Happy New Year for dog, owner as pet survives Montana wilds
By John Grant Emeigh
The Montana Standard
BUTTE, Mont.
An Arizona man is ringing in the New Year with good news after a local animal warden found his dog — which had been missing for a month — near Butte.
Phil Nichols and his 6-year-old lab mix, Buddy, became separated in November while stopped in Dillon, he told The Montana Standard in a telephone interview Friday.
Exactly when and how Buddy jumped out of his camper, Nichols isn’t sure.
But the news received this week that Buddy is alive — albeit thin, haggard and nursing a badly hurt back foot — has Nichols brimming with happiness.
The mutt wandered rugged terrain, endured freezing temperatures and BB shots — all with the lame foot — before being rescued this week near Buxton, southwest of Butte.
Animal control officer Charlie Dick said Friday that he is amazed the dog is alive.
“What a little survivor. He was out there a long time,” Dick said.
Buddy’s odyssey started on Nov. 28 when Nichols, 79, was driving back to Arizona in his pickup truck after visiting his daughter in Helena. Buddy rode in a camper in the bed of Nichols’ pickup truck. Nichols recalls seeing Buddy in the camper while in Dillon to gas up.
But when he stopped again in Idaho Falls to let Buddy out for a quick walk, his dog was gone.
“I turned around and drove 150 miles back to Dillon to look for him,” Nichols said.
He stayed in Dillon for a day and a half searching for his best friend, which he had adopted from an animal shelter.
Buddy was nowhere to be found.
With a heavy heart, Nichols finally called off the search and returned home to Arizona. He assumed Buddy may have fallen out or just got out of the camper through a small side door.
It turned out to be a lucky thing that Buddy wasn’t in the camper, however. Nichols crashed near Pocatello, Idaho, when another vehicle cut him off. He hit a guardrail and rolled. Nichols survived, but the camper was smashed to bits.
Nichols suspects Buddy may have had a “sixth sense” about the accident and got out of the camper before it was too late.
“I think the dog has more brains than I do,” he said.
It’s not known if Buddy has a sixth sense, but he certainly has a survival instinct.
Animal services got a call about 8:30 a.m. Thursday of a wounded dog hanging around the Buxton area, about 10 miles southwest of Butte. Buddy had scratches on his face, a badly wounded right rear foot and was thin.
“He was just wandering around on three feet and was very skittish,” Dick recalled.
It took Dick about 45 minutes to finally coax the dog toward him with treats.
Animal control people found Buddy’s owner through a lost dog ad on Craigslist, which had been posted by Nichols’ daughter in Helena.
Erin Wall, shelter director, said Buddy was recovering Friday at the Amherst Animal Hospital in Butte and appears to be doing well. She said it is amazing the dog managed to survive so long in his condition.
“They (dogs) have such an instinct to live and a homing drive to get home,” Wall said.
She suspects Buddy found food and shelter in barns, because he was covered with hay. X-rays also showed Buddy was shot with a BB gun.
At the shelter, Buddy appeared in good spirits, but exhausted.
“He just sat down, then lay down and let out a big sigh,” she said.
Nichols said he plans to reunite with his dog within the next few days — as soon as the vet says it is fine for Buddy to leave.
He wants to call the veterinarian hospital to let Buddy know he’s coming.
“I just want them to put the phone to his ear and let him hear my voice,” Nichols said. “I think that would make him feel better.”
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Information from: The Montana Standard, http://www.mtstandard.com
Showing posts with label animal rescue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal rescue. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Friday, June 24, 2011
Dog rescued from a wire fence
Dog Surprises Officer After Being Freed From A Fence
If you are feeling sad this will cheer you up, but it also may make you cry.
(Bear with the shaky cam -- it's mounted on the officer who is rushing to help the dog.)
If you are feeling sad this will cheer you up, but it also may make you cry.
(Bear with the shaky cam -- it's mounted on the officer who is rushing to help the dog.)
