09/04/2024
UPDATE: 11:08 AM
4.9.24
If you would like to donate to his needs, you can venmo me
If you have spare:
YAK CHEWS
BULLY STICKS
Large/XL 3-n-1 harness
Dasequin chew/power
We would appreciate it.
He shows signs of possible hip dysplasia and would like to place him on supplements to support.
Foster Update: Bernie is getting along great with the current fosters black lab. Working on getting him used to their other dog who is also a stress-pup. But going slow and steady is how this is most successful.
He only barked for a little bit at night. Relaxing on his giant bed in crate. Minor chewing but easily redirected and given a bully stick. This seems to be his favorite chew.
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Hello everyone following BERNIE in his emergency foster journey.
I am making this post because I feel that it's important to show just how much goes into helping a dog who has been surrendered by his owner.
Recap: Bernie has separation anxiety and a very loud voice to tell you about it. He would chew nervously and out of frustration. That is his only crime. For that, he was going to be euthanized. The owner made an appointment three times, despite my help and carefully constructed training program tailor-made for Bernie. So, I offered for the owner to surrender him to me and I would rehome him.
I immediately began reaching out to people for help. Bernie needed a new home, specifically someone who would have a beneficial environment to help with his stress. We need to avoid putting Bernie into another dangerous situation so I created a profile on adoptapet, and required an adoption fee to w**d out those who would essentially euthanize him in a much more horrible way by using him as a potential bait dog. This fee can be waived for the right person through interview and home assessment.
I spoke with as many people as I could about Bernie, fielding well over 200 people at all hours of the day and night in hopes of finding a good match. I called multiple shelters, vets, possible leads and received great help from the community. Any moment I wasn't working with a client, I was working for Bernie.
Home assessments take a lot of time, discussion, energy, and if they were done by a shelter, it wouldn't be for free.
We moved him into 2 fosters for emergency night stays and it was necessary to save him. Thank you to the people who opened their home just for the one night.
Some people who asked to foster or home Bernie felt they were a good fit, but this job is my passion, and I know Bernie personally. I know what he needs, and he just wasn't the right fit for some of those I spoke to. I'm sorry that that offended some of them, but it wouldn't have been a good situation for human or pup. We can't risk him going to a new home yet again after only a day. Others felt I wasn't quick enough to respond to their questions, which caused additional frustration, especially since most of the questions were the same.
Remember, I'm gathering information as well, and don't have all the answers.
I also asked for donations, and people were generous enough to give.
I truly appreciate that and would like to explain where that money went/ and is going, for anyone who might wonder:
- He does not eat the kibble provided and new dog food will be purchased to find his preference. I already gave him a bag of Instinct.
- Treats. For training, and decompression.
-Canned food for kongs-not only calming, but may be the only thing he will eat under high stress
- Beef chews-calming protocol
-Hard chews-calming protocol
- Lick mats-calming protocol
- Calming collars-Ease the transition
- A crate pan (our donated crate had a cracked one).
-New lead, prior lost
-Adoptapet fee
That alone used up the money donated, getting as much from discount stores as is reasonable, and still went over.
None of that money covered:
- Gas driving to those stores, or for the multiple trips to fosters.
-Did not cover the added the approx 2 hours of training for EACH VISIT to the fosters (normally $129.99 an hour as a behavioral professional).
-Nor did it cover the assessment, the transport of items or supplies, the offloading, the teaching of the fosters, setting up his gear and getting him in place.
-Spending on average 6 hours per day on just the in person foster work only to have to repeat the process the next day, and the countless hours still trying to communicate and navigate potential fosters. I am also trying to still run my business as a trainer during this time.
And of course, it doesn't cover the sleepless nights, and emotional stress from trying everything I can to save this dogs life, and always hitting a wall. Falling short.
Assessments would not be free under any other circumstance.
If Bernie has no option to a good home here, then Benton may take him which adds another fee of travel and the surrender fee. I am hoping someone will come forward ASAP. But after this post, I have to walk away from social media for the night. I've been swarmed and overwhelmed and I need tonight as a break to rest in order to be better for Bernie tomorrow. So if you message me tonight, all messages will be returned tomorrow morning at 10 am.
When I ask for help, I do so for a reason. Bernie is that reason. And as much as I would love to, I can't finance a rehoming situation on my own.
Helping dogs and their owners live in harmony is my job and my passion. Sometimes, that means turning people away who aren't a good match for a dog with Bernie's needs. Sometimes, that means being unable to respond instantly to messages. Sometimes, that means requiring an adoption fee, to save him from becoming bait. Sometimes, it means asking for support, financial and otherwise, to get Bernie somewhere he'll be safe and loved.
So, I'd like to thank those who have been helpful, understanding, and patient. I'd like to thank those who have given Bernie a chance. And I'd like to thank those who support both my profession and myself personally. This life isn't always easy, but I do it for dogs like Bernie.
