I was asked to write about a current situation going on here in Philadelphia but that also happens all over the world. On March 29th, a local woman named April had her worst nightmare come true – she was evicted from her home of 42 years with 20 of her best friends. 20 cats, all 5 years old and younger. April had lived in this home all of her life and she inherited the home after both of her parents’ passing, leaving April stuck on how to pay the mortgage and taxes since her only income is a monthly disability check. April is 57 years old but her mental capacity has been labeled as “immature”.
The story of how she acquired the large amount of cats is a common one: One pregnant cat. One pregnant cat she had found had a litter, and the cats started to multiply until she finally was able to realize that it needed to stop. She was able to get all of the cats spayed/neutered and up to date on their vaccines, even taking on more cats from four people that were going to dump them. Of the 20 cats, there are only 3 left that need to be spayed/neutered and they will be having that done next week (appointments are already made).
When this many cats are involved, the authorities get involved and in the recent past they have been out to the home April shared with the cats. The officer stated the home was clean, the cats were healthy and this wasn’t a case of neglect or cruelty, as April took amazing care of all of the cats. She fed them home cooked chicken, carrots and celery and whether you agree or not, she allowed them to go outdoors during the day time because she believed they loved the sun and fresh air and they would come inside at night.
Yesterday, with no place to go, April loaded her cats onto a rented U-Haul truck until she could find help. She was given the option of surrendering her cats to Animal Control (ACCT Philly) or PSPCA but she fears they will be euthanized and doesn’t want that to happen. What she is looking for is a sanctuary-type placement, where the cats will be together and taken care of. (Generally, if a sanctuary accepts a large amount of animals, they require a heavy fee.) The shelter workers offered to assist in placing all of the cats into local rescue partners but with her limited mental capacity, she can’t see that it is the best option and refuses. Also, most of the cats only know April and are under socialized with other people so a barn or farm life would be ideal for them. A local couple generously paid for a room in a motel for a few days, to give the people helping her time to find placement for the cats, or, to get her to surrender them to the shelter, and find her the mental and physical care she needs.
According to The Mayo Clinic ” Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items.” So, the thought of April getting rid of her cats is causing her severe emotional stress that she needs some assistance in dealing with. Once all of her cats find a safe place, April can then take care of herself. As of this writing, April is still in the Motel room and the bank that evicted her paid for a storage unit for her belongings, but next month’s rent for that will be $188. These cats need a barn/farm, sanctuary or rescue as a group and April needs a social worker to help her navigate the new life she will have without them. This is what the community is trying to help her acquire.
6 years and 4 months = the limited amount of time I got to spend with my Caesar. I’ve been off of social media because talking about losing him hurts. I imagine this is partly what hell feels like. I’ve been able to look at photos and smile so I think now is the time to tell our story.
Rewind to November 2011.
I was distraught over the end of a relationship and the realization that
I needed to change some things in my life to be a better person as I just
wasn’t happy. I had to take a long look
at myself, I finally had seen what everyone else had seen for years but never
said: You need help. So I hiked up my
big girl panties, went to therapy and got myself on anti-depressants. I had
finally become a better person but something was missing. Enter November of 2012.
In 2012 A friend of mine had became a volunteer at Philly’s only open-intake shelter (at the time, the live release rate was only 63%). I learned of the shelter, ACCT Philly and of the social media page where they showed off all of the great dogs & cats there (That page is still up and active at https://www.facebook.com/phillyurgents/). There were a few dogs that caught my eye on that page (Yoshi, who ended up being adopted by a friend’s friend who I am now friends with) but only one that I went to meet in person. A thin black pit bull with dandruff named Caesar. He was surrendered with another dog and allegedly 4 years old. “I am just going to look and meet him, that’s all”. What happened after that was the best 6 years and 4 months of my life. I never knew I needed him, until I had him.
Caesar’s photo on Philly Urgents Page on Facebook
My daughter (she was 8 at the time, about to turn 9) talked me into adopting him that day, despite him not paying any real attention to us in the play yard. He wanted to sniff things. I don’t even think I was one of the things he sniffed. But, there was something about him and so we took him home that day because he was neutered already. We piled into the car (Me, my daughter, my friend & her daughter) and this dog that paid us no attention was soon smothering them with so many kisses they could barely breathe. Every day since it’s been like that, I could barely breathe because despite his 68lb size, he was a lap dog. There was never a day until the week before he passed when he wasn’t on top of me sitting, laying, snoozing or gazing up at me. No matter the size of the chair, that boy was on my lap. I liked to think of him as my personal weighted blanket, only this one came with drool, chewed food that somehow always ended up on my legs and more often than I like to admit, anal glad juice. YUCK lol!
