Tails from the Shelter 2023
Rain’s Journey to a Sunnier Day: A Success Story
Anyone who has worked or volunteered in an animal shelter knows one truth: there are some animals who have stories and spirits that just stick with you forever.
Rain is one of those dogs.
On a hot day in June of 2022, we received multiple, panicked calls of a terrified black dog who had been dumped into the trash bin at the town landfill. She was overheating and shaking with fear. No one knew how long she had been stuck there - in the sun - with no way out.
Of the many concerned citizens who called happened to be a woman who volunteers at the shelter - Lynn Gay. She is one of our dedicated foster parents as well as someone who is always around to lend a helping hand at events and around the shelter.
So we weren't surprised when Lynn was prepared to make sure something was done. It became her mission to ensure this sweet soul found her way out of the predicament she was in. Lynn called the shelter and let us know she would be sitting next to that dumpster until help from the local animal control arrived. So there she sat and waited with this terrified Labrador retriever mix who would become known as Rain.
Help arrived!
With the assistance of multiple concerned citizens, a good samaritan enlisted by Lynn and Linda Sanchez, and Taos Animal Control, Rain was safely lifted and removed from the bin and taken into the shelter.
On arrival, we noticed she had most likely given birth to several litter of puppies - and one litter very recently. Human interaction was a completely foreign concept. She did not trust us humans and frankly, she had no reason to. She had been neglected, abused and quite literally thrown away.
For exactly 200 days, Rain was categorized as "unavailable due to behavior". This had nothing do with with aggression or acting out. She was simply paralyzed by fear and would completely shut down and refuse nourishment by the overwhelming presence of unfamiliar people.
Through compassion, empathy and A LOT of patience, her fear became slightly less crippling. She was made "available to the public" with specifications of her special needs. It would take a very special and understanding family to take this girl in and provide her with the love and patience she so desperately needed.
Her special people came.
Neil and Chris saw Rain's story online and came to meet her. They were fully briefed on the severity of her condition and what taking her in would entail. It would mean an incredible amount of patience, dedication, work, compassion and love.
Luckily, these were all things they were more than ready to provide. Rain went home for the first time in her six and a half years of life here on earth. A real home where she is being given the love she has always deserved.
Neil and Chris took turns getting up every 2 hours to let Rain outside to gently get her accustomed to housetraining. They have gotten to the point of no indoor accidents since doing this. They are working regularly with our behaviorist, Eva Perrigo who has reported Rain's progress!
Rain is eating better and feeling safe enough to finish all of her food at meal time She's been started on new medication for her severe anxiety and has started expressing interest in what is going on around the house - which is huge for her!
Rain is exactly where she should be.
She's improving...slowly, like we all expected. We are so grateful for the kindhearted people of Taos County like Chris and Neil.
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
February 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 Feb 28, 2023
In House: 93 cats, 123 dogs
Pet Highlight
Lola
Lola is a sweet but confused senior girl who we believe to be around 9 years old.
She has found herself alone for the first time in her life and she doesn't much care for the busy and loud shelter environment. She's run most of her puppy energy out at this stage of her life and really just wants a nice, quiet place to relax and feel safe in with you.
Lola may do best in a lower energy home and can be a little selective with other dogs. This very well may be attributed to the hectic environment she has recently found herself in.
So if you are interested and have other dog family members, please schedule a meet and greet to see if they could be buddies.
Please fill out an application today to meet this sweet girl Lola to see if she may be a good fit as a new member of your family.
Human Highlight
Andrea
Meet Andrea!
Andrea Frost is one of many of our amazing volunteers. When she's not spending her time with family or hard at work in her dedicated career, she chooses to freely and selflessly give her valuable time to helping around the shelter.
And so much help is needed!
Some may see volunteering as "just walking dogs" or "just spending time with some of the cats" in our care but it is so much more - both for the animals. and for the humans.
Andrea says she chooses to volunteer at the Shelter for obvious reasons…love of dogs and cats. Also missing her own.
She hasn't gotten new pets because of retirement travel plans so this is the best way for her to spread the love she has for animals.
If you see Andrea around the shelter, or at our store ReTails (where she also freely gives her time and energy helping out!) or lending a helping hand at any of our events, please thank her for providing our shelter pups and kitties with human interaction, love and affection - and for ALL she does!
To learn more about becoming a Stray Hearts volunteer, please visit our "Volunteer program" section by clicking here
To Quote Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On?
We have a couple of exciting MARCH events:
March 11th - Come see us at Boxie Tees from noon to 2:00pm and meet adoptable Gloria at this special adoption event!
March 18th - Come see us at Walmart for our March “Stuff a Truck”! Email nik@strayhearts.org for more info.
March 26th - Come see us at the Taos Mountain Bike Association's event at Taos Center for the Arts 3:30pm-5:00pm March 26th!
Hops for Happiness! - Visit Red River Brewing Company and Distillery anytime during the month of March - and your beer or spirits purchase will be rounded up to benefit Stray Hearts!
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.
Other Happenings…
KUNM Community PAW-nership!
We are excited to announce our new Community Partnership with KUNM!
Today, when you donate to KUNM at a qualifying level, Independent Vehicle Service has agreed to recognize your contribution to KUNM and provide a separate donation directly to our organization!
This means 100% of your donation to KUNM supports the programming you rely on and will also provide food, care, bedding, and toys for over 200 of our animals who are waiting in the shelter to find their forever families.
KUNM is Community Powered Public Radio and your financial support makes it all possible.
Tune in for a deeper understanding of the world we live in, to hear Stray Hearts shout outs, and please consider contributing today to benefit both Stray Hearts and this important and wonderful organization.
