Last week Winnipeg Animal Services was in crisis mode. The facility was full to over flowing with over 50 dogs ( strays plus 42 dogs available for adoption). For what ever reason, the number of adoptions during the late spring has been few while the number of strays entering through the back door has grown steadily.
This is the way it works at W.A.S… the dogs are picked up wondering the streets, either lost or homeless. They are checked for identification ( name tag, license, micro chip, tattoo). If possible the owners are contacted. If there is no identification the dogs are held for 5 – 10 days, checked by a veterinarian and if not claimed, placed up for adoption.
Winnipeg Animal Services is not a no-kill facility but they do their best to find homes for all the dogs that enter into the adoption program. If no new owner comes foreword, they look for foster homes or placement in other local rescue organizations.
This past week there was a true dilemma… no more room, and yet the dogs kept coming. Other local rescue organizations and shelters were proclaiming the same problem. There was simply no movement.
I think the W.A.S. Chief Operations Officer phrased the next step best in an article written by Laurie Mustard in the Winnipeg Sun, “rather than euthanize, we have a sale.” And that is what we did.
Last week, on Wednesday and Thursday, Winnipeg Animal Services held an Adopt a Dog Sale. All dogs in the adoption program were on sale for $99. This fee included a license, microchip, spaying/neutering, basic shots, food and pet health insurance. One heck of a good deal.
Wednesday saw 10 dogs adopted. Whoo-Hoo!!
Thursday (day 2 of the “sale”) my plan was to go to the shelter to photograph the new dogs being added into the adoption program. Summer has finally arrived in The Peg and the heat and humidity were already high in the late morning as I drove to WAS.
Four new dogs needed pictures taken. The front outside enclosure was in use as potential new dog owners visited with dogs. Good… looked like the word of the sale had gotten out.
There is another outside enclosure tucked away at the back of the building and that is where I took the new dogs, their breed and pen number scribbled on a paper, one by one outside to snap some photos.
By now the sun was directly over our heads and with the heat and the high humidity it soon became apparent that this was not the best of days for getting good dog pictures.
A couple of minutes out in the direct sunlight was all it took for my hair to frizz and cling to my forehead and for the dogs tongues to hang out practically to their knees. Needless to say the photo shoots were short and the resulting photos probably not the best … but some days are just like that.
As I penned the last dog, a little nervous Nellie, he managed to slip between my legs and gained freedom within the kennel room. Not wishing to stress him by giving chase (but feeling slightly panicked myself) especially with all the extra people milling about, I went to the front desk, grabbed Lorna (the adoption coordinator and my hero) who quickly and efficiently and with little fuss caught the trembling escapee and quietly returned him to his pen.
My legs still shaking from that little fiasco, I walked into the front vestibule and quickly came to realize just how busy things had become. Two groups of potential new families were gathered around hopeful dogs…. one a big black dog wagging a happy tail, the other a timid Cocker who was trying to find safety between standing legs. All waiting for their turn at the outside enclosure for some “lets get acquainted” and safe off-leash time.
Another potential owner sat in the inside area waiting to see a dog. “Can I help”, I asked and was quickly given the go ahead to show this woman the dog she was wishing to see.
Now.. the kennel area can be noisy at the best of times but add in all the extra folks and the goings-on of that day and the excitement of the dogs is contagious… passing quickly from one pen to the next.
I walked to the pen of the new hopeful pup and found her practically bouncing off the walls in anticipation of getting out. As I swung open the gate to enter (very carefully after my last episode) she went from bouncing off the wall to bouncing off of me. Her food and water dish flew in the air emptying the contents all over the both of us. Now, not only was I sweaty.. but also wet and food splattered, my once white volunteer t-shirt covered in brown wet paw prints.
I slipped on the lead and out we went. Thankfully, as soon as the pen was behind her she settled somewhat and was a very good girl while she and the patient lady got acquainted.
Long story short.. or at least that was my first intention… this little bouncy girl found a new forever home that morning… as did 12 other dogs that day.
The “dog sale” did have its critics.. some saying the word “sale” was inappropriate, some saying that it was setting a precedence and that now folks would hold out on adopting til the prices dropped. And truthfully, their concerns and comments are valid and perhaps should be taken into consideration if this situation should arise again (which it most likely will).
But at the end of the day, and by the end of the “sale” all I can really be sure about is … 22 dogs were able to walk out of their pens for the last time and leave through the front door with happy tails and new forever families.
These are but some of their faces.
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