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Celebrity resolutions for 2011
Celebrity Resolutions for 2011
Ten celebrities share their 2011 wishes for animals
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Colbie Caillat with her dog, Plum. The purebred golden retriever was found starving on a street in Taiwan and was adopted by Caillat. Yvonne Bennett/The HSUS
We asked some favorite celebrities to share their resolutions for animals in 2011:
GOTHAM CHOPRA: "We ask people everywhere to express peace, love, and kindness toward all animals through their thinking, feeling, doing, and being. Happy New Year!"
—Gotham, Deepak, Cleo (the family dog!) and the whole Chopra family
—Gotham, Deepak, Cleo (the family dog!) and the whole Chopra family
COLBIE CAILLAT: "My resolution is to tell all my friends to adopt their next pet, not to buy a puppy from a pet store, and to help stop puppy mills!"
JACKIE EVANCHO: "I hope all kids will resolve to be kind to animals and not do anything to harm them."
JORJA FOX: "My resolution is to support he HSUS’s effort to end dogfighting, and all they’re doing to help at-risk communities."
CAROL LEIFER: "My hope for the new year is that people will only admire fur coats that are on their original owners."
NIGEL BARKER: "My 2011 New Year's resolution is to become fully aware of where all my produce comes from and how it got there, basically being responsible for what food goes on my family's table. And to grow my hair in a show of solidarity for seals!"
HAL SPARKS: "I will introduce at least 20 new people to vegan and vegetarian cuisine in hopes of bringing them closer to a cruelty-free diet. I will continue to encourage everyone to practice Meatless Mondays and... I will also pet 32% more cats this year."
RON BURNS: "We hope people brighten their homes by adopting the many colorful critters waiting in shelters."
TAMAR GELLER: "May those of us who share our lives with dogs train ourselves to see and recognize all the efforts our dogs are making to understand us, connect with us, and make up happy. May we accept them even half as much as they accept us."
—With love, Tamar, Clyde, G-Ma, and Cricket
—With love, Tamar, Clyde, G-Ma, and Cricket
PATRICK MCDONNELL: "My resolution is to do all I can to help make more people aware that animals are sentient beings. Taking action, even by making small, seemingly insignificant changes, can make a big difference in the lives of animals. It's really about awareness and kindness."
We thank our friends above for sharing their New Year's resolutions and hope you will join us in resolving to make 2011 a great year for animals! Watch highlights from 2010»
Learn more about these celebrity friends of animals:
Nigel Barker, internationally renowned as a photographer and judge on the show America's Next Top Model, has just authored his first book titled Nigel Barker's Beauty Equation: Revealing a Better and More Beautiful You.
Celebrated for his original and distinctive portraits of dogs and cats, painter and author Ron Burns is also noted for his longtime support of the animal shelter community. Burns shares his studio with his wife and best friend Buff and “furgirls” Loganberry and Emma. Find him online at www.ronburns.com.
Grammy-winning, platinum-selling singer songwriter Colbie Caillat is a spokesperson for The HSUS’s Puppy Mill Campaign. Check out her CDs, “Coco” and “Breakthrough,” and watch for her new CD coming out this spring.
Author Gotham Chopra and his father Deepak recently collaborated on a book titledWalking Wisdom: Three Generations, Two Dogs and the Search for a Happy Life.
Major recording artist Jackie Evancho is currently working on her full length cd for a spring 2011 release date. Find her online at www.JackieEvancho.com
Jorja Fox, star of the hit TV series CSI, has been a long-time supporter of The HSUS and our End Dogfighting campaign.
Tamar Geller is a best-selling author and life coach for dogs and their people. Her latest book is 30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog.
Carol Leifer is a comedian and a comedy writer. Her book of humorous essays is titledWhen You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win.
Patrick McDonnell is the creator and cartoonist of MUTTS™ and author of a number of books. Find more at www.muttscomics.com.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Sanctuary horses have a deadline to find Montana homes
Sanctuary horses have deadline to find MT homes
Posted: Mar 18, 2011 5:25 PM by Breanna Roy(KPAX News)
Updated: Mar 18, 2011 7:23 PM
Updated: Mar 18, 2011 7:23 PM
HAMILTON - More than 20 horses still need a home after the largest-ever sanctuary failure.
