Opinion Talk

By Bill Russell

June 27, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

As a volunteer with Our Pals Place and familiar with not only the dogs mentioned but also the procedures and rules of the organization, I would like to add that among the first and most frequently stressed rule was that no volunteer was asked to interact with any dog, or place themself in any situation, that they felt uncomfortable with. In fact there was a dog, a 5lb. chihuahua mix, that I did not interact with due to its dislike for me. I never felt pressure to deal with this dog and in fact was used as an example to others of how each volunteer determined their own comfort level. The rules and procedures to ensure safety were constantly reinforced and I am not aware of any problems that occurred when the stated safety procedures were followed.

By Copyleft

June 27, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

No-kill shelters are absolutely NOT dangerous, and it’s irresponsible to make such an inane suggestion that could damage the valuable work they’re doing.

By Amanda

June 27, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

” A former volunteer at a no-kill dog shelter in Marietta describes an attack by a dog named Lexie that left her hospitalized and with several thousand dollars in medical bills.”

This article is obviously spinning the story to make it seem like Lexie attacked Celia directly. This, however, was far from how it happened. Lexie and another dog become fully involved in a fight and Celia put herself in the middle of the fight which resulted in her getting bitten. She did this despite being told never to put yourself in any way in the middle of a dog fight. When dogs fight - they become oblivious to what is around them. It is rediculous to put blame on Lexie. It is soley the fault of Celia that she was bitten. No-kill shelters are not dangerous if you properly heed to the safety rules set forth by the organization. I am a volunteer at OPP and can attest to the fact that the directors go above and beyond when safety is concerned. Lexie is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever come across at OPP and it’s a shame that this innocent animal is having to pay for the mistakes of one individual.

By Chris

June 27, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

I am not familiar with the shelter nor the person writing the article. However, I am disturbed that the AJC would not have done follow up research on this particular shelter or this person. As someone who is familiar with dogs, it has been my personal experience that even the most “brutal” dogs are trainable and can be rehabilitated. My guess is that this person did not follow the rules or got careless, lazy if you will. Problem is some people treat dogs deplorably and should be punished accordingly. Should we then punish the dog as a result of human mistreatment? True, some dogs shouldn’t be with kids, some kids shouldn’t be with dogs either.

To answer your question, no, no kill shelters are not dangerous. My opinion (this is the oped section anyway).

By Crissy

June 27, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

I’ve volunteered with a small humane society in metro Atlanta for over 15 years. We do not euthanize adoptable animals, however we do euthanize when medically or behaviorally necessary.

It is completely irresponsible for any rescue to adopt out an animal that has shown aggressive behavior toward humans. Do they not realize they can be held liable should they knowingly adopt out an aggressive animal and it injures someone?

I absolutely agree that keeping animals in cages long term can affect their behavior. Animals in our shelter have room to run and play and receive attention daily from our volunteers.

Don’t let one bad experience with a rescue group prevent you from working with or adopting from another rescue group. There are so many wonderful animals that need adopting.

Please consider adoption before buying from a breeder or petstore. Visit www.petfinder.org to find available animals in your area.

By HEATHER BALLANCE

June 27, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

I am an active OPP volunteer. After volunteering for county shelters for many years I was happy to move to the other side - a dog rescue and to see the happy endings for these dogs. I was sad to read Celia’s article for many reasons. Too many to list. You can not just make up your own rules, you have to read the safety boards and follow proper procedure as trained. She failed to follow many rules whihc led to the unfortunate dog bite. Seriously – there is no room for being stupid. Don’t follow the rules – then get hurt and you want the dog now euthanized? A dog with no history of hurting anyone? A dog with no intention of coming out of her kennel to hurt anyone. Where is the compassion in that, why be a part of a dog rescue, when clearly not understanding the mission or the dogs we work with. I find it ironic that the youth that volunteer who work with the same dogs can follow the simple procedures and have NOT gotten hurt.

Our Pals Place takes in many wonderful dogs. Dogs like Sniffles who was abused and shot - missing half of his face, this dog was so lucky to have given his last few months of love from OPP. Dogs like Emmie where some cruel person cut her ears off, dogs like Milton who lived his life on a chain, dogs like Sapphire who had always been a stray, a dog like Zach who has been so abused he is scared of men, dogs like Sasha that the owner was just to lazy to care for her, all these dogs are amazing and got a 2nd chance because of places like Our Pals Place. Without dog rescues all these AMAZING dogs would be DEAD. More then likely gassed a brutal death in rural county shelters. I hope Celia can sleep well at night knowing she could have possibly made someone turn their head from rescuing or volunteering at a dog rescue.

