Woof Friday- Temporarily Displaced by Fire

Sharon with big furry CodyBear and PoohBear

Temporarily Displaced by Fire

Guest Post by Sharon Azar

I didn't realize how complex a situation it would be for my aging, arthritic PoohBear and blind,
toothless Chili, not to mention my skittish, half feral cat, Mushi....

 On Monday morning a co-worker at Guideposts magazine, Adam Hunter, told me about a man and his dog whose apartment had caught fire. The man, Stan, and his dog were okay, albeit a bit dirty from the soot, but they lost everything.

When I heard the dog's name I realized I had met Stan and CodyBear recently on one of my lunch breaks. They lived just 2 blocks from my office. I remembered having a long conversation with Stan about Codybear, a 65 lb. young male Samoyed who reminded me of my PoohBear. Now the two had no place to live. What could I do? I offered to take CodyBear into my pack while Stan 'couch surfed' and searched for a new place to live. 

But I lived in a small apartment chock full of pets already. My two dogs and cat were all outraged when CodyBear and I walked in the door! What had I gotten myself into?  I do a lot of rescue work and my husband, Norman, bless his heart, is always supportive of my efforts. Well, I was at a loss, but I wasn't going to back out. This was a way of helping a man who had lost everything he'd owned: clothes, furniture, irreplaceable memorabilia, etc.

I decided to take time off from work to try and make this work. We had to find a way to avoid an all out dog fight. Mushi took one fast frightened look at this strange big furry creature and disappeared into the backyards of Brooklyn. Chili stayed in his bed curled up in a ball, and PoohBear walked around growling loudly and bearing his teeth to poor Cody who didn't understand what was happening, especially when Stan walked out the door. What to do? 

Sharon with PoohBear and guest.

Each time PoohBear growled or barked I would speak softly, reassuringly to both dogs. I felt so bad for Cody. It took hours, but by the end of the first day Pooh and Cody were on the bed on either side of me...far from friendly, but at least without hostility. Even blind Chili came out of his cocoon to investigate the gentle giant.

This is how we spent three days. Then Stan called with the good news. He had found a new home and was coming to get his sweet boy. Mushi, my cat, must have sensed something because he came back
that day, totally fearless of the jolly white giant.


Everyone in the family had to compromise, but there was a happy ending!
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Please check out Sharon's WOOF! (Wagging On and On Forever!)-- Petfinder listing for pets up for adoption in NYC area.

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Who'd Want this Homely Mama Dog?

Cordelia, aka Maggie

Woof Friday! 
The first Friday of every month (or so!) we feature a guest post by animal rescuer, Sharon Azar. She shares the heartbreak and happiness of being involved in animal rescue.

From Cordelia to Maggie
by Sharon Azar

I just uncovered an envelope of old photos of a dog named Cordelia, a 3 year old mixed terrier girl who was found huddling against the concrete divider on the NJ Turnpike on a hot summer day some years
ago.  I’ll never forget the magic that unfolded.

Our vet said this dog probably had many litters of puppies. My fear was since she wasn’t such a ‘looker’ I’d have a difficult time placing her. Posters, ads, telephone calls, all brought no results. No one wanted a mama dog with teats hanging down from delivering multiple litters.

But then, a fellow rescuer said she knew of a family looking for a companion for their golden retriever, Murphy. My hopes were not high. “A golden retriever! Why would they want a scruffy little mama dog?”

We arranged for a meeting anyway. After spending some time with them, I was in awe of their obvious love and sincerity toward their dog and each other. Al and Barbara are the sweetest, most loving couple. I prayed to myself, “Please let them fall in love with Cordelia.”

When I met their beautiful golden retriever, Murphy, my doubts surfaced. “They’d never want such a dog as Cordelia.”

Oh, me of little faith.

Best buddies swimming together.

I was blown away when they told me they’d love to have her in their family! As the years went by Al and Barbara would send me cards and photos of their family trips with Murphy and Cordelia, who they renamed Maggie. They took Maggie and Murphy skiing, boating, and swimming in Alaska!