Rescuers and animal care organizations successfully re-homed about 75 percent of the horses and donkeys from the Montana Large Animal Sanctuary and Rescue after it shut down. But a few remaining horses will make a new home in Texas if they aren't adopted in the next two and a half weeks.
While caregivers and veterinarians named some of the horses, one horse, an Appaloosa bay mare, is referred to as No. 13. But she could care less, it seems, as long as she has a hand to touch her.
"She's just totally happy I'm standing here petting her, you know, giving her attention," Montana Equine Rescue founder Shannon Alexander said.
The horses have come a long way, not only the distance from the Hot Springs sanctuary to a temporary home at Wilde-r Farm in Hamilton, but each one has had to readjust to new situations and surroundings its entire life.
"A lot of the horses that came from the sanctuary just really didn't know that they could trust a human," Alexander said. "They all belonged to someone and, for whatever reason, the owners felt at the time that it as a good thing to do to take them to the large animal sanctuary. Things just didn't work out like it was anticipated, so they have a new hope for a fresh start."
From horses that are ready to hit the trail to others that would make better pasture mates, the ones that remain unclaimed have a wide variety of possible uses.
"Some people are looking for the weekend riding horse," Alexander said, ‘there's definitely some companion animals as well as horses that need to be trained. They all just need some love and attention. Know that they're cared about."
Something, Alexander assures, they will get at Texas sanctuary Habitat for Horses. And, chances are, even the unnamed Appaloosa will get a name, a home and a permanent person to pet her.
If you're interested in keeping one of those horses in Montana, visit the Montana Horse Sanctuary website.
For more information on adopting a horse, contact Jane Heath of the Montana Horse Sanctuary at (406) 264-5300.
Contact Jerry Finch of Habitat for Horses (409) 682-6621
Rescuers and animal care organizations successfully re-homed about 75 percent of the horses and donkeys from the Montana Large Animal Sanctuary and Rescue after it shut down. But a few remaining horses will make a new home in Texas if they aren't adopted in the next two and a half weeks.
While caregivers and veterinarians named some of the horses, one horse, an Appaloosa bay mare, is referred to as No. 13. But she could care less, it seems, as long as she has a hand to touch her.
"She's just totally happy I'm standing here petting her, you know, giving her attention," Montana Equine Rescue founder Shannon Alexander said.
The horses have come a long way, not only the distance from the Hot Springs sanctuary to a temporary home at Wilde-r Farm in Hamilton, but each one has had to readjust to new situations and surroundings its entire life.
"A lot of the horses that came from the sanctuary just really didn't know that they could trust a human," Alexander said. "They all belonged to someone and, for whatever reason, the owners felt at the time that it as a good thing to do to take them to the large animal sanctuary. Things just didn't work out like it was anticipated, so they have a new hope for a fresh start."
From horses that are ready to hit the trail to others that would make better pasture mates, the ones that remain unclaimed have a wide variety of possible uses.
"Some people are looking for the weekend riding horse," Alexander said, ‘there's definitely some companion animals as well as horses that need to be trained. They all just need some love and attention. Know that they're cared about."
Something, Alexander assures, they will get at Texas sanctuary Habitat for Horses. And, chances are, even the unnamed Appaloosa will get a name, a home and a permanent person to pet her.
If you're interested in keeping one of those horses in Montana, visit the Montana Horse Sanctuary website.
For more information on adopting a horse, contact Jane Heath of the Montana Horse Sanctuary at (406) 264-5300.
Contact Jerry Finch of Habitat for Horses (409) 682-6621
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Large animal sanctuary residents transferred to Missoula
The first 30 of an estimated 700 llamas from a defunct animal sanctuary in Niarada arrived in Missoula late Tuesday afternoon.
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The 30 momma llamas and cria were brought to the Missoula County Fairgrounds.
Minutes later, they left for a temporary home in the Bitterroot Valley after the driver decided it wasn't safe to unload the animals there because the llamas were too wild and didn't have halters.
The move was predicated on a need to get the llamas and their young out of the elements, said Steph Kassner, AniMeals volunteer coordinator.