I am happy to be a part of such a great dog rescue. I am happy to have the opportunity to help homeless dogs that other people threw out like garbage. I am happy to see these dogs go to wonderful homes and get a 2nd chance at a deserving life. I am happy to be a part of a solution and also happy to follow the rules to keep myself safe while volunteering at a dog rescue. I am also happy that I have 3 rescue dogs in my home.

By Joe Sash

June 27, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

Sounds like this woman deserves to get biten and she is bitter sweet over the medical bills. Stupid is, what does, suck it up lady.

By Joe Sash

June 27, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

Sounds like this woman deserves to get biten and she is bitter sweet over the medical bills. Stupid is, what stupid does, suck it up lady.

By Jody

June 27, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

I’ve been volunteering at OPP for over a year now. I am still impressed with the stress that is put on volunteer safety. Any accidents that have occurred at OPP happened because the volunteer did not follow the directions posted for that particular dog on the volunteer board or just disregarded the standard protocol all together.

I am fully aware that rescued dogs are often damaged physically as well as mentally, if something would happen and I end up the recipient of a bite, I won’t hold OPP responsible and certainly not the dog. Common sense tells you if you are in the midst of a dogfight don’t grab the collar, that dog is in a zone and you will be bitten.

Celia should be ashamed of herself carrying on this way. She claims to love animals and believes in rescue at the same time trying to get OPP (a non-profit) to pay her medical bills. She has tried everything in her power to discredit OPP. She is a one-woman campaign to destroy this awesome rescue. Shame on you Celia!

The dogs at OPP receive tons of love and affection. We run four shifts of volunteers a day. —Breakfast crew: Feeding, loving, and running time in the yard. -Midday crew, love them, refill water bowls, and running time in the yard -Dinner crew, feeding, loving, and running time in the yard -Tuck in crew: Time for rest, more loving, filling the water bowls and running time in the yard and maybe a nice peanut butter Kong to settle in with.

So, while you are at work, do your dogs get this much attention?

By wyatt

June 27, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

By HEATHER BALLANCE

June 27, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

HEATHER..Perhaps you can help me here.

Do you know of any rescue centers in the Gwinnett area.

I have rescued three dogs, and even have placed dogs in good homes that I have found wandering around lost, hungry and the worst for wear.

I took an early retirement from my corporate job and am looking for something worthwhile to occupy my time.

OPP is way too far for me to drive, but if you know of a shelter in the Gwinnett area I’d be most appreciative.

By HEATHER BALLANCE

June 27, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Wyatt: absolutely… try www.volunteermatch.com www.spot.com (will give you a whole big list of rescues in your area) Also try Pet Orphans!

Thanks for what you do for the dogs, good people like you make the less unfortuante find good homes, its such a reward! Good karma too ;)

By HEATHER BALLANCE

June 27, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Wyatt: SORRY its www.spotsociety.org Anyone looking for a rescue in their area, thats the best site!!!

By Bill Russell

June 27, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

http://petzonedogrescue.com/default.aspx

Here is a link to a dog shelter that I believe is in Loganville.

Also, for a good resource on Rescue groups in the Atlanta area, Spotsociety.org . While it is not complete, it is by far the most comprehensive list I am aware of.

One additional point, rescue groups and shelter will continue to be needed and will continue to be overfilled until spaying and neutering becomes manditory. There are low cost spay and neuter programs that desperately need our support.

By Morgan

June 27, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

No where in your comments do you seem to state that YOU did not follow the rules outlined for volunteers. Rules are in place to protect you and the dogs. When Lexie started fence fighting with another dog, did you reach for the spray that was 2 feet away on the wall designated for such occassions? NO you did not. You did exactly what anyone would tell you to never do…you stuck your hand in the middle of a dog fight! Your ignorance in this situation is the only problem here. I have met Lexie and she is an absolute doll baby. She loves everyone she meets and give kisses. ANY dog, even your own would have bitten you in this situation. Shelters are not dangerous places at all unless you bring your ignorance in the door with you when you enter.

