Where to Start!

I guess I'll start with the latest in foster updates… Buddy is doing awesome! He has no more scabs unless you count the healing from getting neutered and he has finally figured out the doggy door. Buddy attended a candlelight vigil for Crime Victim's Week. The Animal Cruelty Taskforce had a booth at the event and Buddy and I walked around to share his story and his bright future! He is currently available for adoption which I am going to try and do while still fostering him as he does not thrive in the shelter environment. Maybe I can bring him there during the day and take him home at night. I'm sure he will find a loving home very soon! I have also brought in two more kitties. I was asked to euthanize one of the kitties, but he was sweet and healthy so I said I would foster him. Then my supervisor asked about fostering a 2^nd, younger kitten, or it would be euthanized as well. I got suckered into that one, but I'm glad the other has a friend closer to his size. The young kitten is still bottle feeding so I am back to making bottles, but I'm hoping he'll be transitioning to regular food in the next few weeks.

So it's been a while since my last post, but I've been busy! I had my first dead body call. The coroner opened the front door for me and I walked into the trailer and approached the Sheriff's Deputy who was on the phone. While waiting for some direction I looked around and saw that the woman was been lying face down on the other side of the front door, I had walked right past her. Her skin looked dark, but I didn't think too much of it. The deputy (who was wearing heavy duty gloves and a respirator mask) showed me where the dog was as it had passed away as well. After picking up the dog, the deputy and I were talking, he said that the woman was a white woman, but she had been there about 2 weeks. He said that he had been on several scenes like this, but when they rolled the body over this was the first time he felt ill. He asked if I wanted to see a picture, but unfortunately (or possibly fortunately) the glare outside made it difficult to see. The saddest part was that the poor lady had been left in that condition for so long; I can only hope that when that time comes for me, or anyone I know, someone realizes it a little sooner.

Then I got called out by Florence PD because one of their K-9 officers had passed away unexpectedly. DPS was conducting the investigation and I had to get the body from the back of a police car and brought it to the shelter until she could get taken to the lab for a necropsy to find the cause of death. It was a pretty somber event with the other officers nearby. The dog, "Vysta" was only about 3 1/2 and they all said she was the greatest dog. Here is an article written in the local paper: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20315205&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=68561&rfi=6

So keeping in mind that I got home at about 2:30am from that last call, I was paged at 5:30am to pick up a dog that was in a home where a search warrant was issued. When I arrived there was a special Sheriff's unit on scene. They were all in jeans and shirts and drove unmarked trucks. Some were wearing a ski mask type thing that only revealed their eyes. Last but not least they all had bullet proof vests and big guns (some were shotguns). I felt a little underdressed for the occasion. They said that they did not think the owner was home and had secured part of the trailer. The dog was in the living room and they wanted me to get it. I went around to the back door and about 5 guys with vests and guns followed me in. They pointed out where the dog was. It was dark in the room and I had my flashlight out. I spotted the dog, but she was very scared and did not approach me. While scanning the area with my flashlight I saw a person lying under a blanket pulling the blanket up over their head. All I remember is saying, "Ummm…," and being pushed out of the room. The guys raised their guns at the suspect and began yelling at him repeatedly to stand up or they would shoot. Needless to say I got out of there pretty quickly. Unfortunately while getting the suspect out of the home the dog followed and began running around loose on the property. The dog ran behind one of the men and he spun around and aimed his gun directly at the dog's head. I wanted to yell "don't shoot" so bad. The dog was not growling, barking or anything; just running around very scared. She ended up running under the trailer and I wasn't able to get her out, but fortunately a family member came by and said he would take responsibility for the animal.

And after that long day at work, I drove out to San Diego. A very big thank you to my mom and sister, Stacy, for coming to rescue me in Yuma to get me the rest of the way home! Sorry, I know that was a long blog, but that is just some of the exciting stuff that has been going on.