Two senior dogs in Miami urgently need rescue or adoption

/ Pamela Kramer / Leave a comment

While the brand new county shelter in Miami says it’s “no kill,” the numbers don’t reflect that. Those who work hard to network the dogs in the shelter have seen what happens to large dogs, bully breeds and senior dogs. In fact, right now there are two senior dogs at the shelter who volunteers are hoping will get pulled or adopted before they are killed for being “aggressive” or sick.

Both these senior dogs are black, which is an additional strike against them. Not only are black dogs the color of dogs most euthanized in shelters, older black dogs are almost impossible to get adopted.

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Volunteers heartbroken that two special dogs to be killed tomorrow at shelter

/ Pamela Kramer / 3 Comments
Karma with beautiful blue eyes
Cedes — sweet senior

Volunteers are desperate to save two dogs who are on the list to be killed tomorrow when their kennels are needed. Cedes is a sweet senior dog who appears to have had a difficult life with little love. Yet she is sweet and affectionate. The other dog, Karma, has known only love in her home. But when her owner fell and went into rehab, the foster who was keeping her brought her to the shelter when the owner was not able to take Karma back.

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‘Thieving Weasels’ by Billy Taylor: Young adult humorous con story

/ Pamela Kramer / Leave a comment

weasels

Billy Taylor’s young adult novel, “Thieving Weasels” is filled with humor, action, and lots of lies. It’s about a seventeen year old who was raised by a family of con artists. What Cam (the main character) makes painfully clear in the story is that his family was a uniquely unsuccessful group of con artists. They were, in fact, rather pathetic.

He has grown up with no stability, no sense of honor, and no pride in anything. He has learned to lie and steal and cheat, and he has learned that those abilities have been of primary importance to his family. So when he runs away from his family at thirteen and lies his way into a fancy boarding school, he decides to be the opposite of everything his family was, everything he has been taught. He learns that he likes doing things the honest way and earning the rewards that come through hard work. Cam has a girlfriend who, in spite of her wealthy background, loves him. He works hard to pay for school and has been accepted into Princeton.

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Young dog can’t stop shaking at shelter; he’s on the kill list for tomorrow morning

/ Pamela Kramer / 21 Comments

buster

Buster’s owner commented about him on his Facebook thread. She was heartbroken at giving him up (please, no negative comments). Here is what she wrote:

Buster was not surrendered for growling at a child – in fact he was never even in the vicinity of a child in his new home – the shelter notes are wrong. He was surrendered because he could not get along with our other dog. We tried everything we could for 5 months using positive reinforcement to break him of starting fights with our other dog – we even took them both to a trainer but Buster just would not quit – and most of it seemed to be him thinking he was protecting me which I read is a very common trait of a black mouth cur. I don’t know much about his history before me but his scars tell a story of abuse. He was terrified and shook the first few days he was with us too but warmed up and was house trained within a few weeks. He’s very smart and very loveable and it broke my heart to take him back Before you start with the insults please know that I sincerely love this dog and it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. My other dog is much larger and Buster always came out of the altercation with minor injuries – I wrote a nice note on the paperwork that was given to the shelter when he was brought in hoping someone would adopt him quickly. I miss him terribly but I don’t miss the dog fights – maybe he will do better with another dog – we have a third smaller dog he got along with just fine. I will gladly pay the adoption fees and/or make a cash donation to anyone willing to rescue my Buster and give him the loving home he deserves.

It’s great to know he didn’t growl at a child. He is a wonderful dog who gets along with smaller dogs and loves people. He did have some interest, but he is not out of the shelter yet.

Buster is terrified to be back at the county shelter again — and now he’s on the like to be killed tomorrow as soon as his kennel is needed. The volunteers are heartbroken. They fell in love with Buster when he was at the shelter originally.

When he was adopted, they were thrilled that this sweet, happy dog would have a loving home. He had come into the shelter with several other dogs and they noted then that he showed no aggression. Now, though, he can’t stop shaking.  Continue reading →

‘Full of Beans’ by Jennifer L. Holm: Historical fiction about a boy, the Depression and life on Key West

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beans

With “Full of Beans,” Jennifer L. Holm adds another entry to her collection of humorous, clever, and touching middle grade books. Beans is the colorful main character who lives with his family in Key West during the Great Depression. Beans and some of the other characters were first introduced in Holm’s award-winning “Turtle in Paradise.”