By Cindy

June 27, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

As co-founder and Director of Operations at Our Pal’s Place, I would like to use this forum to clearly state our policies on adopting out dogs. I can assure you that we are 100% forthcoming regarding all dogs in our facility, with volunteers as well as potential adopters. Our policy is if we know it, you know it. That includes medically as well as behaviorally. When adopting dogs, our policy is full disclosure. Everything that we know about a particular dog, their medical history and behavioral history, is passed on to potential adopters. It benefits no one to withhold information. If we are not forthcoming with all information, we run the risk, not only of the dog being returned, but the liability factor as well. As a non-profit organization that relies solely on donations and volunteers, we cannot and will not run the risk of withholding information. This would prove to be costly and dangerous.

The difference between Our Pal’s Place and many other rescue organizations is that we access each dog’s needs individually and compare those needs to the potential adopter’s situation. We strive very hard to place the right dog with the right family. We do have certain dogs that would not be right for certain living situations. Some aren’t good with cats, some aren’t good with kids, some aren’t good with men, and some aren’t good with other dogs. Some require fenced yard, some don’t. We have had families put an application in on a specific dog, and even though the application is stellar, we have had to tell them no to that particular dog because, for whatever reason, that dog wasn’t right for their home. In situations like this, we encourage approved adopters to consider another dog that would be suitable for their living environment.

Once we place a dog into a home, we have trainers and behavioralists that work with the family and the dog to ensure that the placement is a good fit. In the specific cases mentioned in this letter, yes, Brinks and Lucy were both placed in homes. In both cases, the adopters were completely aware of their history. In both cases, our trainers visited the homes repeatedly and were in constant phone contact with the families to ensure that any and all situations were handled immediately and appropriately. Yes, the dogs were returned to us, once it was decided that these particular dogs were not right for these particular living situations. All information was provided to the adopters prior to placing the dogs into their homes. They knew what we knew.

There have been cases were some of our dogs have attacked other dogs. Does this make them unadoptable? We don’t think so. It is sometimes the nature of the beast. We consider these dogs “dog aggressive” and this is taken into consideration when placing them into a home. We have had cases where our dogs have bitten a volunteer. Should a dog be condemned to death because a volunteer chose not to follow directions? In the case with Lexie, she was condemned to 10 days in a strange place with strange people in a 3 foot by 5 foot cage, because a volunteer didn’t follow directions and safety procedures. Does this make her unadoptable? Does the punishment fit the crime?

Our Pal’s Place is not a careless, reckless, thrown together rescue group. Each and every procedure has been thoroughly thought out and is continuously reviewed for possible improvement. We are constantly asking ourselves and each other, “How can we do this better?”. We have one of the most extensive orientation and training programs within any volunteer organization. All volunteers are given classroom type orientation as well as hands on training with an approved, trained volunteer prior to being given the “ok” to enter the facility and work with the dogs alone. Our special needs dogs are labeled as such and have specific handling instructions. This labeling and handling is covered and reinforced during orientation and training. And it continues to be stressed throughout a volunteer’s tenure at our facility. One of our policies is to only do what you are comfortable doing. We never ask anyone to interact with a dog they are not comfortable with.

Yes, there are occasions where Our Pal’s Place feels a dog needs to be euthanized because of behavioral issues. However, we do not feel that because a volunteer chooses not to follow procedures, a dog should be condemned to death.

In conclusion, Our Pal’s Place is not adopting out dangerous dogs. Each dog is accessed and its individual needs are determined. We strive to match those needs so that each and every dog is placed in a loving, committed, forever home. In the process of finding those homes, we disclose all known information about each and every dog.

If you are considering a new pet to join your family, please don’t let this article discourage you from going into a local shelter or rescue group to save a life. Even if you aren’t comfortable with Our Pal’s Place and/or our policies, it doesn’t matter to us where you rescue your dog from. We just thank you for rescuing instead of buying.

By harry

June 27, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

Wow, what a bunch of half truths and lies. I thought there was some level of journalistic pride at the AJC or is Furman Bisher the only real journalist on staff? This woman, Celia, plain and simple, broke the rules many children don’t have a problem following. It seems as though Celia got the same education as your follow up staff. To file a story without having both sides of the story or even a couple of FACTS to bring the story home; then it is a work of fiction or a lie. To do this at the expense of loving animals that have already suffered enough at the hands of humans. I would like to add a reminder to Celia to whatch out for busses or maybe not to cross streets all together, her mother must be truly ashamed, I know I would be. Karma never forgets.

