By the day of the dog June 12
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The life of a dog in a shelter
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Bitch Sally at Lobberich Animal Shelter with nurse Magda Push. The half-breed female came to the shelter on March 17 as a found animal, seriously ill. She must have had a bad experience. She remains skeptical of strangers and shows her small teeth. But with the workers of the animal shelter, she is a completely different person. She has to gain trust first, and that takes time.
Photo: Yes/Knappe, Jörg (jkn)
Viersen district June 12 – Dog Day. Man’s best friend takes center stage. But there are also forgotten dogs. Twelve of them live at the Matthias Neelen animal shelter in Nettetal.
The dog’s eyes are fixed attentively on Tanja Schlüter walking down the aisle in the kennel of the Mathias Nielen animal shelter in Lobberich. Rods pound on the ground. The four-legged friends know the animal shelter employee well, are happy and see no reason to strike. However, it looks very different when visitors move there. “Then every dog really barks when the first one starts. For many visitors who are interested in the dog, this behavior, which in itself is completely normal, has a deterrent effect,” Schlüter knows from experience. When the house bell rings and a stranger comes up, the dogs usually start ringing as well.
Every animal shelter, not only in Lobberich, is a temporary home for dogs, sometimes for a shorter or longer period. For some dogs, it has even become the home of their entire canine life. The shelter currently houses dogs that moved to Flothend 34 between a week ago and back in 2013, either as a found animal or as an animal for sale. Dogs with a disability, whether it be age or a medical condition that requires attention, or behavior that requires attention, find it difficult to find a new owner.
Rottweiler Kevin is one of the dogs that has spent most of his life at the Lobberich Animal Shelter. “He came to us in 2013 as a found animal through a regulatory body. At that time he was about two years old, and his unfriendly behavior immediately attracted my attention, ”recalls Schlüter. A difficult animal that no one was interested in. Over time, Kevin developed a trusting relationship with animal shelter manager Ralph Erdmann. These two are best friends. A possible new owner could do the same if he had experience with dogs, took his time, and perhaps even consulted with a trainer. Today, Kevin is eleven years old and also has osteoarthritis. There is no more possibility of mediation.
The same fate could befall Sally. The little mixed dog must have gone through terrible things in his life about a year ago. When the seriously ill found animal was admitted to the shelter on March 17, she was not just scared. She ate in fear. Meanwhile, Sally, who has since recovered, has shown that once she gains confidence, anything can be done. Compared to the workers at the animal shelter, she is a completely different person. However, since she is still suspicious of strangers and shows her small teeth when she feels cornered, she is more likely to be one of the candidates who will also spend her life at the orphanage.
Adonis, Balu and Maja also have little chance of being placed because these are dogs that the owner must deal with intensively and require patience, understanding and consistency. “Most people want a dog with no problem. We notice that even if the visitors have to come several times to get to know the dog first, the interest fades very quickly. For many people, this is too much work,” says Schlueter.
No dog is talked about well at the animal shelter. Each stakeholder will be informed in detail about the respective candidate. “Sometimes it happens that a potential buyer wants a particular dog, but the conditions from the new owner are not suitable. Then we refuse mediation on our own initiative, ”says Schlüter.
A dog-human combination should work. It is important for the animal shelter that the dog does not turn into a roll call and go from the place of placement back to the shelter and from there to the next owner, as happened with Jackie, who is now 14 years old. She has also been living at the shelter since 2013 and will spend the rest of her life there. “It’s always important for someone to understand what it means to bring a dog into the house, whether it’s a problem-free dog or a dog with a history that might even need professional help in the form of a trainer,” says staff member Magda Pusch. . A dog needs attention, and that’s for the rest of his life. A pet owner has to make time for their four-legged friend, and it can also be expensive when the dog is sick.
Holidays with dogs can also be different, or for the holidays you need to look for appropriate care. Dog Day can also be used to pause and think carefully about whether a dog is generally fit for life and whether it might even come from an animal shelter that would otherwise have a hard time finding a family.
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