The year is 1934, and this is a Key West like no modern tourist would ever believe. Broken-down wooden shacks, rotting garbage  in the streets, bankruptcy, shysters, smugglers, and barefoot kids abound when President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal comes to town.

Men in their underwear (according to Beans who had never seen white Bermuda shorts before — apparently the rage during that time) roam the streets of Key West trying to convince the residents to donate their services to make the island touristy.

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‘Behind Closed Doors’: the perfect marriage isn’t what it seems

/ Pamela Kramer / Leave a comment

behind doors

In “Behind Closed Doors” by B. A. Paris, the reader gets a glimpse into a perfect marriage. At least for the first few chapters. Grace seems to have it all — a very handsome, successful husband, a lovely home, a perfect figure, and the ability to cook flawless meals.

Told in alternating voices by Grace in the present and the past, readers slowly learn about how Grace first fell in love with Jack, and how Jack charmed Grace and her sister, Millie, who has Down’s Syndrome. Paris’ writing is also perfect — picture perfect in the carefully chosen words that only hint at first at the cruelty and malevolence that are slowly  revealed as the plot unfolds. Continue reading →

‘Against All Silence: An SOS Thriller’ by E. C. Meyers

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against all silence

“Against All Silence” by E. C. Meyers is the sequel to “The Silence of Six,” and both novels are young adult thrillers that will enthrall techie readers and non-techie readers alike.

In this sequel, main character Max Stein is just leaving Paris when he gets a message from his co-conspirator and sometimes-girlfriend Penny that he needs to go to Berlin. When he gets there, he becomes enmeshed in a global conspiracy that only he and Penny can bring down.

But when his ideals and Penny’s ideals part ways, what’s going to happen? Adaptive Books, the publisher, “…repurposes abandoned movie scripts into books” (according to Publisher’s Weekly) and in “Against All Silence,” as in “The Silence of Six,” one can visualize the non-stop action as if it were a movie. The action never ends, and Meyers includes several twists to make the story even more involving.  Continue reading →

Sweet Baloo on the kill list for tomorrow

/ Pamela Kramer

baloo

Volunteers at Rescue Me Tampa are begging for someone to help Baloo and seven other dogs who are all on the kill list for tomorrow in Tampa, Florida. The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center is an open access county shelter, so when they run out of space, difficult decisions must be made.

Some of the dogs in danger are in isolation because they have an upper respiratory infection (URI), basically a doggy cold. Because space is extremely limited in the isolation wing, those dogs are killed when another dog needs their kennel. Baloo is going to die when his kennel is needed, unless someone steps up to adopt him or offer to foster him for ten days. Just a ten day foster, someone opening up their home for ten days, would save Baloo’s life.

True he would go back to the shelter and into a regular kennel, but he’d have more time and a better chance of getting adopted. The volunteers say that Baloo is very friendly and very rambunctious. That makes sense as he is only one year old — almost still a puppy!

Once Baloo ran a bit and was able to shake off the excess energy from being cooped up in a kennel, he lay next to the volunteer and relaxed. They said about him, “Awesome guy!” He may know basic obedience commands as he did sit on command.

There is more information on how to rescue Baloo on his Facebook thread. He is heartworm negative and ready to be adopted. He is ID#A1655846.

dogs in dangerFive other dogs, Thunderbird (ID#A1655477), Cooper (ID#A1651867), Bella, a small two-year-old bulldog mix, Becky (ID#A1653352) and Tiny (ID#A1653484), a one-year-old bloodhound mix, are also on the kill list.

To save Baloo’s life or any of the other dogs’ lives, you must send an email to the shelter by 9:00 am tomorrow morning. Email rescuepets@hillsboroughcounty.org and rescuemetampa@yahoo.com. Make the subject: DO NOT EUTH Baloo ID#A1655846. Include your contact information in the body of the email. You must be willing to pick him up by 3:00 pm.

They are at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center, 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619. The phone number is 813-744-5660. The shelter is open daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Please note: Only comments that are respectful and profanity-free will be approved.