By David

June 27, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

I can’t comment on the dangers of no kill shelters. I can comment on the suffering animals endure in one of these shelters. I wend to a no kill shelter several years ago in Dekalb County to adopt a cat. While there I quickly realized what “no kill” means. If an animal doesn’t get adopted, they live the rest of their lives in a cage with little or no human or animal interaction. I ended up adopting a cat that had been in the SAME CAGE FOR 6 YEARS. How can these shelts claim to be humane???? That is nothing more than prison for these animals. When we took her to the vet for a check up we found out she was completely deaf due to a severe infestation of ear mites and was diabetic and had never been treated. Put the poor animals to sleep if they aren’t adopted!!!! Don’t keep them in prison until they DIE!!!

By Redneck Convert

June 27, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

Well, I ain’t too sure about all that, but it seems on the surface a no-kill shelter would be less dangerous than a kill one. N’est pas?

By Sharon

June 27, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

I am a former OPP volunteer. Unless things have changed drastically I was never aware of the trainer being available to to meet and assess the dogs being brough it. I know of a few other ex volunteers who offered to take Brinks to Best Friends and were turned down by the owner of OPP. This poor dog, Brinks, was brought in by someone who found him on a hiking trail with a note tied to him saying someone please take him as this person could not look after him. Brinks spends 90% of his life in a kennel. He has been with OPP for over two years. What kind of a life is this for a dog? I am concerned this article is going to scare potential volunteers from volunteering. Yes I guess this lady Celia, did make a mistake, but it happens all too often at OPP. I, along with some other ex volunteers, are now with another wonderful group that is run by a very professional lady. She will not tolerate a dog biting a volunteer, which has only happened once in all four years of business. I can’t begin to tell you how many times it has happened st OPP, myself being one of the victims (not by Brinks). Sadly the owner is always having to make excuses for things that happen at the shelter. Gigi needs to wake up and listen to her volunteers instead of always needing to control every situation. That is why I and 6 others left OPP and are now with a group who relishes volunteer input.

By The Truth

June 27, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

White people love dogs more than people! Why doesn’t the Humane society help Humans. You guys would rather step over a living and breathing human being to help a filthy dog that eats its own crap. Set your priorities straight. The dog that hurt that faithful volunteer should have gotten a bullet between the eyes that day. If a human had intentionally hurt another human being causing thousands of dollars of medical bills, people would be pushing for the death penalty. Look at what happened when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield. And they were paid to brawl. No matter how many cute little sweaters you put on it or how much gourmet food you feed it, a filthy dog is just that … a filthy dog. BTW: Stop kissing those things in the mouth and sleeping in the bed with them. That’s nasty!

By Jeff

June 27, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

Which is more cruel (for an animal, humans are different):

Life in prison or death?

A human can have quite a life in prison these days.

Unfortunately, animals do not. They ALWAYS want to be outside at some point, and I see this even in my indoor cat! (BTW: This particular cat has EVERYTHING she could possibly want inside and is allowed to roam pretty much wherever she wants inside our 1700 or so sq ft. Yet she STILL tries to get outside when we’ve got the door open and we aren’t paying attention.)

No-kill shelters should be outlawed as cruel and inhumane.

By Heather A

June 27, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

I too volunteer at OPP, and have been there over a year.

Not once have I been bitten, or felt pushed to do something I do not want to do.

I do interact with the “problem” dogs mentioned in Celia’s article. He is a good boy, and needs all the understanding we can give him.

It is deplorable that as someone who volunteered to help dogs you are now questioning how safe environment and the dogs are. If we follow the correct proceedure, then there really isn’t a cause for concern.

I only have one quote for you, from Forest Gump “Stupid is as Stupid does”.

By Junkie Brewster

June 27, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

It sounds like an ignorant volunteer put herself in a bad position. Neither the dog, Lexie, nor the shelter should have to suffer for one individual’s inexperience.

Dogs aren’t toys. They are seperate beings with their own perceptions and their own agendas. They don’t exist for our convenience or our pleasure. If a fence was between the two dogs, why on earth did this woman feel she had to intervene?