My mental health was getting better and he didn’t even know that he was the reason why. The days I didn’t want to get out of bed, I HAD to so he wouldn’t go potty on my cream carpets. We didn’t have a yard at the apartment so we went on walks, which made the start to each day a little bit better, more and more, each day. The fresh air, the bouncy dog who had to sniff the world out and twirl 5-6 times to perfect his poo stance, the look of gratitude in his face – this made me happy and made me feel alive. Since day one he never left my side. While in the bathroom if he wasn’t sitting in front of me, he would sit outside the door in the hallway with his tail swinging back & forth under the door. When he heard the flush he’d barge back in ( His nose could basically open any door). I walked to the kitchen from the sofa, never more than a few feet away, he would hop off the couch and stand next to me, or sit behind me while cooking, always watching my back.
Caesar Smiles
Always watching my back
We spent the following years learning that he was a nervous Nellie and would go belly-up at the sound of any stern voice while trickling pee, scared of leaves blowing in the wind, people walking outside, even bananas. Yes, bananas. He was over-protective of his mama and didn’t let anyone near me without him being right in the middle. He was never aggressive about it at home but sure did make his feelings known that I was his and his alone (hello resource guarding!). We would crate him when we had company, but we slowly stopped allowing people to come over because he didn’t like strangers in the house, crated or not. I am a lone wolf of sorts, so I was fine with that (my daughter, not so much). He wasn’t a fan of other animals around us either, so he had to be the only pet in the home. He was terrified of fireworks so I stopped leaving the house on July 4th and New Years Eve because I’d never let him sit in fear alone. At first he would hide under tables but the last few years he came to me for comfort. Despite his special quirks we were still able to go to the park and take long walks because I knew his limits, understood his needs and always maintained his and others’ safety at all times. He still lived a life of a King.
Video: Caesar vs Banana
Caesar loved to play fetch. When we lived in an apartment with no yard we would open the back bedroom door and throw the ball while standing from the front window, giving him ample space to run back and forth until we got tired of throwing the ball. He was smart enough to know that no teeth were allowed (to touch skin) when playing tug, but he never did learn that using his paws was also cheating, so he usually won. When not playing with toys and killing squeakies, Caesar was likely being dressed up by myself or my daughter. This boy literally let us do anything to him and with him, he was a good boy like that. I’d buy frozen marrow bones for him because he LOVED them as a special treat and this boy was so smart that he would stand it up in a shoe so he didn’t have to hold it with his paws. Seriously. Dinner time was his favorite because he knew that our meal went as follows: A bite for me, A bite for Caesar, A bite for Caesar, A bite for Caesar, A bite for me. Every year on his Gotcha day he would get a doggie cake because, why not?
Caesar came to us knowing his commands already and we worked on them all the time so he never forgot the basics and he was so smart! He loved the training treats (hot dogs, actually) so working for them was a great time for him and his never ending belly. The belly that survived mouse poison, bars and bars of body soap, soap boxes, toothpaste, used tissues, gum, chapstick (many, many chapsticks), grass, dog beds, tennis balls, Kong toys (nothing was too tough for his chompers), and so much more. That belly of his and what came out of it basically paid the salary of the pee-pad CEO. So. Many. Pee. Pads. This never subsided and his belly was always sensitive, almost as sensitive as his soul was. We got his DNA done via Wisdom Panel (here: https://amzn.to/2U3PThK ) and found out that our boy was a PUREBRED! From a shelter! His DNA came back as 100% American Staffordshire Terrier! (and we finally realized that he was likely 9 years old despite not graying anywhere except between his toes. Weird, right? So when I adopted him he was closer to 1 than 4!)
