Dogs dogs dogs might seem like an odd way to start an article, but it encapsulates our work, our passion, our challenge. Rescue Ranch is feeling the pressure of a never ending incoming stream of unwanted dogs, while only a slow trickle is going back out to new families. The Adoption Center is permanently full, and the Sanctuary is constantly scrambling to create more space. In September, we told you about the improvements taking place at the Sanctuary and we followed up in November with an update on the new whelping sheds. Since then, the dogs have just kept coming. It seems like a good time for an update.
Stormy weather, the mother of invention
When I arrived on Monday morning, I noticed new building projects underway. I was soon joined by Operations Manager Laura Finley recent work and some of the new challenges they’ve had to contend with.
Laura explained that during recent storms some dogs had freaked unexpectedly and climbed out of their yards.
A five-foot fence is enough for many dogs. The Sanctuary also has higher, more secure, yards, designed to contain known and suspected escape artists. These have an extra-high curved fence design along the front and back where the occupants can see through the mesh. The inside dividers are solid wood, so dogs can’t see their neighbors and aren’t tempted to climb over. This year’s loud thunder, changed all that.
Biscuit, for example, was so startled, she scaled a divider wall and jumped into the yard next door. Thankfully, her neighbors didn’t object, but it could have gone very wrong. Biscuit is seen here getting creative with a repurposed horse paddock. Silly girl.
The team is currently devising new ways to further beef up barriers, despite the soaring price of materials. According to Laura, there’s a lot of trial and error in adapting horse installations for dogs, who are sure to test every solution.
One yard had ultra-high fencing, but was home to a medium bully mix (not known for ther climbing skills). The height was unrelated to the weather: it was added contain a “crazy athlete” named Raelynn, who now lives in a fully enclosed space. Apparently, she’s Spiderwoman and climbs everything like it’s a ladder. Fortunately, it looks like she’s also a fantastic candidate for search and rescue training. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that she’ll make it into the program.
Coping with dogs dogs dogs at the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary primarily serves special needs cases. Increasingly, however, it is also doing regular intakes: the low-density environment offers a calm space for stressed animals to decompress. The average complement at the Sanctuary is now 95 individuals, including very young or nursing puppies, of which there were 27 on Monday.
As we strolled the grounds, older puppies, adolescents, and adults ran up to the fence, greeting Laura enthusiastically.
She introduced me to Magellan, a black lab puppy who was scheduled for a meet-and-greet the next day (Yay!). His companions were staff adoptee Baxter and two young Aussi pup mixes, Clementine and Nori. There were also a number of transfers from County Animal Control, because they’re out of space, and some rescue boarders. Then there was Sultan, recently returned by his adopters after four years. He became a tripod shortly after he left us. Now he’s looking for a new home, a forever one this time.
Laura pointed out our flying dogs, Lee, Gina, and Hana, who were hanging with new friends in their yard. And we visited with handsome Jasper and the new black, bully-mix, Sage, whose dramatic arrival will be the subject of a future article.
Speaking of dramatic entrances, little Chaz, the black shepherdy pup seen here, was found dumped at the foot of the Sanctuary’s perimeter fence. On the inside. There’s no way he got there alone. After eight days in quarantine, he tested positive for parvovirus and became very ill. But Sanctuary staff treated him, and he’s doing great. He remains in quarantine because he’s still shedding virus. Poor little guy!
Phase 3 = more installations
More enclosures are being prepped around the facility, including some large comfortable yards that can double as emergency space during fire evacuations. The team is adding fencing and dig boards to horse gates, shoring up fences with dirt and rocks to discourage digging, repurposing old kennel panels, as well as pulling and clearing grass, an ongoing chore.
With the help of volunteers from the California Conservation Corps (CCC) , staff is using materials from deconstructed horse sheds to build a group of new units for older puppies. While they’re not heated, they are fully insulated. Each one has its own indoor and outdoor space. Once the units are completed and moved into place, they will share a common fenced area as well.
We’re growing by leaps, and bound, and barks! That’s both the good news and the bad news: we could sure use more adopters!
