IMPORTANT: Diamond Pet Foods of Meta, Mo., voluntarily recalled certain bags of its Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dog food on suspicion of salmonella contamination.

NOTE: On Tues. and Thurs. afternoons during the month of May, there will be a FREE heartworm clinic (by app't) at South Cape Vet in Waquoit. FFD covers the cost of the test. Persons who want their dog tested can pick up a voucher at the FFD office.

Our Weekly Falmouth Enterprise Column

By Pamela Alden Kokmeyer

Friday, May 18, 2012

Whoever invented permanent press clothing must have owned a dog like Cooper, with his easy-care, wash 'n wear coat. Yes, that Cooper, who has returned from his recent in-house foster assessment, where we were able to get a sense of his house manners. We learned some wondrous things about this adult American bulldog mix. He settled right in at the foster home, explored every foot of his fenced-in yard, dozed in the sun, slept through the nights on his own bed and got along with the cat! But what we also were pleased to learn is that Cooper will signal when he has to go out, and knowing that someone is there to accommodate his requests and doesn't feel imprisoned, we know now that he doesn't necessarily have to have a doggie door for his comings and goings. Of course, a fenced-in yard is still high on his wish list. Because this lovely animal has already paid his dues, we think he deserves a home of his own, where he can shine.

We've got a lot of ground to cover, so let's get started.

We're hoping that Jade, ever the lady, will touch someone's heart soon. We are looking, of course, for a permanent home, but in the meantime, we are trying to find a foster home for her. We know she has wonderful house manners and can be left alone for periods of time if you work. This black Lab mix, probably 8 to 10 years old, is so stressed at the shelter, she cries when in her kennel. As soon as she sees you come through the door, her entire countenance picks up; she bounces and prances and vocalizes with pleasure. She just knows you're there to take her out on a walk, and once outside, her ladylike qualities manifest themselves. She LOVES her walks and keeps up a very brisk pace, but will also meander if you do. Interestingly, when putting her back at the end of a shift, she doesn't struggle but seems to understand the routine. We call that remarkable. And because a lady needs good dental hygiene, we just had her teeth cleaned and she feels much better. (One caveat: No cats.)

J.R., the Jack Russell, is just as lively as ever. Cute, bouncy, lively, curious—that about sums J.R. up. We're told his vocabulary is pretty extensive, and he understands people's names and many words. So either you will have to spell the words or learn to speak a foreign language. It's your choice. He will need to stay on a leash because he very much loves to explore and will go where his interest takes him. This boy, who is 10 years old, is not familiar with children, but is comfortable around teens and adults and other dogs. But, as with Jade: No cats.

Wrangler. The dude. If this week's photos are in color, you will see the delicate shading of Wrangler's coat. If the photos aren't in color, you'll have to come down to see him in person (and see the freckles on his nose). This multi-breed mix is young (about a year old?) and healthy and very confident. We know he's smart, and we know he knows we know he's smart. It's fun working on training and playing with him. He loves people and playing ball. This lucky dog apparently even has a personal trainer: one of the volunteers takes him for runs. And even though he's strong, he walks well on a special harness. Potential homes will need to be active and willing to continue training with him, but, oh, the rewards!

* * *

Remember Hercules? And his sister, who has since been named Xena? As you can imagine, they are growing like weeds, but they are infinitely more appealing. These two are in foster care. Still very young, these two American pit bull terrier/American bully dog mixes are going to be large. The boy will most likely end up more than 100 pounds. So, while being smitten with the "cute" quotient, we remind people to factor in their potential size and their current age. Pups need lots of time, attention and training. And will for quite a while. Yes, puppies are clean slates with few if any reinforced bad behaviors, but without proper training and exercise, they can quickly develop those aforementioned behaviors. Make sure you have the time for a puppy. If you're interested in learning more about them, give us a call and we'll give you more information.

Over the past few weeks, we've had a flurry of dogs in and out, both strays and potential surrenders. The strays were picked up, and the dogs needing re-homing found new homes. But to help fill an empty home with the perfect dog, we encourage you to stop by and get to know us. If you're looking to add a dog to your family, you can share your experiences and expectations with us. Who knows, maybe the right dog is waiting in the wings. We're convinced that many of us are born with a dog-shaped hole in our heart just waiting to be filled.

Don't forget our heartworm screening clinic. We provide the vouchers for your dog to get screened at South Cape Veterinary Clinic in Waquoit on Tuesdays and Thursdays in May, from 2 to 4 PM. We pay for the screening; you will need to purchase the heartworm preventive.

We can always use more volunteers. We are open seven days a week: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 AM to noon; Sundays from 1 to 3 PM; Monday and Thursday afternoons from 4 to 6 PM. We invite you to come hang out with the dogs.

 
 
Note: To meet Tina or the puppies, contact Adopt A Bull Rescue.  
 
 

 
 
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