He liked people to think he was this big scary beast, and in the right circumstances he could be (if someone was hurting us) but at home, with us, he was never anything but sweet, dopey and loving. He didn’t like rain or snow and would never poop outside in that weather, but, do you blame him? He didn’t like outsiders, just like his mama. Caesar knew nothing about personal space and he needed to be touching someone at all times, which is pretty funny thinking back because I hate being touched but I, too, needed to always be touching him. Deep down he knew exactly what I needed, usually when even I didn’t know. If I came home from a bad day and went right to bed, who came right behind me? Caesar. He knew on those days I didn’t want to cuddle and so he wouldn’t try to unless I called him up to my face. He would lay down at/on my legs until I got up. No words were ever used to tell him what I needed, he just knew. When my daughter would be home sick, he would be right by her side even if she didn’t like it too much.
I always let him sleep in my bed, from day one (well, HE decided it, I just played along). Every night though he had a ritual where he would excessively lick my face for 15-20 minutes, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, until he got tired and went to sleep. This went on for years and only stopped in the last year or two. I don’t know why he did it and never learned how to get him to stop. I would give anything to have that again. Anytime I would say “I Love You” he give me a kiss (see video below). If I spent the night away I would FaceTime my brother so I could see him-the dog, not the brother. Caesar would just gaze up at me, for hours, with love in his eyes. He always knew when I was almost home too, every day no matter where I was coming from, whether it was work and a routine or a random outing on a weekend, he would run to the back door and 5 minutes later I would be there. It’s like he could smell me, or hear my car coming from 2 blocks over. The last few weeks he stopped greeting me at the door but would be waiting on the couch for me instead.
Video: I Love You = Kisses
Caesar was the comforter of the house. And at this time when we need the most
comfort, he’s not here. Watching the
dog who came to you, with a purpose yet to be recognized, slowly fade away is
the most heart wrenching thing I have ever experienced. My vibrant, bouncy boy slowed down gradually,
over months until he just couldn’t anymore. I literally watched the light leave his eyes,
when his body turned against him and wasn’t his own anymore. I told him that he could sleep now without
anyone trying to make him get up, that he was going to be at peace and not hurt
ever again. He stared at me and I
believe deep in my heart that he knew I was helping him, not hurting him,
despite what my mind was saying. I
pressed my nose to his nose and felt his last rush of air come out. I physically
and spiritually felt my baby boy leave this world. I don’t think there is a way one can ever
‘get over’ something like that.
And so I’m left to mourn him, because his loss was a huge one. One I won’t ever fully recover from. It’s been a few days and I still say good morning and good night to him, calling him Boo-Boo as I always did. I wake up and still look down the steps to see if he left a surprise where the pee pads used to be. Every morning I feel like I’m forgetting something, because feeding him, taking him out and snuggling him before work is no longer my routine. I come in the door and still say ‘Hi Boo-Boo’, as if he’s laying there on the sofa. Maybe he is, who knows. It’s weird to eat and not have him to share it with, or to give the crusts to, or to sit on the sofa and not have his head on me, for my hands to not have a warm body to pet. It’s weird and uncomfortable, this new life of mine without him in it. It’s like I forget how to be me, how to do the daily things I am used to. I’m lost. Numb and lost. My home used to be my favorite place to be, but without him there, I hate being home.
The house is empty without him now
With all of the sadness though, I have an AMAZING wall of support behind me, carrying me on their shoulders since I can’t walk on my own yet. From text messages (people know not to call me, I hate phone calls), to Facebook messages, to bouquets, to cards, to chimes that I run my fingers through often to replace the sounds of his footsteps on my hard wood floors, to the prayers and strength and the reminders of the lives SAVED because of Caesar, I will be able to get through this. I’ve been reminded many times that I started volunteering at the shelter after adopting Caesar, because I wanted to help other dogs find a home like he did with me. Because of that, because of Caesar, countless numbers of dogs went on to get adopted into great homes and I was even lucky enough to make friends with some of the adopters of my favorite shelter pups. Because of him, I made amazing friends in the volunteers and rescues that work as hard or harder to give every dog the life Caesar had. All of this because I adopted an unwanted thin black dog from the shelter. So now and in the future, I will always remember the good that came to other dogs’ lives and my own life, because of Caesar. I love you Caesar, aka Julius Caesar McGeezer , aka Boo Boo, aka Boo Boos, aka My Best Man.