‘Sorrow Road’ by Julia Keller: Mystery continues Acker’s Gap story

/ Pamela Kramer / Leave a comment

sorrow roadJulia Keller’s “Sorrow Road” continues the story of Bell Elkins, the feisty, wise, strong-willed district attorney for Raythune County, and Acker’s Gap, where the county courthouse is and where Bell Elkins lives. It’s a small West Virginia town in the middle of coal country, and it’s where she grew up.

Bell is a charismatic protagonist, and Keller gives her great depth of character and great strength. But at the same time, Bell is vulnerable. She makes mistakes like the rest of us, and when it comes to mothering her now-adult daughter, she is as insecure about her decisions as anyone.

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Why are dogs still hidden at the old Miami-Dade shelter?

/ Pamela Kramer / 9 Comments
hex pic killed mdas

Hex, killed at this “no kill” shelter. Not aggressive, not in isolation. Why was he killed?

Why are dogs still hidden at the old Miami Dade Animal Services building? Why have they not made the move to the new, air conditioned building as the other dogs did? Why do those in charge refuse to give a list of dogs left at the old shelter or what their disposition will be? Volunteers fear the worst.

It’s been two-and-one-half months since Miami Dade Animal Services had their grand opening, replete with politicians and county employees grinning and showing off the new facility. However, what no one talked about were the dogs who were left in the heat at the old shelter. Those dogs had no way of being seen by the public. Some had pictures on PetHarbor, if people knew to look there. Others, like Olga, didn’t even merit a picture on her PetHarbor page. Olga entered the shelter system after the new shelter opened, but for some reason, she seems to have been stuck in the old shelter where there is no hope she will be seen or rescued. (See “Dog unavailable at new Miami shelter; is she at the old shelter and why?“)

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Dog unavailable at new Miami shelter; is she at the old shelter and why?

/ Pamela Kramer / 3 Comments

olga

A beautiful dog, listed as a mastiff mix, arrived at Miami Dade Animal Services on June 17, 2016. Although the new shelter had been opened, somehow Olga ended up at the old shelter. Yesterday, August 19, that was confirmed by a poster on Facebook who wrote:

Just confirmed Olga is in old facility!

Volunteers are angry that although this dog — labeled by the veterinarian who treated her as “very sweet,” — has been at the shelter for over two months, she still does not even have a picture on her PetHarbor page.

And while her information is on PetHarbor without a picture, when a volunteer inquired about her, she was told that Olga is unavailable. The shelter email stated:

Good morning,

Thank you for showing interest in Olga (A1792731) she’s is currently unavailable now. A copy of your email will be noted in her profile. See attachment for medical.

Thank you,

Pets

Olga had arrived at the shelter very underweight. However, in two months she must have made progress and should be available for rescue at the minimum. There is interest in Olga. The shelter is not responding. Olga does not seem to be at the new shelter. The big question is: Why? Continue reading →

Miami -Dade County to Chicago and loving homes: Four dogs’ stories

/ Pamela Kramer / 2 Comments
minni3 in cara

Minnie sleeps on the floor of the front seat on the trip to Chicago

 

When I planned a driving trip to Florida in July to visit two of the largest shelters in the state, feed dogs in the Redland area of Miami, and rescue three to four dogs, no one — least of all me — knew what we would be taking back with us to Chicago. A good friend — a retired teacher — who was very involved in cat rescue agreed to go with me on the journey.

Even a week before the trip, after the jugs of water had been purchased, after the crates had been set up in the minivan to make sure they fit, after the lists had been made, it was a question as to which dogs would be returning with us.

One lucky dog, Ebbe, had already been pulled from Miami Dade Animal Services. Sara, the ebbe adirabkeoffice manager for the veterinarian for Placing Paws Rescue of Libertyville (which was offering to sponsor the dogs), happened to see Ebbe’s picture online. Something about the picture tugged at Sara’s heartstrings. She showed Ebbe’s picture to Christie, one of the founders of Placing Paws of Libertyville, and said, “I’d love to foster this girl.” Then she realized that Ebbe was at Miami Dade Animal Services. “Oh, no. She’s in Florida,” Sara said, not realizing that one of the group’s foster families was planning the trip. Placing Paws said not to worry — they’d get Ebbe.

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