Tails from the Shelter 2023

Feb 1

Written By Jason Knowles

Bari and Munchkin: a Modern Day Love Story

We love getting stories like the one you’re about to read that detail your special connections to Stray Hearts through our alumni.

As a small 3 year old child, Bari was knocked over into the snow by a large neighbor’s Afghan hound. At that moment, she became terrified of any dog, large or small, and believed she had dog PTSD before PTSD was even talked about (as this was around 1945).

This is understandable as it would be comparable to an elephant hurdling a full sized adult into the snow!

At 73 Bari was challenged by her granddaughter to face her fear. She needed a dog sitter while on vacation and although every cell in her body froze when in the presence of dogs, Bari accepted the challenge for her granddaughter.

Now to the source of the fear and the accepted challenge: Munchkin - a miniature Doberman-Chi mix, weighing in at 9 lbs. She was found by some kind soul, wandering the streets and was taken to Stray Hearts.

And even though she had a chip, her family never came for her. This is something we see far too often in the shelter and will never really understand, but many of our animals’ pasts are complete mysteries. We focus on the brightest future possible and helping them do the same.

**The time had come.**

Munchkin arrived as Bari’s house guest. To her surprise and relief, Munchkin was very patient and taught her everything about caring for a dog.

How to feed her, walk her and how to put her to bed at night – which was reminiscent of caring for the four children she raised. Munchkin chose Bari as her person and an understanding emerged of a true and lasting friendship between Bari and the old soul called Munchkin.

Recently, Munchkin stopped eating and was diagnosed with second stage kidney disease with the recommendation of euthanasia.

Bari feared Munchkin may be preparing to leave this world but she did not want to give up on her friend if she could help Munchkin live the rest of her days as comfortably as possible.

She went for a second opinion and was advised that she was not eating due to the buildup of kidney fluids in the stomach. Bari started researching. She was determined to help her friend, Munchkin.

She went to Marty’s Meals in Santa Fe and purchased a special diet that was created by a local vet especially for kidney disease. She found a terrific little pink pill that she gives her every 12 hours for nausea and along with the kidney food, Munchkin is running around like a teenager.

Munchkin helped Bari become open to the 'dog world' that she had been missing out on until age 74. She now can walk up to any dog and not feel the extreme PTSD and considers herself a proud, card carrying member of the ‘dog appreciation club.'

To learn more about Stray Hearts Animal Shelter's Foster Program
or to apply to be a foster parent, please click here!

Shelter Stats Comparison

**January 2023 Stats**

**PETS ARRIVING**
Strays: 8 cats, 89 dogs (52 are puppies)
Surrendered: 3 cats, 6 dogs
**PETS LEAVING**
Adoption: 17 cats, 14 dogs
Transfer: 4 cats, 66 dogs (51 are puppies)
Return To Owners: 15 dogs

**PET CENSUS as of Jan 31, 2023**
In House: 93 cats, 123 dogs

Pet Highlight

Mia

Mia is an adult female mixed breed who has been with us OVER A YEAR NOW in the shelter!

She tends to be easy to miss from a strangers perspective as she is still quite reserved and is a fan of blending in with her surroundings.

Once she warms up to you, she is an absolute sweetheart. She is medium to high energy and does enjoy the company of most dogs but prefers those who can match her energy level and can sometimes be relatively selective.

Miss Mia would benefit greatly from human kindness in a home environment. She may take a few visits before she's comfortable packing up her chew toys to head home with you but she's well worth the patience it takes to get to know her.

Please fill out an application today to set up a meet and greet with this lovely gal.

Human Highlight

Taylor

Meet Taylor!

Taylor is one of our most reliable and caring foster moms for the shelter. She's always willing to open her home whenever possible to some of our toughest cases and has helped us out of countless jams while we have faced critical capacity issues.

In 2022 alone, Taylor fostered 46 animals for the shelter. FORTY SIX!

Of these fosters, some were neonatal bottle babies that she woke up and fed every couple of hours (while maintaining a high stress, full time job).

Others were multiple serious medical injury cases that required frequent vet check ups and one of our dogs that sat in the shelter for 8 months patiently waiting for someone to give him a home who is now training to work with law enforcement and/or search and rescue.

If you see Taylor around the shelter or around town, please stop her and thank her for all the lives she has helped save while generously opening her heart and home.

***To become a foster parent, please*** ***visit our "foster program" section by*** ***clicking here***

I, Tyke

Tyke came in after being found with a cup duct taped to his face to intentionally cause harm by restricting him from food or water. He was emaciated, dehydrated, scared and covered in matts and burrs on intake.

He was given an exam, shaved to get rid of the problematic and painful coat, fed, bathed and wrapped in his robe where he slept. Hard.
The amount of energy restored to him just by this basic care and safety was astounding.

Tyke woke up with twice the energy he had and began voraciously eating to put on weight. He's been warming up to kindness from humans so quickly that he’s officially available for adoption!

He’s still somewhat timid and cautious of human touch from soreness and we assume very limited socialization, but is coming around.

We aren't sure the breed of this little guy but his feet indicate he may grow to be a medium size guy and we believe him to be approximately 2 and a half months old.

He would love to be your new fur-ever buddy! If you're interested in being his, please fill out an application to adopt.

Donate to Stray Hearts…and Make the Most Powerful Difference.

Donors are essential to the operation of nonprofit organizations. If you are passionate about advancing our mission of saving the lives of our four-legged friends, please consider a donation today.

Stray Hearts is experiencing unique challenges at this time: overcrowding, resources strained to capacity (and beyond), as well as a rise in medical emergencies and needs.

Our ask today is that you continue to give generously, either as a one-time gift, a monthly pledge, or a tribute gift that allows you to donate in honor of someone special.

Regardless of which button you decide to click, your gift is greatly appreciated, valued, and contributes towards fulfilling the incredible and unique labor of love that Stray Hearts carries out every single day in Taos.

EVERY DOLLAR MAKES A VITAL DIFFERENCE.

Yes, I Want to Give Monthly

I Want to make a One Time Gift Now

I WANT TO MAKE A Tribute GIFT IN HONOR OF A FRIEND