Happy March ya’ll! It’s finally getting closer to spring and do you know what happens in spring? People open their doors and windows to let some fresh air in….and their pets out! We’re all about pets having some fun in the sun but when it comes to pets that aren’t spayed or neutered, this can become troublesome. Why, you ask? Let’s see…
DID YOU KNOW Male dogs and cats that are not neutered will travel long distances to seek out females in heat to breed? They’re animals, they don’t know that they don’t need to be knocking up every Betty and Sally they meet, they just know they need to go explore. What does this lead to (besides unwanted litters)? Lost pets and over population.
DID YOU KNOW Female dogs and cats that aren’t spayed can end up with a SEVERE uterine infection called Pyometra? Pyometra is an infection in the uterus where the uterus fills with pus – it is a serious and dangerous condition. To see what it looks like, click here (Warning: Graphic image) To learn the specifics, I recommend this article.
DID YOU KNOW the most common animals that come into the shelter here in Philly are dogs and cats that are NOT spayed or neutered? Performing spay/neuter surgeries in this city is one HUGE step to preventing the over-crowding in shelters and the euthanizing of unwanted pets.
And now the good news: This April, the Ian Somerhalder Spay/Neuter Foundation’s Spay/Neuter program is coming to Philadelphia, led by our very own Harley’s Haven Animal Rescue!!! What does this mean? It means that dogs and cats in Philadelphia can get FREE vet care including spay/neuter, vaccines, clinic care, flea/tick preventatives,microchips (courtesy of ACCT Philly), food, leashes, collars and more! Do you know how amazing this is!? The clinic will be held in Philadelphia on April 13th & April 14th (physical location to be announced shortly).
We could use all of the help we can get, so if you know anyone that can provide some donations to assist
Here is a letter from Harley’s Haven’s founder, Dr. Beth Mehaffey:
Not sure where to look to purchase items? Chewy.com and Amazon.com are great places start Popular Dog and Cat Supplies . So, can you help us serve the animals of Philadelphia? Let us know via email at phillyadopt@gmail.com or directly contact Harley’s Haven at the info provided above! For some examples of products needed, see below.
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
Winter in Philly is always a tough time in animal welfare. The amount of dogs that live outside without proper shelter is too high and the people that try to get them the help they need are slim. In doing this for years, in and out of the shelter itself, I have come to notice that too many people want to blast on social media & call authorities that this dog is outside, that dog doesn’t have shelter and that “someone needs to do something”! Well, as the title states, aren’t YOU someone?
It’s no secret that the amount of Animal Control Officers (ACOs) at Acct Philly and Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) officers at PSPCA are severely understaffed and overworked. But, do you know what doesn’t help make their job any easier? Sharing photos and locations of animals outside from 2-3 days prior. Helping isn’t giving old information a new spotlight. Helping is giving authorities REAL-TIME information. Not sure if a dog is still outside? Hop in your car and take a drive to look, snap a photo if so, THEN send it to authorities. Sending officers on wild goose chases for posts you have seen that have been shared but you don’t know if the animal is still out there is a waste of everyone’s time. When something isn’t being done, then sure, use social media to make the situation aware but once you have an update that it’s being worked on, don’t fault the officers that they can only do what’s in line with the current laws.
So to be the someone that does something, here are some helpful tips & facts to make things go a lot easier and waste less valuable time:
PSPCA Humane Law Enforcement Officers: Enforce cruelty & neglect laws under authority granted by PA state statute 22 Pa.C.S.A. § 3701 – 3718: Serve as officers under authority granted by state statute to enforce PA Crimes Code: Section 5511, which deals with cruelty to animals (see below images for clarification)
ACCT Philly Animal Control Officers: Respond to animal ordinance complaints, including dogs at large, injured animals, dirty yards (excessive fecal matter), barking dog noise complaints, farm animals in city, carriage horse conditions and enforcing the Code Blue/Red ordinance by issuing citations and/or warnings.
PSPCA Recap: When you see an animal outside without proper shelter, food, water,extreme abuse/neglect document photos/dates/time and if weather is severe, temperatures, and send to PSPCA Cruelty online, via email or phone call. Emails (with photos/videos) should be sent to cruelty@pspca.org, calls made to 866/601-7722, online here: https://www.pspca.org/cruelty
ACCT Philly Recap: When you see a stray dog & can’t hold bring them to shelter yourself, try to confine them to a closed yard/lot so ACO’s can easily find them (if it’s safe to do so) and call 267/385-3800 option 1 for emergencies, ext. 700 for less serious matters (dirty yards etc), online at http://www.acctphilly.org/programs/animal-ordinance-complaints/
Happy New Year Ya’ll! Like most everyone else I am hoping for a great 2019 for ACCT Philly and so far it’s going in the right direction. Actually, it’s been headed in the right direction since the inception of the new Executive Director, Susan Russell, came aboard in Late October! Not even a full 3 months in and she has already turned the shelter into a place that we haven’t seen in a few years.