"Having them here in Missoula should also provide quicker access for people considering adoption," she said.
AniMeals has taken the lead in caring for more than 1,000 animals left at the 400-acre Montana Large Animal Sanctuary, located 15 miles north of Hot Springs.
The sanctuary's owners, Brian and Kathryn Warrington, said they can no longer care for the animals after a funding source dried up.
Kassner said the decision to move the momma llamas and their babies was made after weather conditions deteriorated and volunteers weren't able to find adequate shelter for the newborns.
Some of the cria were just days old.
The organization also hopes that moving the animals closer to a population center will help in finding new homes for the llamas.
"We've had hundreds and hundreds of e-mails, phone calls and letters from people wanting to help, but we have not received a single adoption application for the llamas," she said.
That fact wouldn't surprise Char Hakes of the Safe Haven Llama and Alpaca Sanctuary in Corvallis.
Over this past year, that organization has adopted one llama. A year earlier, they adopted about eight.
"It's challenging to find homes for llamas right now," Hakes said.
The Corvallis facility currently houses about 65 llamas and 14 alpacas.
Those animals are wormed, vaccinated, and have their toenails trimmed on a regular basis, which is probably something that has not happened with the llamas from the Niarada sanctuary, she said.
Hakes has volunteered to help evaluate the Niarada llamas.
"I know there are a lot of males that haven't been gelded and there's probably some that have gone feral," Hakes said. "We're going to do whatever we can to help."
That probably will include some workshops for new llama owners over the next couple of months.
"Llamas have some specific needs," she said. "We can help show people what those are. ... Overall, llamas are easy keepers. It costs maybe $250 a year to care for them and that includes everything."
You can feed four llamas or up to six alpacas on the same amount of hay it takes to maintain one horse, Hakes said.
"Besides that, llamas are also quite peaceful animals to be around," she said.
Kassner said there are a lot of people wanting to help find new homes for the llamas.
"We've received e-mails from Texas, California, Canada and Washington from people willing to help," she said. "Llamas are hard to place. ... A lot of them are out of control, but we think in the right hands, they can be rehabilitated."
People can find an adoption application at www.animeals.com in the blog section, which can be found about halfway down the homepage on the right-hand side. Look for the bunny and the kitten.
"We will expedite all of the applications that we receive," Kassner said.
In the meantime, the llamas will have a chance to get acclimated at the Missoula fairgrounds for a week or 10 days before the public will be allowed to come take a look, said Missoula fairgrounds director Steve Earle in a conversation before the llamas drop-off was called off.
"When we heard about this we basically put our arms out and told them we would do everything we can to help," Earle said.
The initial plan called for setting aside a portion of the fairgrounds as a sick bay, nursery and fitness center for the llamas that won't be open to the public.
"As they become more accustomed to people, we'll put their street shoes on and people will be encouraged to come and take a look," Earle said.
The fairgrounds has been a staging area to collect hay and feed for the ongoing rescue effort happening in Niarada.
"We've talked about a lot of different possibilities with AniMeals and now, all of a sudden, they are becoming reality," Earle said.
Efforts to find new homes for the remaining animals at the sanctuary are moving forward too.
Phyllis Ruana of the Montana Animal Care Association of Corvallis said the donkeys that arrived in the Bitterroot Valley two weeks ago are starting to be adopted.
"Two left yesterday," she said.
The focus for the groups charged with finding new homes for the sanctuary's equines is now on the estimated 80 horses that remain at the site.
"That's big numbers in an economy when you can find a free horse almost any day," Ruana said. "Most of them are in pretty good condition, but some do have severe hoof issues."
The groups are considering bringing some of the horses to the Hamilton area to receive medical and hoof treatment in preparation for adoption.
For that to happen, Ruana said they need to have volunteers ready to help feed, clean stalls and do other chores.
"These horses will need around the clock care after their hooves are trimmed for a period of time," she said. "We don't want to get too many here at one time. Our volunteers will wear out."
The decision on what will happen with the horses should be made soon.
"The llama thing is big, but the horse thing is big too," she said.
People interested in volunteering can e-mail Jane Heath at ht@mt.net.
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