Although our primary goal is adoption, we also shelter animals that are not available for adoption for a variety of reasons. Our safekeeping program provides free sheltering for pets whose owners are experiencing an emergency like a house fire or a health crisis. One recent situation was particularly touching and had a very happy ending.
We received a call from the Arlington Police in late December to pick up a dog and a cat from a home where they had found the owner deceased. One of our Animal Control Officers picked up the pets and brought them to the shelter for safekeeping.
Because the deceased had no will, it took the family some time to get the legal authorization to pick up the pets. (This is a reminder to each of us to make sure that we have a will and that we include our wishes for the care of our pets in it.) We knew the pets would be spending at least a couple of weeks at the shelter. We were concerned about the emotional well being particularly of Rose, a sweet Basset Hound, so we asked one of our kennel volunteers to be her special caregiver. The volunteer took her for long walks and spent extra time with her. At the end of the pets’ stay, the volunteer wrote a report on Rose’s behavior and temperament while she was with us.
While Rose stayed with us, we noticed a health problem and sent a urine sample to a veterinarian who determined that she had a urinary tract infection. We treated her with antibiotics.
A couple of weeks ago the next-of-kin picked up the two pets from us. We received the following e-mail from her:
Just wanted to send thanks again to everyone who helped take care of Rose & Portia after my sister […]’s death, until I was able to come and straighten out their legal situation and pick them up. …
I can’t tell you how happy and thankful [we] were, when we came to pick R & P up last Monday, to see in what good spirits they both were. Alice B [the Animal Control Officer] had already assured me that they were receiving lots of care and attention, but I still thought that they might be depressed or disoriented by all they went through, and then being in a strange place & circumstances. Instead, Rose was dancing around on the leash, obviously very at ease with the guy who brought her out to us, and Portia, though less demonstrative, is clearly doing well too. We also appreciate your attentiveness to Rose that made it possible for you to find out about her urinary tract infection, and start her on medication for it.
[My sister] would be so grateful, too, for all your help and care –
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