Susan comes to us from Chicago and while the staff, rescues & volunteers she left behind there were extremely sad to see her go, it makes us even more glad to have her here – we needed someone like her. In the animal rescue world, you want a leader that knows how to get dirty, knows the animals names and stories and cares about the people on the other end of the leash. ACCT Philly has that now. When not working in her office (with a pup, sometimes), she’s out walking dogs, taking the time to know and care for the animals and meet with the people who love them to discuss ways to help ACCT Philly improve. She listens. She cares. She wants and graciously accepts help from volunteers, rescues and staff because she knows it’s not supposed to be us vs. them like the previous reign turned it in to. We’re all in it for the same reasons, on the same team and with Susan taking the lead, we WILL succeed, together.
Thanks to Susan, I am beyond thrilled to announce that my volunteer ban has been lifted and I can resume volunteering right where I left off (after a small orientation to go over any new policies in my absence). If you know me, you know just how important it is to me to save all the dogs and cats that can be saved, to love the ones that can’t be and to find the ones that are lost. Having met with her and the interim Director of Operations, I am now confident that more pets will be reunited with their owners, more volunteers will hop on the volunteer train and less animals will be entering the shelter. Great things are in the works and I am thrilled to be a part of it.
If you want to join the team of volunteers, staff, become a rescue partner or just to learn more, here are some links to help you:
It’s Christmas time, the time when you want to buy the best present for everyone you love and for some people, that present is a pet. Mom sees on her child’s list to Santa that Bobby wants a dog for Christmas, one he can play with using the baseballs & glove he’s also asking for (Fetch, of course). Dad sees that Shannon wants a cat to fit in the purse she got for her birthday last month, so she can be like those girls she sees on TV! Great, let’s go shopping for them! Shopping? No. No.
To me, adopting a pet (because…google puppy mills, that’s where the dog you found online & bought came from) is a life commitment, not a present. A pet is something that lives, breathes and needs 24/7 care just like a toddler does, sometimes even more (puppies are a**holes). So when Johnny Joe says he NEEDS a pet, it’s the only thing he’s ever wanted (despite 27 other items on his Christmas list), I hope that the parent takes a step back and really thinks about what adopting a pet really entails. SPOILER ALERT: It’s more than a Christmas Morning photo-op for social media. It’s pee on your cream carpets, it’s chewed up heels, it’s barking at 2am just because, it’s hair ALL over your house, it’s hidden bones in the couch…it’s a hot mess.
‘The cat did it.’
Now, I am not 100% against the idea of bringing a pet home as a Christmas gift. I actually do know people who have adopted a pet as a Christmas present, so, as long as there has been deep thought about it and it’s been discussed with the other household members who will also be a part in that pet’s life, then please – DO save a life. Good animal parents know and welcome the responsibility that will possibly fall on them when Tammy doesn’t want to pick up the poop anymore from the litter box, Gerry forgets to fill the dog’s food bowl or Kim doesn’t like changing her Iguana’s water dish.
Pets are a costly lifetime commitment, whether it’s a 3 week life span for the goldfish ( I have never been able to keep them alive for longer than a month, RIP Goldie), or a 13 year life for that cute puppy or 20 years for that purse cat – animals will be around for a long, long time. Pets need food, medicine, surprise emergency medical bills when your cat-like dog tries to jump off the sofa, habitats, constant care and nurturing. So before you get that homeless shelter dog/cat/reptile/fish/rat etc (Adopt-Don’t Shop, of course), be sure you are also thinking about that animal’s well being and what will happen if your family decides maybe a pet wasn’t the best idea. What happens to that pet?
Here in Philly, a lot of times that pet ends up surrendered to the overflowing shelter. The shelter that has had surrenders out the wazoo in the month leading up to the holidays because the owner was travelling and can’t bring the dog, they adopted for their kid who isn’t taking care of the pet, the dog is old and the family wants a new, young dog or sometimes, sadly, the person lets the animal loose outside just because they don’t want it anymore. My experience as a shelter volunteer has shown me the previous examples, they are true events, they have happened and will continue to happen.