Pretty wonderful for a dog who was near being run over on the New Jersey turnpike.

Check out Sharon's animals for adoption at WOOF! 

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Friday Woof!--Training My Fearful Dog

Friday WOOF! (Wagging On and On Forever!)-- advice, information, resources and true stories about our animal friends.

Guest post by Sharon Azar 



Love Saves the Day

Dean and his girlfriend, Alice were moving to a small room in a dog-unfriendly house, so they contacted me to help them re-home JayJay, their Alaskan Malamute/Chow mix they lived with for 6 years since his puppyhood.

Dean described JayJay as aloof at first, but in time would bond with whoever became his caregiver. When I went to meet him, he came out of their apartment cowering with his tail between his legs. I thought, “What could make a dog react with such fear? What was he afraid of?” The couple seemed nice enough, not the abusive type. Maybe I was missing something. In rescue, sometimes, you can work with a person or family and help them find ways to keep rather than surrender their pet. After spending some time with the three of them, though, I had the feeling I should take JayJay and not spend too much time trying to help them re-think their decision.

Dean bragged that JayJay had the “privilege of a backyard.” I later found out that JayJay was never socialized with other dogs and never taken on walks. I don’t know why people think having a backyard is such a good thing. I’ve seen so many dogs relegated to a backyard all alone and becoming depressed. Dogs are social creatures, meant to play with other dogs and people and interact with their families. When left alone, most dogs' personalities deteriorate. Backyards are only good if the whole family joins the dog.

After I had JayJay vet checked and neutered (Dean didn’t believe in neutering), he recovered quite nicely and joined my household of two small dogs, two cats and a downstairs roommate with two elderly dogs. In living with JayJay, I realized that his name should be PoohBear. He looked so much like a bear!
In our first week together, I was able to walk him outside, but he was in a constant state of tension and fear. After a week, he refused to go out on walks. I’d take him out and he’d pull with all his might to return home. I had dealt with aggressive dogs in my rescue career, but never with a fearful dog. I needed help. Reaching out to the rescue community, I met A.J., a trainer who agreed to do e-mail consultation about PoohBear’s problem. I’m no stranger to different training methods but the one that most suited me was to just give lots of love and patience. A.J.’s method was to make me into the ‘alpha-dog’. With aggressive dogs, this approach is necessary, but PoohBear is not aggressive. A.J. assured me he would become more self-assured in time as soon as he understood that I am dominant. The program consisted of not allowing him on the bed, never responding to his overtures to play, always going out ahead of him, not telling him what a good boy he is, etc. This was so much enervating work. I felt drained after working a full day and then coming home to another job with PoohBear-a household under tension.

“This just doesn’t seem right,” I kept thinking. After much soul searching and discussion with friends, I thought, “How could a training method meant for aggressive dogs help a fearful dog?” Even though A.J. gave me excellent examples of work she did with her dogs, I just kept feeling something was off. Then, one night, worn out after playing this very unnatural role of ‘lead dog’, I laid in bed tense and exhausted, praying for another way. After a few hours of feeling lost, a voice within whispered, “just give him love and patience like you’ve always done with your dogs and he will come around.” It was as if a light went on.

That night I had my first good night’s sleep since PoohBear came to live with us. I never liked thinking of myself as ‘leader’ or ‘boss’ the way many trainers like to characterize the dog-human dynamic, but rather ‘she who provides all good things.’ I think my dogs love the new me!

In the morning Chili, Schnappsy and PoohBear were eyeing me with their big, trusting, loving eyes and ‘marvelous understanding’. PoohBear and I still have work to do, but now I could do it my way--cuddle, sleep, laugh, play and share love with my dogs. It’ll be a while before PoohBear will want to go out walking in the neighborhood and park, but I’m certain with love and patience it will happen.


Please check out Sharon's WOOF! Petfinder listing for pets up for adoption in NYC area.
woofwoof (dot) sharon (at) gmail (dot) com

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