Know Your Neighbor -- Tamra Temple, Taking a Senior Dog And Giving It Love In Its Final Years

The Sierra County Sentinel ^ | 1/2/2015 | Etta Pettijohn

[girlangler]

“Nobody can fully understand the meaning of love unless he’s owned a dog. He can show you more affection with one flick of his tail than a man can gather through a lifetime of handshakes.”

Gene Hill, author of “The Dog Man.”

>At first glance, if it were not for its decrepit, arthritis-consumed back legs, one may not immediately recognize that a handsome old dog named Mo spent most of its years living under less-than-ideal conditions – before receiving affection, happiness and hope in its final days.< >For the first time in its 14 years on earth, the mixed breed dog has a warm bed (with a heating pad), plenty of tasty and nutritious food and a human hand to caress his muzzle and neck.< >And finally, in his geriatric years, Mo can move freely without tethers, thanks to Williamsburg resident Tamra Temple.< >Temple loves animals. She grew up among many, and with a father who was an American Kennel Club judge. In her early years, there were always Saint Bernards in her home; and later, while living on a Mennonite farm, she cared for an assortment of farm animals. >Temple said the Mennonites, with their commitment to non-violence and pacifism, led her to a life of passion for others,< including animals.< >Besides being a Pet Professional Guild member (www.petprofessionalguild.com), an association of force-free animal trainers, she also adopts and fosters abandoned and abused dogs. < >And she has learned, she said, that fostering, loving and caring for a geriatric dog brings far more rewards than inconvenience.< >“More people can do this than think they can,” she said. “It’s not as hard as it seems. I have two dogs already, another one is not much different.”<

>MO’S STORY<

>An acquaintance of Temple’s, who knows how much she loves animals, contacted her recently and informed her about an old dog chained to a mobile home located in a local RV park. The person said the dog had spent its life there, and they thought it was pretty old. The previous owner had been placed in a nursing facility due to dementia, and believed someone was taking care of her dog -- which turned out to not be the case. The mobile home was being removed, and there were questions about the fate of the dog.< >Temple said she went to check on the animal and found a very old male, bent from arthritis, tethered to a very short chain -- with no evidence it had been fed or watered regularly. It certainly had no shelter from the elements, she gathered, and it was obvious the canine had not been socialized or had much attention or care from humans.< >Temple’s heart ached for the poor dog, and she took him home.< >Upon examination by a local veterinarian, Temple was given the name of the previous owner, and discovered the dog had been taken there for shots, some 14 years ago.< >Several vet bills and weeks later Mo has gone from being a wretched castaway to a more energetic — and even loving — part of Temple’s family, which includes two other dogs, 14 chickens and two parrots.< >“He is so grateful,” she said. “Today I gave him a hardboiled egg, and he was so happy — just the look on his face showed how much he appreciated having something so simple — after such a hard life.”< >While one can only imagine what Mo must think, perhaps he considers that divine intervention has occurred when she feeds him her homemade food, made from canned salmon, fish oil, yams and other ingredients<. >“With Alco going out of business I have been able to get some good ingredients cheap,” she said.< >When Temple took Mo to the vet for its first examination, the doctor suggested there was no need for an expensive X-ray, because it was obvious its back legs were impaired due to age and neglect. The dog could barely stand, and it could barely hear. Temple also thinks he may have been hit by a car at one point, contributing to the problems in his hips and back legs.< >Despite all these problems, Mo shows all the signs of a very happy dog now. He can walk freely while no longer tethered, and has the curiosity of a puppy. The look on his face while being stroked on the head and neck defies description.< >“He lived such a hard life,” she said, “I just want for the remainder of it to be happy and loved.”< >Fostering, or adopting, a geriatric dog can have challenges, and not the least are veterinarian bills. After the first trip, Temple knew she needed some help, so she contacted a rescue organization in Santa Fe, and it posted a notice on the organization’s website. This led to one bag of dog food being donated.< >As a result, Temple has launched her own fundraising effort to help raise money for Mo’s expenses. So far she has raised $100, which may cover one visit and some treatment.< >You can read Mo’s courageous story, and send donations for Mo at: fundrazr.com/stories/78jvLe?psid=cf3f693c647645b7aed74fd0be084d7c&fb_ref=share__6109Y0.< >You can also email Temple at dogmentors@gmail.com.< >For those interested in fostering, or adopting an older dog, there are several websites that can offer advice, information and inspiration. One is at: www.today.com/pets/no-dog-should-die-alone-photographer-promotes-senior-pet-adoption-6C10658384; go to www.facebook.com/pages/Almost-Home-New-Mexico/203840136304815; or check with the local animal shelter.< >Mo lives in Temple’s home with another dog thought by many to be unadoptable, and surely destined to be euthanized. Nobody knows how long Mo will live, but his recovery so far has been remarkable – thanks to a kind woman this community can be proud to have as a neighbor.<

[Mercat]

I’m thinking about fixing my 15 year old cattle dog homemade food. Any recipes out there? Right now he’s on Science Diet for old dogs. He does pretty well on it but every once in a while he just tosses it all up, undigested. For several years he got bones and raw food (BARF) but our son has a compromised immune system so I don’t want to risk salmonella. So I may take the left over turkey broth and add rice and sweet potatoes.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Feed him more often and smaller amounts.

My cat does this if he has gotten too hungry. If I get off his feed schedule I give him a small snack and then feed him his meal about 45 minutes later.

[girlangler]

I just can’t seem to get the paragraph structure right. Can someone fix them?

[girlangler]

/Users/jrabsher/Desktop/Screen Shot 2015-01-02 at 9.10.12 PM.png

[Baynative]

Do you have a link to the original story?

[Mercat]

We feed him twice a day plus select table scraps at lunch and dinner. He never throws those up. LOL He’s pretty healthy for 112 or 105, I’ve lost track and I’m afraid to look at his records.

[TurboZamboni]

Adopting an old dog

One by One, they pass by my cage,
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.
Way past his time, he can’t run and play.
Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way.

A little old man, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.
Now my muzzle is gray, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?

My family decided I didn’t belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.
Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can’t justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.

When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw thru the gray, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.
You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.

We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.
I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart, it will grieve.
And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.