Every action has consequences and adopting a pet for a present can be one of the most amazing experiences ever, having your child grow up with a loved pet, teaching them how to care and love a living soul, how to be responsible. I hope for that with every adopted Christmas present. I hope it’s a thought-out process and done with love and the want/need to save a life and to have a lifelong companion. If it’s not, then maybe Bobby doesn’t need that dog to play fetch with, does he?
If you have adopted a pet and problems have arisen,help is out there, you just have to ask! Feel free to message us and we’ll send you some great resources to help!
If you know me, then you know my favorite dogs are black dogs. I may be biased because my Caesar is black but there is just something so amazing about black dogs (at least to me). Obviously a dog’s color doesn’t affect his personality but from my experience of a volunteering at the local animal shelter, black dogs are just total goobers. Despite MY love of all the black dogs (cats too, love black cats!), there is allegedly a thing called “Black Dog Syndrome” in shelters across America.
This “syndrome” states that dark colored animals are harder to get adopted, although, there is no actual scientific data that I have found that states that to be such a thing. True or not and coincidentally, there are a large number of black dogs at our local shelter, ACCT Philly, RIGHT NOW! SO, to end the Black Dog Syndrome ideology, I am highlighting these amazing, ADOPTABLE, dogs currently at ACCT Philly in Philadelphia to show you there is nothing wrong with black dogs! Let’s go!
Korey – A39764119
This sweet, friendly boy is Korey. He’s about 4yo and a skinny 55 lbs. Korey is very affectionate, loves to give kisses and will sit on his hind legs for treats..😍 He is easy to walk and likes to be invited to playgroup where he can socialize with his shelter buddies. Korey is a gem that’s been hiding in plain sight for way too long. Come meet this boy, he’d be a wonderful addition to any family.
Ace A40074841 3 year old male
Playtime is the name of the game for happy boy Ace. He is easy to walk, takes treats nicely and is very affectionate also. Ace would love a home with a yard where he can chase tennis balls, fling rope toys and play with his new family. This fun loving boy will bring a smile to your face….and he’s cute as a button too!
Elroy (39621908)
This handsome boy is easy to walk, super cute, and wants nothing more in life than to be your friend! He’s a playful pup who loves to chase balls around the yard. He’s also pretty smart too! Elroy know the “sit” command and takes treats very gently. Please come and see this guy today! The shelter is packed with wonderful dogs and cats who need you.
Sanderson – A40127946
This handsome fella is Sanderson, a 3+/- yo , large black beauty. Pretty strong on leash, Sanderson got into a nice walking pace as we explored the great outdoors. He is somewhat shy and needs a little time to warm up. After 10 mins or so, he was happy to take treats and enjoyed a nice butt scratch. Want this boy for your very own? Sanderson is patiently waiting for his forever family so come down and meet him today.
Daisy A39243332
Daisy has found herself back at the shelter through no fault of her own as her recent adopter stated he has no time for her. But he had wonderful things to say about this 8 y/o lady from her time in his home. She is described as calm, quite, affectionate, playful, good with other dogs, good with strangers and walks well on a leash. Daisy is also happy to share her toys so could probably go to a home with children. Can you give this sweet girl the true forever home she deserves? Please come meet Daisy today!!
Billy (A39973588)
Are you looking for that perfect tall, dark and handsome guy? Well, you are in luck! Let me introduce you to Billy (A39973588). Billy is a young guy who came in as a stray and isn’t telling us about his past. However, he has all of the volunteers swooning over him already! Billy is quite the gentleman, he walks nicely on his leash, takes treats gently and politely says hi to everyone who passes. He will give you the most adorable head tilt when he doesn’t understand what you are saying. Want to find out more or meet this amazing boy? You can find him at Acct Philly!
Miss Marble – A40142610
Miss Marble (4 years old) was a little hesitant to approach us, but was very easy to leash and get moving out of her kennel. She enjoyed the sunshine of the outdoors and brightened up meeting a few dogs through the fence. For each meet she stayed loose and offered licks through the fence. She was nervous with handling and did not solicit pets from us, but did choose to hang out alongside us for periods of time out in the yard. She’s still adjusting to our chaotic environment, but it seems like there’s a sweet girl waiting to come out!
