September 17
Day 4 – NRG Arena, Houston, TX
Today I headed over to the NRG Arena for my shifts in Dog Care Support. Dog Care Supports shifts are 4hr-shifts. There are also volunteer options in Cat Care Support, Greeter/Volunteer Coordinator, Warehouse Assistant, Errand Runner, Adoption & Reunion, Photographer, Admin Support, Data Entry, and Organizer/Cleaner. Needless to say, we are short staffed in all areas.
And things change on a daily basis as we figure out how to be most productive and ready for any emergencies that might come our way. It reminds me a lot about Hurricane Ivan and the destruction and impacts it had on Gulf Breeze. Anyone being part of the response team or volunteered probably remembers how things evolved as we were faced with the issues. We got smarter and we got organized. Same here. It’s my understanding that this is the first time Best Friends has jumped in and taken on the animal welfare after a disaster of this proportion.
I was in great spirit this morning, heading over but a little frustrated about getting there. This is day 3 and so far 3 different ways of getting to the right place. The NRG Park is huge…
After getting lost a few times, I stubbornly (is that a word??) turned onto a street/entrance that clearly indicated that I have no business being there….oh well stuff happens.
I end up at a gate and an elderly, super-sweet, oh-so-southern-totally-Texas-Cowboy stops me and asks in the most southern dialect I’ve ever heard how he can help me. I have to tell you, the Texans are by far the kindest people I’ve ever met!
Long story short, he points me in the right direction and lets me through the gate. THANK YOU! Mr Supersweet-Very Southern Dialect-Cowboy!
I’m excited and ready for a new day. I feel mentally strong and very convinced that TODAY will be the day I’ll get through this without another mental meltdown.
Top: The NRG Arena and my safe haven.
Bottom: The NRG Stadium.
On my way in, I spotted a guy from a military unit. He is sitting on the curb and as I walked by I said good morning and was about to thank him for his services. He looked up at my “good morning” and I noticed tears covering his face and his eyes are bloodshot. I asked if he’s ok and he responds: yes, it’s just very cold in there so I’m out here warming up.
My first thought was that that was the weirdest response I’ve ever heard but then I realize, this is not a “normal” situation, something we are faced with every day and we all deal with it in our own ways. I know where he’s coming from. My mind goes there every day when I try to make sense of what makes up my world right now.
I couldn’t even think of anything authentic and real to respond so I just keep walking. I’m thinking to myself; he must think I’m totally rude and he is probably thinking “she must think I’m nuts”. Either way, in this place it doesn’t matter. We’ve all been there, and we will all go there many times again before it’s over.
As I walk in, I see a big RV in one corner (yeah, that’s the size of this place…RV’s and trucks drive right in to deliver. I sign in and am pointed over to the RV. It’s a delivery of about 50+ pets from the Montgomery Fairground Area which is where many pets have been kept but now transported to the Best Friends Quarters.
I join the line of volunteers eager to take the newcomers for a walk while their crates/pens are being set up.
That’s part of what we do at Doggie Care Support.
When it’s my turn, I walk up and greet the dog being brought out from the RV. It’s a gorgeous white shepherd/lab (I’m wildly guessing here) and he is clearly happy to be out of the crate but a little confused about all the people. I head straight out to my “haven” and he is a perfect walker, stays right next to me without pulling or jumping. As soon as we reach the grassy area he does his business and all is great and I’m thinking that he’s been through some rough last weeks so I’m going to sit down in the shade under the tree and cuddle with him for a minute or two. Turns out he really likes that. He loves being held and hugged and that’s when I get to take a close look at him.
First I noticed some marks and scars on his ear but at a closer look, there are scares and lots of spots on his face that bare marks from what looks like bites to me. My happy heart sinks very, very, very fast. Somehow in a crazy way, my mind is trying to stop me from going down that path….so I try to think happy thoughts.
So after some cuddle time – did I mention this guy loves to cuddle? – we head inside and he is still all happy and tail wagging. Until we get closer to his pen….. There are dogs all around him and they start barking. My little guy completely freezes up with tail between his legs, lays flat on the floor and refuses to move. Thinking back, I’m not exactly sure how I reacted. I think I might have gone behind him and pushed his butt, flat on the floor and all, to his pen… Maybe I carried him, but that would be pretty heavy.
It doesn’t matter, I got him in his pen and that’s when I came completely unglued. So much for having it all together today! I tried so hard not to cry but there is nothing in this world that could have stopped it. So there I am, supposed to be the strength and support for this guy, and instead, I’m wrapped around his neck bawling and his head is tucked in under my chest. We’re both very comfortable that way actually, and that’s how we stay for the next 10-15 minutes…I could easily stayed there, on the floor in his pen, all day long.
I stayed with him for about 30 minutes, but unfortunately, the dog in the pen next to him is an aggressive barker and scared the crap of my guy. So I decided to find some cardboard boxes and zip ties (we have lots of that here, and use as dividers between crates and pens) to add a little privacy, and I “bully-proof” his pen, attaching cardboard with zip ties, from all sides except one, where the sweetest husky is “homed”. I figured they could be good for each other.
I also walked over and talked to one of the main folks from Best Friends to see if I can get this dog moved into the “Library”. That’s the name of our newest section, which is a slightly more quiet section (if there is such thing here”, away from the huge main area). It’s used for dogs that are very stressed, or sick but not sick enough to be in the medical ward, and the smallest dogs. We have covered the tall fencing with…yep you guessed it, cardboards zip tied to the fence and built up as high as we could get it. It does a great job blocking some of the sound. Over 500 dogs in one huge space gets loud…I might get my little buddy moved over there tomorrow.
A moment of peace. For both of us.
We made flyers for each pet, in two languages. In the end, over 18,000 flyers had been distributed.
So remember the little non-eater from yesterday? All day today I kept looking for him and could not find him. My heart was sinking as the day went by.
I know it sounds stupid but I made a promise to him to come back if he promised to eat and it was killing me to even think that I would not be able to keep it, and let him down.
As we were wrapping it up for the night I decided to make another round in the area I remember seeing him. I didn’t have much hopes because we have moved a lot of the dogs to bigger, nicer pens and I didn’t know if he might been moved.
It took me about 20 minutes but I did find him and turns out he ate a little bit today. So, of course, I had to live up to my promise. Yeah, I know some of you are thinking “It’s a dog!” True, but how many times has he been let down before? I don’t want to be another statistic in this little guys life.
I also stopped by a couple of times to check on my skinny minny momma, the one who did not respond to treats or love/touch the first day. Well, today she looked up as I was walking down her aisle and got up with her tail wagging left and right. These are the little things that keep me going and puts a huge! smile on my face!
I didn’t get to spend some time inside her pen today but that’s on my schedule for tomorrow along with some super treats! I mean, peanut butter smeared on top of bacon kinda stuff!
Also had a moment with Amazing Grace before heading out.
I’m going to start an album and hopefully get all the sweet pups and kitties up here before this week is over. There will be a huge adoption event in October for all the pets that has not been claimed. I just pray that they all will find their forever home. There is not a single pet here that does not deserve it.
I also want to thank you all for your sweet and encouraging comments on Facebook, texts, voicemails, and prayers. You have no idea how much it lifts my spirit when I feel like I’m done. Please don’t stop, you give me the strength when I’m weak and struggling.
Thank you all for helping me make this possible!
Tomorrow is a new day and I’m scheduled to work Adoption & Reunite….can’t wait!
Sweet Amazing Grace.
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