On a related note: how much do you all want to bet that “The Truth” is a white guy who has never even given a homeless person the time of day, let alone actually volunteered at a homeless shelter? I’ll bet he’s a cat person, too.

By wyatt

June 27, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the all the referrals!

By Junkie Brewster

June 27, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

It sounds like an ignorant volunteer put herself in a bad position. Neither the dog, Lexie, nor the shelter should have to suffer for one individual’s inexperience.

Dogs aren’t toys. They are seperate beings with their own perceptions and their own agendas. They don’t exist for our convenience or our pleasure. If a fence was between the two dogs, why on earth did this woman feel she had to intervene?

On a related note: how much do you all want to bet that “The Truth” is a white guy who has never even given a homeless person the time of day, let alone actually volunteered at a homeless shelter? I’ll bet he’s a cat person, too.

By Bill Russell

June 27, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

I do not know Sharon or the other 6 people she refers to. I am glad that she now volunteers at an organization that she feels comfortable with. I am unfamiliar with the reasons she left OPP. I am familiar with volunteer organizations tho and do know that volunteers leave for a variety of reasons; including personality conflicts, differences in philosophy, and a variety of personal reasons that are peculiar to each individual. Not all organizations can be the answer to each volunteer’s quest for service. I do know that with OPP, I feel comfortable that I am volunteering within a structure that has been tried and proven successful; an organization that has rules and safe procedures in place that have taken into consideration all of the volunteers; and has a commitment to providing the best quality of life possible for the dogs sheltered there until they find their forever home. If I have personal differences with either the directors or goals of the organization, I am free to find an organization more suitable to my desires to serve. But it does little good to attack someone who has devoted a large part of her life to creating this haven for dogs and outlet for volunteers to serve. Making one’s best effort to address the problem seems more productive than either waiting for a perfect solution or standing on the sidelines and criticizing. I have found that OPP, thru its directors and volunteers, is making a committed and continuing effort to save dogs. I can live with that. And more important to me, so can the dogs.

By Jeff McCrory

June 27, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

I’m the Director of Finance and IT and one of the founders of Our Pal’s Place. After reading through these posting, let me give a little more informaton and address a couple of the things touched on by a former volunteer.

We have an official care giving board at the facility where rules are officially posted on how to handle each dog. For Lexie, the official rules were to always have Lexie on a leash when taking her outside or bringing her back in to avoid her running around the room and fence fighting with other dogs. We also have care giving notes within our volunteer web site where all caregivers can leave, read and respond to notes from other care givers. On March 26, 2008, less then 5 days prior to the incident, Celia posted the following note:

“Great idea Susan? It is pretty obvious the spray is inneffective after a fight has begun from previous notes. What about putting Lexie on a leash to take her outside and in, it would keep her from running wild in the room.”

So here are the facts:

• We do listen to input from all volunteers and adjust policies based on volunteer feedback. This was recommended by Celia and became policy.
• Less then 5 days after making this recommendation and even though it had become policy, Celie violated policy and her own recommendation and Lexie got loose.
• While Lexie was running loose, she started fence fighting with another dog and Celia then violated another policy by trying to grab Lexie to break up the fence fight and was bitten.

As a founder and Director at Our Pal’s Place, I personally feel bad when any volunteer has a bad experience at our facility. I am sorry Celia was bitten but it’s hard to understand after looking at the facts, why she continues to pursue attacking us and the work we do when her failure to follow her on advice and our policies directly contributed to the incident.

We are a non-profit operating 100% from donations and volunteers including all the Managers and Directors who have full-time careers and families. Are we perfect, no, but we are constantly reviewing all policies and procedures in an attempt to do what is best and safe for our volunteers, dogs and guests. Are their a few volunteers that have left and may not agree with our policies and/or have personal differences with volunteers, yes, but I think you can go into any organization, business, etc., and find people who love it and others who do not and have left. That’s only human, every organization is not for every person. I just wish people could get over their petty differences and focus on the reason we all give of our time and money, to HELP THE ANIMALS THAT NEED OUR HELP!

For those of you who have never visited us but want to attack us, I would invite you to drop by when we are open on Saturday and Sunday’s between 1-5 to learn more and talk to us and our youth and adult volunteers who are their giving their time and support to help the animals.