CHAR – A40038733 1-2 year old male
Kayleb A39804613 3 year old male
Chongo – 40196451 1 year old male
Rosemary – A40120133 1 year old female
As of today, 11/20/2018, All of these dogs are available for Adoption / Foster / Rescue through Acct Philly, 111 West Hunting Park Avenue, Phila.,PA 19140 – 1pm-8pm M-F and 10am-5pm Weekends! PLUS the shelter is having a Black Friday Special – So what are you waiting for?
UPDATE: We were just informed that thanks to the amazing generosity of Philadoptables (we’ll blog about them later!), every rescue that pulls an animal from ACCT Philly into their rescue, will be entered to win $1000 to help with their medical bills! How amazing is that! And if you pull an animal that has been at the shelter for 1.5 months or more, you’ll get entered to win the $1000 twice!
It’s no secret that the Philly shelter is ALWAYS overflowing with lost and unwanted pets. Recently an idea was thrown out by the new Executive Director that if every rescue took just one animal, the shelter would have a chance to breathe! So, Fox 29’s Lucy Noland, along with local dog rescue Diamonds in the Ruff dog rescue, have started PROJECT SAVE ONE! This initiative asks every approved rescue to come down to the ACCT Philly shelter and pull one dog or cat into their rescue, like the ones posted below!
11 year old Robert
8 year old Daisy
If you want to join this new initiative and help Philly’s animals (and shelter), come to ACCT Philly at 2:00pm Saturday, November 17, 2018.
We need all the help we can get to help these animals, so this is a great start! Want to help by fostering or adopting? Come on down to the shelter 7 days a week! Got any ideas to help clear the shelters, let us know! When we all work together, we can accomplish anything.
Today is Election Day and while most people (hopefully) get out and cast their votes, there’s one more candidate I want you to meet: Dakota! This beauty is a homeless dog living in the packed shelter, ACCT Philly, who luckily has two best friends to help her along her way until a loving family votes her into their home, they’re called Pen Pals. Recently, Dakota and her human friend went on a date to get out of the shelter for a few hours and have some McDonalds. Her friend took some video and Dakota has since wrote a poem about it – check them out below!
Rainy Days and Mondays By Dakota
I sit in my kennel, the rain falls outside. I look around at where I am and wonder where I can hide. I’m hoping for a friend today, someone to spend some time, waking with me, side by side, Just two along for the ride.
I see her now, she calls my name, I think she’s here for me. I slip on the leash, I give a kiss, Yahoo! I’m out….I’m free!
We jump in the car, it’s such a thrill. I think we’re on our way. I wonder where we’re heading. This sure became a fun day!
I see two yellow arches and bright lights up ahead. I smell some really yummy stuff I think “Cheeseburger and fries” is what she said.
What’s in the bag? That brown thing there. It smells like something good. And it sure doesn’t taste like that stuff they call dog food.
The fries are warm and salty, the burger has some cheese. I happily show that I can “sit” and “paw”, like asking with a please.
I cherish every minute and savor every bite. My time with my pen pal, eating these treats, makes me feel just right.
We head back out into the rain, I’m sad that we must part. But I feel better knowing that, on this rainy Monday, my Pen Pal shared her heart❤️
Dakota showing off her skills for some McDonalds
From her Pen Pals, Maria and Anne: “Our sweetheart has returned after two short weeks in her adoptive home. It seems Dakota was not able to be integrated with the cats in her adoptive family. While Dakota was in their home, her adopters told us she was a “wonderful dog” who was “great with other dogs and people”.”
Kisses for Maria
Dakota
Hugs for Anne
“This three year old sweet pea is spayed, Microchipped, and up to date on immunizations. At under 50 lbs, Dakota could easily fit into any size home. She is house trained and is well behaved in her kennel. Her former adopters were working on crate training in the home and she was able to be left loose in a designated room, as well. Dakota is a lovely companion on a walk, with excellent leash skills, checking in with her handler throughout. She also knows behavior cues such as “sit”, “come”, and “wait”. She takes treat very softly and is patient to wait until they are given to her. She loves to be petted and to hang out beside her volunteer friends, too. “
Dakota is available for adoption/foster/rescue at ACCT Philly. Contact me for more information on how to save her!
