Just had the SPCA officer come by and pick up a st...

Just had the SPCA officer come by and pick up a stray female sheperd. The dog had found her way to our shaded porch. For the few days she had come. She would wander off and then return when the heat peaked. She'd bar the doorway when we needed to leave home. Something needed to be done. And although we were not comfortable calling the shelter, we did. The officer came by shortly after we called into the SPCA. After he arrived and stood in front of the dog. She barked at him to keep him at a distance . Prior to his visit I had had a similar experience with her. Despite her protest, the officer was very patient and spoke to her kindly. Eventually he caught her. Still as they drove off together, I was concerned for - as many know the plight that dogs face in shelters.

I got online to see what reviews there were that might be reassuring. While there were some negative ones, there were positve ones as well.
The most helpful ones were those that provided a broader perspective about the over population of pets and the abuse to animals. These issues are not select to Fresno. Neither are the financial constrictions that befall shelters including the Fresno SPCA.

I recognize that not all volunteers in shelters sometime relate better to animals I am thankful I have had good experiences with both regular staff and those that are volunteers.

In the past over a period of time, I have gotten three puppies from this shelter. As of the last time that I saw my two last dogs one was was 12 years old (Elsa my very friendly golden retriever). And Z was 8 years old, a sheltie mix who turned out to have stubby short legs. Z when inside of my yard would run to the fence and with much bravado bark to send the alarm that strangers were approaching, and then Elsa would back him up with an even louder bark. Still an intruder got in through the gates one day and took them away.

One of the things that consistently occurred as I searched for my dogs quite amazed me and gave me hope. I grew up at a time when you were familiar with many of your neighbors. Now, that is not so. People have become more distant and put up personal walls. So it surprised me how many doors opened wide and the number of people who showed their great concern and gave well wishes. The common denominator for the opportunity to have these conversations was the care for their own dogs and fear they could lose them too. Some had their own stories they wanted to tell.

I see it as a blessing for the opportunities I had to speak and be heard by people. It gave me a new hope in people and in humanity.
Love holds no bounds.

I am thankful for the Fresno SPCA. Their door was always open during the time frames they are set up to work for such a great cause. I regularly stopped there weekly for 3 months after my dogs were gone. I wish I had a better ending to my experience. MY dogs were never found.

I am also thankful for the compassionate woman who worked there at the shelter who always listened, and when I was further into my search I told her I wasn't so sure how long to keep coming. She quietly said, "You will know."

While it has been a few years back that my dogs were taken, I still miss Elsa and Z.