By Wende

June 27, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

I have been a volunteer at Our Pals Place in Marietta, GA since February, 2008. During this time, I have seen many dogs adopted into new homes and many more saved from being euthanized in the county shelters. It angers me to think that such false comments have been made about Our Pals Place. Being a volunteer, I have never once felt like I was being forced to interact with any of the dogs at OPP. As a matter of fact, I have been told numerous times not to interact with any dog I am not comfortable with. It seems to me that Celia’s negligence and failure to follow OPP’s rules and guidelines that were explained in detail during orientation, are the only issue here. I have never had one negative experience at Our Pals Place. It is such a wonderful and caring place that is only trying to save lives. My daughter, a youth volunteer for OPP, absolutely loves spending her time with the dogs and has learned so many positive things from being a volunteer. She helps me on the days that I volunteer and I have never feared for her safety or felt that she was in any kind of danger. I am very proud to be a part of the positive environment that is Our Pals Place.

By The O-Gee

June 27, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

they’s only dogs. they are not humman beings. they don’t have a soul. the money spent on these dogs should be spent in the community to support the people.

By CJ

June 27, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

Slow news day?

By the tooth

June 27, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

The Truth you are going to have to do a better job trying to fake being black. you should try saying something like free mike vick! he treated dogs the way they should be treated! and misspell some words. it will make you more believable.

By Kate

June 27, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

Actually I am thankful some of these prior basket cases that have commented do not have dogs. People can wipe their own as*, dogs cant, people have to clean up after the abuse and damage humans do to these pets.

I think its apparent that rescues need to start having psychological evaluations on the volunteers, need to keep those dogs safe!!

By Jordan

June 27, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

Sad thing is this woman (Celia) is probably going to help with another rescue and the same thing will happen again and then another dog is labeled bad and a rescue called poorly ran. If this situation was like she says it was and they had such “bad” dogs well I know the state and work for the state, the state would not reward the dog back to the facility to work with children and people, so look at the BIG picture people. The lady is clearly not emotionally stable and has no business trying to act like a volunteer and work with dogs. Maybe she should get a job at a puppy store promoting puppy mills.

By Allen

June 27, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

My beautiful bride Bett volunteers for OPP, and I currently have the 5 lb. chihuahua mix that Bill spoke about at my house (he’s a bit bigger now, Bill!). Little Ziggy had me, a 6’4” guy, hiding in the laundry room the first time we met….but after some loving care, he now sleeps curled up with us and is a loving companion. I’ve personally witnessed the wonderful work done by the OPP folks. What people must remember is that these are dogs, and will always be dogs, whether from a shelter, a breeder or a pet store, and fights can happen. OPP does a fantastic job in training, and you must follow the rules both of the shelter and of common sense. Any pet owner must be vigilant to some extent, and it seems that Celia unfortunately put herself in harm’s way. That can happen in ignorance and/or panic. Thank you Gigi, all the folks at OPP, and all the other wonderful shelters who give so much time and effort to save these beautiful souls. I am fostering 3 at present, including Ziggy, and they have brought so much joy into our lives, all of which would have been wasted without such care and compassion.

By Sandy

June 27, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

As a volunteer at Our Pals Place, I would like to stress the amount of thought that goes into safety-both for volunteers and dogs. The directors and management spend a great amount of time training volunteers and deciding how dogs should be placed within the facility.

Care is taken to keep volunteers from becoming injured and burned out, as many posts have stated before now. Care is also taken to keep dogs mentally sound and emotionally healthy. As another post stated earlier-dogs get four shifts of volunteers each day who let each one of them out. Also, dogs not sharing a run are matched with a playmate so they may socialize with both volunteers and other dogs. Exercise programs are matched to the dogs. Some go on more walks; some do agility on the equipment one of our volunteers built. Some dogs learn new tricks and cues or just how to sit and pay attention. One of our residents canines, who adores riding in cars more than anything else, gets to go on errands.

No dog should live his whole life in a cage-and that’s not the goal of a no-kill shelter. The goal of Our Pal’s Place is to go into county shelters and rescue dogs who are scheduled for euthanasia through no fault of their own. We bring these dogs to OPP as a temporary home until they’re forever home is found. Some dogs learn to trust for the first time while they are at OPP, but not every dog has issues. Many of the dogs in shelters are already housetrained, social, sweet and very mild mannered. Most shelter dogs fit easily into their new family without any kind of disruption. Many, many dogs are scheduled for euthanasia because they were picked up as strays, because they are part of an unwanted litter of puppies, because their family is moving or because they grew up and are no longer a cute little puppy anymore.

