using a barn on McGonagle Rd. for warmth and protection. Kris and Rick had taken the initiative to feed and water them while Joey attempted to catch them, he never did. They took care of these two until it started getting cold and then called to get them caught. Kris and Rick, you saved these dog’s lives. The process had begun to find a forever Sanctuary home where these two “AGGRESSIVE” dogs could go. After a few weeks one was found and thanks to all of your generous donations we were able to build them a safe place to stay and a place where they would have all the necessities needed to live a comfortable life; Food, water, heated sleep area and plenty of room to roam. The only thing they would not have due to there aggressive nature was human contact. While we were in the process of renovating their new residence we set up a kennel that allowed them to enter through the front of the kennel and go up to the loft of the barn through the back of the kennel. Once their new home was ready Kris was able to contain them in the kennel/loft area. We arrived and set up individual crates in the kennel then went into the loft and walked them down to the kennel area. Hop Sing was the first one to go down the stairs and right into the crate. We latched it, He was safe. Not once did he growl or attempt to attack us. I put my hand up to the crate and he just sniffed it. NO AGGRESSION AT ALL! We then went back into the loft and did the same with Missy, she was a little more hesitant but she finally went down the stair and into the crate. Again, No growling or threatening gestures towards us. Neither one of them were aggressive regardless of prior comments from Charity and Joey, unfortunately, they had been labeled as such and could have been put down for no reason. A special Thanks to Carol and Scott for the use of their van to transport them to the Veterinarian to get checked out and then to their forever home. Missy has trauma to her left leg from and old injury that will eventually need surgery to help repair the leg. Hop Sing is blind in his right eye and pellets in his head and chest where we are suspecting that he has been shot at some point. He is also scarred from potential fighting or may just be from protecting himself and Missy.
We were surprised at the response Hop Sing and Missy had once they were let out of the crates in their new living area. Here are some Videos and text from the Sanctuary family of their adjusting to their new home and Family’ Sunday, November 8, Two hours after entering there new home.Text from Sanctuary Mom:Are you messing with me? These pups are so sweet.I said hi to Missy and she came up and sniffed my hand. Then just sat on the step by me. I am not rushing anybody Hop Sing came right up to me, before weeks end he will be sitting on my lap.They are right where they need to be. I only sat with them for about 15 minutes mostly not to stress Missy. They ate all the food and emptied the water.They love their new digs!Thank you for entrusting them to us.November 12, Text from Sanctuary Mom I think they can feel my unconditional love.I love how Missy expresses herself with her feet and wiggles. She is being very brave.I just love tucking them in at night. I close the door and then first thing in the morning I go let them out and they’re not going potty in the entry area anymore. They hold it until I let them out, they don’t want to go potty in their house. My puppies come running to the gate and sit there watching me when I leave. Missy wants to trust so bad. She licks my hand a lot. They are so sweet.November 16, Text from Sanctuary Mom Last night there were coyotes in the pasture. Hop Sing and Missy were guarding the property. I heard this loud barking, I’m like what the hell is going on. I went running out back, of course it’s midnight! I had fallen to sleep in the chair and didn’t shut their door. I wanted to put them in their house but they didn’t want to go in, they wanted to protect the property. It took me like a half an hour to get them to go in their house. I didn’t recognize their bark.I’m not pushing Missy, I’m letting her come to me but she comes up like over and over approaches me and licks my hand. It’s just a matter of time but I don’t want to stress her out so I’m letting her do it on her own terms. Hop Sing loves being rubbed and scratched
on his belly. He’s still jumpy and he’s still scared, it’s going to take time before they’re completely comfortable even as well. He still has fear issues you can’t take away everything. They’ve been through in one week it’s a work-in-progress but they’re both doing amazing.I just think about Carrie’s post back in September, the one that I saw and she said she was hoping somebody would step up and that they don’t want to be a bother. They don’t want to be anywhere near people, they just want to be somewhere where they can be left alone. Thank God they did not get a home like that because these two dogs, they want to trust. They want to be part of the family. They want to be near you, they are starving for attention and love. I just can’t tell you how glad I am I’m off work right now so that I can go out there like I go once an hour. I go say Hi and I love them up, then I come back in. I’m getting them used to my approach and having me around.I swear everyday when I’m petting Hop Sing I think I found every scar on his body and then I find a new one. I can’t even imagine what he has been through. I haven’t even had a chance to pet and Love on Missy yet. He probably feels my empathy for his pain and that’s why he is so trusting.There is this look that he gives me, I don’t even know where it comes from. It just breaks my heart. Every once in a while it disappears from his eyes and he’s acting like a puppy and I know he’s healing. Missy too, She’ll start playing and jumping around and yips like a puppy. It’s so adorable and it’s all about healing.
