(no subject)

[furtech]

Today was spent at the "Best Friends Animal Society" adoption fair near LAX. The weather was overcast, but very muggy. This was my first time dedicated to the booth (as opposed to just stopping by) and I'm pooped. I ran dogs and did little things all day. BCR adopted out 8 dogs (!), including two at the -very- end of the event. They had a great bunch of dogs and I'm really happy that some of my favorites found new homes.



The brindle BC from Kingman? Adopted before the event! I have a good friend who has rescued another dog we'd found years ago and he took very doting care of her. He lost her last year and was ready for another dog. The two are bonding wonderfully and I'll even get to see him regularly! Officially he was adopted through BCR, so they got a freebie check for the adoption!

I discovered that I don't have the heart for fostering dogs: I was like a broody hen-- worried about everything -and- getting too attached to the foster dog. I'm going to stick with helping out BCR as a support guy. I discovered what I really enjoy doing: taking the adoptable dogs out for a walk/run at the booth. It makes me happy to see a dog's tail perk up and wag as they explore the rescue fair, meet people and dogs, sniff. There was an older female who had been snoozing in her cage: she came to life, tail finally up and wagging just to be led around outside the cages. And-- no bonding or responsibilities beyond the fair!


Note to self: do -not- look at rescue or training forums! Especially unmoderated or those supportive of ignorant views!

I made the mistake of poking into the message boards/forums hosted by the national group that organized the fair: Oh, man! There are nutcases in animal rescue! For instance, some woman started a group to eliminate sled dog races like the Iditarod! Like many loonies, her logic is flawed and her "facts" unverifiable or ignorant. And she's in *Florida*! Hey, lady-- why not look at your own parking meter and do something about the extremely high kill rate at your Miami shelters! Actually -adopt- a dog (or better yet-- a sled dog!) instead of leading a campaign of ignorance and hate.

While I'm glad that Best Friends holds these fairs, I'm not thrilled with their politics. Their forums are "moderated" but with a definite slant towards the bleeding heart/loony camp. Plus, this is the group (Best Friends) that has "vegetarian only" food vendors at these events. Yuck. Why not let us decide with our dollars? Still, because of this adoption fair, BCR adopted out -eight- dogs, so there's a good side to even this group.

Comments

[cooner.livejournal.com]

Yaaaay! Glad to hear Brindle-boy was rescued by someone good.

Hey, I know your time in the Bay Area is usually reserved for family and such, but if you ever have a couple hours free in the Campbell area, let me know. :D

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh...Campbell! Speed traps! The Pruneyard! The dogpark that washed into the creek! Plus, the -original- ToGo's and a great rib place (just west of 17 freeway, on Campbell Ave.).

[cooner.livejournal.com]

I bike to the Pruneyard all the time ... and downtown Campbell at Campbell Avenue and Central is just a few blocks / a 5-10 minute walk from our place. What's this rib place you speak of ...?

[foxfeather.livejournal.com]

I absolutely can't stand the animal rights people that spout all sorts of negative garbage and put so much time and effort into causes that are generally just backpedaling when it comes to actual animal welfare. They make me so, so angry.
If just a fraction of those PETA people and crazy activists would volunteer at the local shelters, work on placing animals, educating people, donating money to create more humane organizations in towns that desperately need them, more spay/neuter vans, etc - think how much good they can do! But instead they are out freeing lab rats, destroying scientific facilities, and throwing red paint on fur coats. : /
At the college I went to the local PETA chapter destroyed an entire lab area where they were doing alzheimers research - releasing hundreds of lab rats to starve/die on the streets around the campus. They trashed the computers and destroyed years worth of work. So, so sad. :

[waynekaa.livejournal.com]

You have to be careful, might end up with another few BC's if you get too attached.

[titanic.livejournal.com]

They keep hitting up Pierce RVT students to volunteer at those. The school gave them all our email addresses when we did our orientation at the shelter system without asking us it seems.

Since they got it from the school, Instead of one I willingly gave them, they got the one I actually use.