Every shelter has dogs who deserve to live. The debate about no-kill lies in where the line is drawn about who deserves to live. What if a dog bites a person? What if it bit after being hit or kicked? What if it broke skin or didn’t break skin? What if it just snapped at the air, or growled? Every group has its own policies and procedures. Hopefully one of these posts will inspire you to volunteer for a group that matches your values and expectations. Volunteer. Adopt. Save a life.

By Diana

June 27, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

No-kill shelters are not dangerous. The problem is this woman did not follow protocol which is vital when caring for animals that have been abused and/or neglected by previous owners. She failed to follow the rules and is trying to place the blame on the dog and the shelter when it was clearly her fault and instead of owning up to her faults, she is trying to get her “two minutes in the spotlight” so that someone other than herself will pay for her medical bills.

By Jenny

June 27, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

I am sorry to hear that Celia was bitten. I am a huge animal lover and happen to have 3 dogs and a cat. Usually when a person is bitten by a dog, it is their own fault. You should always use cation when breaking up a dog fight. NEVER get in the middle of it. When you are bitten in that situation, it is b/c the dog is trying to protect itself. It doesn’t realize that you are there to help it. When you become a volunteer (which is a great thing), you should take into consideration that you could become a victim of a dog bite. Dogs are animals. They may bite under extreme stress, etc. You should not volunteer if you do not have the funds or insurance to cover your medical bills in case of a dog bite. I have been to OPP and I am very impressed with their love and support of abondoned and/or abused animals. I am sorry that you had a negative experience and I hope that you recover. I do not feel that the animals or the shelter should be held responsible for your mistakes. Do not ruin the reputation and hard work of this shelter and these animals. This accident could have been prevented if you would have gone through the proper proceedures. It is okay to be upset from going through a tramatic experience, but keep it in context. Regardless, of how severe, you chose to volunteer and took that risk. You also took the wrong approach to breaking up the dog fight. People make mistakes and the consequences can really suck, but in the end…..it is still your mistake. As for those of you that have seen shelters that keep animals in cages w/ no exercise time, etc. That is unfortunate. Most rescue groups are not like this. Many of the animals go to foster homes with volunteers until they are adopted. I know that this is true of OPP. I know a couple of the volunteers. I also know, that if the animals are kept at the shelter, then there are many people who volunteer to walk or exercise them daily. I almost adopted one of the dogs from OPP. I went through an extensive application process and then the dog was brought to my house by a trainer (yes, they do have trainers). Unfortunately, the dog wasn’t a fit with my cat, so the trainer and I agreed that he would be best suited for a home with no cats. OPP made all the right steps in the adoption process. The dog ended up going to the right family and I ended up with a dog that likes cats. Please always adopt your animals from shelters, so we can end the cruelty of puppy mills, etc……. Well now that it seems that OPP has an opening for a volunteer….I might just see about volunteering myself.

By Willie

June 27, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

RedneckConvert: n’est pas? you must be one of those edumacated plantation aristocrats? i.e. ce n’est que le premier pas qui coûte…wow, it must be home schooling?

Since liberals do not believe in GOD, they must worship something…animals maybe? You can not kill a god…it is not prudent.

By Noah PHD.

June 27, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

Actually our government gives enough money to the less fortunate; I know I have to work harder to pay for welfare. These no-kill shelters are 100% non-profit no GOV funded organizations. Animals have no choice its up to humans who have created this disaster of pet overpopulation to help take care of them, animals have no voice. All my pets have come from local kill shelters, take a walk thru one and witness the death dates on the dog stalls, the dogs do not even have names, just numbers, dogs who were once most likely someone’s cute little pet, until it got to inconvenient in taking care of them. Dogs with burns, broken legs, missing eyes, heartworms, humans did this, humans need to clean it up.

By Joanne

June 27, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this

I volunteer at a county shelter and when there is a dog who might be aggressive, there is always a note on it’s cage.

It’s also smart to use common sense when you take a dog out of a cage.

I would never take one without having some control of it, a leash on it. That was just bad judgment on the part of the woman who was injured.

