There's a little dog lost out there. Could she be yours?
The lost dog, who is part Chihuahua and miniature Doberman, walked into Our Place on Flagler Ave. and First St. during game one of the World Series, three Saturdays ago.
Michele, who was watching the game there with some friends, said the dog was running around "scared out of her mind," but no one knew the dog or its owner, so Michele took the dog home with her.
Michele's landlord has let the dog stay for awhile, but it has been over three weeks now, and no one has claimed her. So the little lost dog had to be taken to the shelter on Tuesday.
"She's such a great dog," said Michele. "I hated to leave her at the shelter, but that's what I had to do. My landlord said she had to go."
Little lost dog weighs about 10 pounds and hasn't been spayed yet. She's a reddish brown color with black Doberman markings, and only about a year old.
If you know this dog, or would like to adopt her, please go out and see her at the Key West shelter. They're open Mon-Fri, 10-6 and on Saturdays from 10-2, phone 294-4857. Let's hope little lost dog will find a good home.
UPDATE: as of Fri., Nov. 17, Little Lost Dog is recouperating from a broken leg that was
sustained before she was brought in to the shelter in Key West. She will be up for adoption as soon as her leg
is healed, said George Whiting, shelter manager, on Wed., Nov. 15.
After my trip up the road on Sunday-- about 20 miles from Key West, to a two-acre paradise that's home to over sixty love birds, conures, parrots, parrotlets, and macaws-- my perception of the meaning of "bird brain" has changed dramatically.
For the last 12 years, Terry and Carl Reid have had birds as companionsand raised their offspring. They are hobby breeders and caretakers to some of the most beautiful birds on the planet. They know each bird by name, each separate personality.
Some of their birds have found a home with them because the bird required more attention than the owner could give it, or because the bird was abused and brought to them for care-- like their beautiful blue and gold macaw named Peanut.
"Peanut was brought to us by a landscaper friend," said Terry. "She was living in a cage that was constantly covered by a blanket, because Peanut's owner said she made too much noise. She had been living this way for over two years," said Terry. "Unbelievable! And every time my friend would do yard work over there, he would say, `Do you really want this bird? Because I know someone who would take her for you.'" Finally Peanut's owner (who had inherited the bird) agreed to let her go, and she came to live with Terry and Carl.
"She was deeply traumatized, just crazed," said Terry, "and would act out by regurgitating on her foot and then waving her foot around. This is not normal bird behavior," she said. "This beautiful creature had been living in the dark, and treated like a lawn ornament," Terry said. "Not to mention that Peanut had been passed from one person to another for years. It took her a long time to trust a human again. Even so, I saw that Peanut was heavy-hearted. She didn't play like happy, healthy birds do."
In time, Terry brought in her macaw named Rocky to see if they got along. "One thing that's important to know about these birds is that they choose one another and they also choose their caretakers." So Terry watched and waited to see what would happen.
"Peanut wouldn't get near Rocky," said Terry. "So I brought in another macaw named Big Boy. But they didn't get on, either. " Then Terry realized that a rat had been lurking around Peanut's cage, which would account for the birds' behavior. Once the rat was gone, she bought in Rocky again. "And I saw the most wonderful thing—Peanuts was playing on the top of her cage. I had never seen this bird play before and it was a joy! And Rocky was displaying his feathers to her." So this love story had a happy ending after all-- "and Rocky and Peanut had beautiful babies, very playful and cuddly."
"You know," said Terry, "these birds are, number one, wild. They are tamed wild creatures. They are not domestic pets like cats and dogs. Some are only one generation away from the forest. And they're `flock' birds. So, they need a routine-- to know when you leave and when you come back. They need to keep track of you. You keep them on their terms. If you yell at them for bad behavior, it only reinforces it. They can't help their instincts. So the way to make a change is to ignore the behavior and distract them with preferred behavior-- they're easily distracted," said Terry. "Give them a toy to play with."
"Second, they choose you. You don't choose them. I don't think people realize how important you are to your bird. Some bond to you-- for life. And some of them need constant attention. They can be very high maintenance companions."
"If you want a bird," said Carl, "think about your personality, your lifestyle. Can you spend time with your bird? Then study the type of bird you want to get, look for information on the internet or at your library," he said.
"It's good to plan ahead too," said Terry. "Macaws live to be 70 years old! And parrots and love birds all live for at least 20-25 years. Who will take care of them when you can't?"
Perhaps one of the most startling and dramatic facts I learned about birds is that they choose us. And that a lot more than we think is going on in their little heads. These birds are aware of us as individuals. They're not `bird- brains.'
"And they express a range of feelings," said Terry. "Joy, anger, grief. They allow us to be in their
lives-- not the other way around."
Key West Kritter Patrol's Kritter Kristmas, the "pet party of the year," is happening again one month from today, Sun., Dec. 10, from 2-5 p.m. at the Curry Mansion at 515 Caroline Street.
Ce Ce Crane, KW Kritter Patrol director, is already making plans to make this party even more fun than last year's. Many of last year's events will be happening this year too, including a professional photo taken with Santa of your pets and family, the Pet Blessing, a Santa and Mrs. Claus look-alike pet contest, and live music and refreshments (including Edith Amsterdam's famous eggnog).
The ever-popular Kritter Patrol T-shirts with cartoons drawn by the late and great cartoonist Jeff MacNelly, and also by cartoonists Mike Peters, and Jim Davis of Garfield cartoon fame, will be on sale.
A bag of dry catfood to help feed stray cats is the only entrance fee, said Crane.
If you'd like to volunteer to help meet and greet Kritter Kristmas Party guests, please give Ce Ce Crane a call at 293-6983. And put December 10th on your holiday calendar, for this is one of the most fun events of the season!