Some rescue dogs at Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) have been there for two or more years, waiting for that one person who sees their potential as a companion and takes them home. What they long for is to be part of a family, where they can flourish, feel a sense of security and let their loveable personalities shine through.
The rescue dogs at ODHS the longest are Canela, Chocolate Chip, Pastrami, Sitka and Desiree, making it their temporary home for about nine years total. To break it down further, they’ve been waiting for adopters to choose them for a total of 31,025 days. These rescues would make great additions for adopters or fosters who want to make a difference in a dog’s life.
“The great news is that one of our long-time residents, Carlyle, was adopted this week, and he was at the rescue for nearly a year,” said Chrissy Blake, ODHS founder. “A volunteer took Carlyle to Dog Krazy, and while they were there a family fell in love with him. There are a few reasons dogs stay in rescues longer than the others. Senior dogs are less likely to get adopted than young dogs and puppies. We strive to help the public get to know some of our long-time residents to find out for themselves how rewarding it is to add them to the family.”
When a rescue dog stays for a long time, there are some traits that may occur, according to the website topdogtips. Some of the most common characteristics are:
Anxiety—The dog has been through a lot of stress before help came, and when he’s rescued, he’s put in a temporary—and unfamiliar—place. This adds to the anxiety, but with patience from volunteers at rescues, they can adjust and be ready for adoption.
Fearfulness—A variety of factors cause dogs in rescues to become fearful, including the presence of other unfamiliar dogs, its unfamiliarity with the staff and vets caring for him and, in some cases, an overall traumatization by his previous experience.
Shyness—Shelter dogs that were bullied by other dogs or abused/mistreated by their former owners tend to be overly shy. The behavior reflects the lack of socialization skills that can be corrected with training and love.
Some dogs waiting to be adopted are listed as “people-only dogs.” While most American homes only have one dog, the knowledge of a dog possibly not doing well with other dogs is a deterrent for many people. It’s a fact that keeping dogs like Desiree and Canela away from other dogs is a simple feat, and the professionals at ODHS will be happy to teach potential adopters how to maneuver them.
A loveable, spunky black dog who has been at ODHS for more than six months, Desiree may be a case of Black Dog Syndrome (BDS). Research featured in Petfinder, where member shelter and rescue groups showcase the dogs at their facilities, shows that BDS may be caused by a combination of negative portrayals of black pets in books, movies and other media. A big, frightening black dog is shown in “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” the “Harry Potter” series, the two movie versions of “The Omen,” and on the signs bought at stores saying “Beware of Dog.”
In a survey through Petfinder, most pets are listed for 12.5 weeks. However, less-adoptable pets, such as black, senior and special needs pets, spend nearly four times as long on Petfinder.
The public can help with the long-time guests at ODHS in a number of ways. With the nonprofit organization’s foster program, a family can welcome one of the dogs into their home to provide a comfortable and loving environment for a few weeks or until they’re adopted. In addition, the volunteer program enables individuals to go through a short orientation process to be able to visit and spend quality time with the dogs. Sometimes a precious, four-legged friend is only on the other side of the kennel waiting for his new leash…lease…on life.
ODHS is not government-funded and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization now in its tenth year of existence. Its goal is to decrease the number of animals needlessly euthanized by pulling dogs from high-kill shelters and educating the community about animal rescue. Its mission is to provide well-matched, permanent homes for animals in need through rescue, rehabilitation and education. This year alone, the rescue has adopted out more than 1,000 dogs to caring, forever homes.