Next to get inbetween two dogs who are fighting is insane.

You can’t blame the animals for the mistakes of a human. You must use your common sense when working around animals, even your own.

By Jane

June 27, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

This is so unbelievable. I have never been involved with any organization, whether volunteer or paying job, that puts more emphasis on human safety than OPP. From the initial training to the ongoing communications to the constant reminders to “never interact with a dog that you are not comfortable with”, there should never be any question with volunteers as to what “not to do”. I assumed that all volunteers took the training and admonitions to heart. I know that I do and have never been requested or prodded to do otherwise - it’s quite the contrary. I would also never bring in an untrained volunteer.

Also, I actually read the volunteer agreement before I signed. I don’t know of one person there who is not aware that there is a risk. These are dogs, who in addition to being animals, have also been in, at best, questionable surroundings prior to being brought in to OPP. It would be amazing if there was not one who came in with some type of issue. In fact, it was a shock for me when I started volunteering to find almost all of them are loving and very docile in spite of all the cruel things that humans dream up to do to them.

“Full disclosure” doesn’t even begin to describe the dissemination of information regarding the handling and adoption of the dogs. I have to be diligent when I go, because I sometimes want to dive in and take a dog out. That’s when the phrase, “read the boards”, repeats over and over in my head. The training is clear – do not do anything without first doing that because situations can change from day to day. That message is on the volunteer board, the website and continually verbalized. I believe handling instructions for the dog in question here had changed and if the rules had been followed, the volunteer would know to act accordingly. Another thing that stuck with me, and that most people already know, is that the one thing you never put between two dogs fighting is yourself. I have repeated this to my family and friends because it is so important to remember not only at OPP, but anywhere. I have always been comfortable with Lexie (and still am) and never saw signs of anything. My son was her K-9 coach for a while and loved her.

Potential adopters are given the full background on a dog before anything else is discussed. OPP screens potential adopters with a great deal of scrutiny because these dogs have already been through so much. In contrast, you can go to many breeders, or through an internet site, and purchase a dog or puppy and have them know little or nothing about you. And yes, sometimes dogs are returned for various reasons including “sheds too much”, “gets too excited and wants to jump on us when we come home”, etc. The majority of dogs adopted stay in their home, however, and all but a couple of those who were returned have been successfully adopted to homes where people are dog savvy and understand the time and energy it takes to assimilate a new member into their family. At least OPP requires that adopters who no longer want a dog return it to OPP - an outcome which is far better than that for the many puppies that are purchased and then dropped off at animal control because they are too much trouble.

It’s ironic that the AJC.com has a story yesterday about owner give-ups and shelters. At a time when the need for places like OPP is at an all time high, it is a shame that the focus is on one incident that did not have to happen. I hope readers will understand the true motive behind this publicity and take this as an opportunity to educate themselves about places like OPP. As with anything, it’s not a perfect situation. If the question is whether no-kill shelters should exist, the answer I have is “absolutely!” Animal control locations across the country are overwhelmed and are forced to euthanize a staggering number of dogs and cats each week. If people could see what goes on, they might understand the need for rescue organizations like OPP, but frankly, most people don’t have the stomach for it. Thankfully, there are those who have chosen to try to do something.

The dogs at OPP are truly loved and given so much attention while they are there. As stated in one of the earlier posts, there are many dogs in homes today that do not get half the attention, outdoor time and playtime that those at OPP enjoy.

I have always admired the passion that the directors at OPP have for dogs and the commitment they have to making a difference and improving the horrible situation that exists here with abused and abandoned animals. I’m sure I cannot begin to know the hours and work they have given to keep OPP going. Most people just talk about how bad things are, but they are actually doing something and continue to do so as volunteers themselves in spite of the negatives. They have so much support and love from people who know the truth and who have no agenda other than sharing their love for these dogs and giving them the chance they deserve for a happy life.

Of course, there are many other causes (human and non-human) that are deserving of our time and money. People are free to donate and volunteer wherever they feel called to do so. For the people posting here who think that the money would be better spent elsewhere, I hope you are doing just that and contributing in a significant way to the causes you are passionate about. I know that most of the people at OPP do not limit their compassion to animals, but actively support (with their money and time) other endeavors as well. Talk is easy – getting out and doing something is the key.