Every year during the first full week of November, the Humane Society of the United States celebrates the week by honoring animal shelters and the dedicated people who work and/or volunteer in them. In Philadelphia we only have one open intake shelter that is in contract with the City to take in every stray or surrendered animal: Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT PHILLY). So, in honor of Shelter Appreciation Week, we honor ACCT Philly!
Front desk staff – Staff that must work with the public that have found lost pets, injured stray animals or are facing crisises like homelessness and need to give up their pet. They must deal with the emotional aspect of animal welfare and must deal yelling, crying, seeing things they don’t want to see, yet do their best to help the animal they are presented with in a constantly jam packed lobby. Also up front are the lost and found staff as well as the licensers, all who do things to help reunite lost pets. (Side note: get your pets licensed and chipped – it makes their job easier and makes your pet get home faster!)
Adoption Staff – The main people in charge of helping find the best fit for each family, asking questions, performing meets to see if the adopters and adoptee are a match and counseling the adopters about what to expect bring a new pet home. The adoptions staff are the gateway to a new home for a shelter animal.
Lifesaving Staff – This department is the key between the animals and the rescues that want to take them into their foster homes. They are the staff that takes some promotional photos and write-ups explaining each animal all the while being expected to field hundreds of calls and emails a day to secure a live exit for each animal in the shelter’s care. A lot of the animals going to rescues are in urgent need of medical care so time is always of the essence ultimately having this staff non-stop busy from open to close.
Kennel Staff – The kennel attendants work one on one in the kennel areas with the animals to keep the kennels clean, water bowls filled, animals fed. When all that is finished, they help with the laundry, wash the bowls, assist all other staff to bring animals to & from other parts of the shelters, and are the eyes and ears that see every animal, every day.
Medical Staff – The on-site veterinarians and vet-techs are made to make the best with what little medical supplies they have to ensure the health and safety of the animals. They are the ones that must give shots to scared and angry animals, which always poses a safety risk. The shelter isn’t a medical clinic and only are funded with the bare minimum to help sick and injured animals.
ACO Staff – The Animal Control Officers work in the streets 24/7 to answer the calls of loose animals, injured strays and sometimes, the extremely odd cases like an alligator in a basement (true story!). The ACO’s go to places most people won’t dare step foot in to catch an animal. Without the ACO’s doing their jobs so diligently, the city would surely be overran with loose animals. They’re work is the most in demand yet they receive little recognition.
The Volunteers – The volunteers are considered unpaid staff who do so much for the animals and the shelter itself. From walking dogs and training cats (did you know you can teach cats tricks!?), to taking photos and making sure each animal has a warm blanket and clean kennel. Volunteers are often the voice the public sees the most, taking dogs off-site for exposure or taking cats to social events to meet the public. Have you ever seen some of the photo shoots the volunteers have done? A-mazing (see some photos below). I used to be a volunteer and can tell you from experience that it is the hardest yet most rewarding and beautiful thing I have ever done (after raising my daughter, of course!).
As of 11/2018 Heathcliff is in rescue STILL looking for a home – contact me to learn more about him & how to adopt or foster him!!
So much work goes into running an efficient shelter system and the above is only a handful of things that get done. While the shelter itself is far from perfect (I’m very vocal about the lack of an adequate building) , the people inside give their all to make do with what they have. There can always be a negative light on shelters that euthanize but once you expand your mind and learn about them, then you can fully understand the wonder of the staff and volunteers who go back day after day to save lives.
Some simple ways you can help the staff and volunteers of ACCT Philly are:
Adopt! If you can’t adopt, consider becoming a foster parent, either through the shelter directly or through a rescue
Use social media to spread the word, share posts and help generate more support, share photos of the animals
Donate supplies such as blankets, treats, toys (you can even make cat toys and home!), Dawn soap, peanut butter, cat nip, collars to help draw attention to the animals, adoption bandanas for use on off-site trips
Join the Foodies Program – you don’t have to be a volunteer to join!
SO – TO ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS – WE THANK YOU & WE APPRECIATE YOU!
This is a solely volunteer ran blog. I am a shelter volunteer from Philly that has adopted 2 shelter dogs. This blog does not express the views of anyone besides myself. Some posts will be personal, some will be shelter related, some will be off the wall, but they are mine. Free Speech at it’s best.
Philly......Adopt! 