Plea for help -- save Chaca

Chaca, the beautiful, endearing, complex, difficult, wonderful dog, has received a temporary stay of execution, so to speak. But she needs your help in order to survive.

Some of you know this story, or parts of it, and some don't. I've provided details below, and it's a long story, but a compelling one. Basically, she needs funding for training & fostering, and she also will need a new home. I know that there are many demands on your good will and charity, especially during this holiday time, but if you can help even a little bit, I will be eternally grateful, and so will Chaca.

I love this dog more than I can possibly describe. Chaca started off life abandoned and discarded, but she deserves a happy ending -- Will you help give one to her?

Here's the scoop:
Chaca is approximately 1 1/2 years old and is a small border collie mix. At around 4 or 5 months old, she was abandoned in a drop box at a shelter, and probably was abused before being discarded. She was fostered briefly, and then adopted by a family that is loving, but very inexperienced with dogs.




I have been taking Chaca out in small dog playgroups for almost a year, and have occasionally boarded her in my home for short periods. She has made progress in many areas, but is not a good match for the family she has been living with (-- one of them never wanted a dog to begin with, and Chaca knows it).

Chaca is a wonderful and loving dog, but needs to live with someone experienced with border collies or other herding dogs, someone who can be not only loving, but consistent and firm.

Chaca plays well with other dogs, and many people at the park remark upon what a good playmate she is. Being a border collie, she is semi-obsessed with chasing the ball, of course, but also enjoys play with other dogs and will not guard her toys.

She has always been uncomfortable with being reached for (--god knows the abuse she probably experienced as a puppy!), but while she used to allow me and some others to put on her leash or take her collar, she now sometimes attempts to flee, or failing that, to growl, snap, and eventually nip as a last resort. She has nipped several times and has broken skin and clothing, and/or caused bruising, but no one has required medical attention other than bandaids, etc. She has shown mild leash reactivity, and some food-guarding issues, as well, but has made progress with training. She wants to please, and is extremely smart.

Over the last several months the relationship between Chaca and her family worsened until, not knowing what to do, the family believed they had to euthanize Chaca. However, at the last minute, they were put in contact with Larry Johnson, an Animal Care and Control officer with a background as a dog trainer. (He is featured on the television show Animal Cops San Francisco; see his bio here.) Larry met Chaca and is willing to board Chaca privately while he attempts to assess and train her; he is doing this for a very reasonable discounted fee, but it is still a financial burden on the family.

I have donated time and services for Chaca, and am willing to foster her for a while, but cannot adopt her myself or pay for the full training period. So I appeal to you, my friends, colleagues, neighbors, and fellow dog-lovers: Please contribute toward her training (even $10 or $20 will be of great help), and spread the word so that we can locate an experienced dog person who might be interested in taking on this "project dog." You can click on the link below to donate via Paypal (you don't need to have a paypal account), or if you prefer to talk to me, the family, or the trainer directly, please send an email to savechaca@gmail.com

Honestly, how can you resist this face...?

Kennel Cough -- a misnomer

Two of my clients recently took their pets to the vet for vaccination boosters, and when asked whether they wanted to vaccinate for "kennel cough", replied something to the effect that they didn't put their dogs in kennels, so no they did not.

This made me realize that a little helpful information spreading is in order...

Kennel cough is a bronchitis characterized by a harsh, hacking cough which most people describe as sounding like “something stuck in my dog’s throat.” It is analogous to a chest cold for humans. It is usually caused by airborne bacteria, most commonly bordetella, but can also be caused by viruses or other organisms.

It is highly contagious among dogs, although usually not serious to any but the very young/old or immuno-suppressed, but despite it's nickname of kennel cough, it is just as easily spread anywhere at all that dogs congregate, for example the dog park, the corner cafe where dogs are often tied up, etc. Particularly since many owners will not recognize the symptoms in their dog, which may be quite mild, and will unknowingly take their dogs out while contagious. Vaccinations are available (given either annually or even twice per year) -- discuss with your vet whether your dog should receive one.

For more info, you can Google "canine bordetella" or visit sites like this one or or talk to your vet.

There, that's the lesson of the day. ;-)

Petunia update

I previously chronicled the plight of Petunia, who needed some operations, and her foster mom, who needed some financial assistance. Well, I'm happy to report that a number of people donated small amounts, and thanks to their help and the foster-mom's dedication, Petunia is recovering nicely from a successful surgery.

Now that she is healthy and in a loving environment, Petunia is letting her playful, sweet personality show through.

Thanks to all who helped, and asked about her.

Citipets (new pet store in West Portal)

Today's post is a shameless plug for a new pet store in West Portal called Citipets (183 West Portal Ave., S.F., 415-564-1183). I attended the opening party on this rainy and chilly night, and was really impressed.

The products are great quality, and the prices are very fair. But best of all, it's a family business run by local people who are involved in the community and really experienced with pet care. They've been doing dog-walking, training, and pet-sitting for years, and it shows.


Check it out -- it's an easy stop on the way to Fort Funston or Stern Grove, for those of us who don't actually live in West Portal. Their prices on food like Innova, Solid Gold, Wellness, and other premium brands are great. The store is also well-laid out, and inviting, so check it out, and bring your pooch with you! Tell them Eden says hello.

New Addition -- a Pug Puppy!

Meet Willy. Could he be any cuter? I think not.

He's still too young to come out with the group, but I'm enjoying my visits with him, and watching him develop.




While Leroy's family is still grieving his loss, I am happy they were able to open their hearts and home to a new life. There's nothing like a puppy to keep you in the moment!

He will definitely keep us all on our toes, I think. All that puppy energy...


I told them about some of my favorite resources for new puppy owners, including the book After You Get Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar (can be purchased from Dogwise.com by clicking here), and the organization SF Puppy Prep (see their site here) which offers both a Puppy Happy Hour and a Small Dog Happy Hour every Friday evening.






Boy, I'd forgotten how tough it is to get a puppy to hold still long enough to get a non-blurry picture! Especially with my old digital, with its unbearable lag-time between pressing the shutter, and the picture being taken.

For more pictures of Willy, both blurry and not, you can navigate from my homepage www.sfdogzone.com, or go directly to Willy's album.