Project Rescue

I have been AWOL for a little while here now that my house is ready for the contractor and then sale. Shortly after I finished with the required house improvements, I was contacted by a friend in the San Francisco Bay area who runs Akbash Rescue Int'l. She had been contacted by the woman who runs National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue out of Arizona. They needed someone in the Seattle area to assist with the rescue of two one year old male Akbash/Anatolian mixes. I said I would be happy to help. Little did I know...!

I wholeheartedly recommend being rescued!

The dogs were chained up on 6 foot chains on a property out in Duvall. The bitch, Sofia and her 9 pups had already been taken to foster in the tri-cities. In addition to the two males, Dias and Achilles, whom I was enlisted to help, there was another male, Ares on the property, two goats, a cat and some chickens. The owner of the property lost his left leg due to infection and it has been extremely difficult for him to care for the animals, his property and work. The owner, a Greek guy who is well, shall we say rather difficult, mildly misogynistic and hates cops, has been almost harder than the dogs to work with! However, underneath it all, he adores his animals despite their condition, they adore him and he knows that their current situation is not good and thus, although it is killing him, has agreed to give the dogs up.

What a healthy LGD *should* look like.

Dias and Achilles were extreme versions of LGD's when I first arrived. The owner feels very strongly about them being intact, doing what they were bred to do i.e. guard his property and being completely unsocialized with anyone but him. Thus the two rescue coordinators were unable to find a volunteer in our area who was willing to deal with the dogs as they were described as too aggressive. Although I have relatively little experience, I couldn't stand the thought of them out there on chains with no one to help them so I began going to the property each day for about 3 hours and worked intensively with the owner and the dogs in order to make them manageable and "handleable". I have learned a lot in the meantime which will no doubt help me for the next rescue.

As with the Polar Bear, I somehow skipped the middle part where you ease into something like this and ended up at an extreme end of things! There are so many complex issues involved with this rescue - the dogs, the owner's medical issues, code compliance issues on the property that threaten to have him kicked off completely, his refusal to give up Achilles whom we are still hoping to rescue etc. etc.

When I was first told of the situation, I envisioned a man who got a couple of cute, LGD puppies, got in way over his head not knowing the breed at all, bred them and then neglected them. On the contrary, the owner has a great deal of knowledge about the breed, dogs in general and how to handle them. Some of his beliefs are infuriating such as his utter refusal to ever neuter or spay but he knows his dogs and although their condition looks worse for the wear, he loves those dogs and I believe he goes without food etc. in order to buy food and the necessities for them so it wasn't as clear cut as I thought.

I have been working only with Dias for the most part since the owner is ready to relinquish him, he is easier than Achilles who is a very strong, dominant alpha dog and because Dias is very sick and needs immediate medical care so he has been my priority. In the 5 days I have gone out there, Dias has gone from barking, snapping and going berserk at the sight of me to my being able to walk him on leash, pet him, feed him from my hand and handle him in general. I am so attached to him already but alas, I simply cannot keep him.

A miracle occurred last night as we were all trying to figure out how to find Dias a good permanent home and get him vet care asap. A wonderful retired couple who live on the Olympic Peninsula, who have one female Anatolian and just lost their other one to old age, said they would love to take him. They have experience with LGD's, the time and the space for Dias. I am thrilled.

I will pick him up tonight and drive him to the ferry where we will cross the Sound and meet them on the Kingston side for him to go to his new home. They have already made a vet appointment for him tomorrow and his life is about to become so much better than it was.

We still have a long way to go in terms of getting all the other animals off the property but in this situation, I can only get anywhere with patience - both with the dogs and with the owner! Thank god for the Polar Bear who has taught me patience, to take it slowly and that underneath it all, just being scared is at the root of the dogs' and the owner's behavior!

This has been a trial by fire in terms of getting involved with rescue but there is no way I could have said no and been able to sleep at night.

Next week I see the doctor and then return to work. Thank god - a purpose in life once again!

Finally, an informal vote please. My never ending quest to find a new name for Baby has resulted in the following three names. Let me know what you think! Zulu; Saxon; Zeus. Vote!

Life in a new home makes me smile!