Sam Geist/Courtesy photograph
On the afternoon of Oct. 2, 5 seven-month-old dogs were found in Avon close to the Maverik gasoline station and had been initially described as “aggressive” and “operating in a pack mentality” in a Facebook post by Avon Police Department. Throughout the afternoon, into the night and finally the following day, Avon cops, Eagle County Animal Services area officers and others labored collectively by pouring rain, darkish and chilly to rescue the dogs and convey them to security on the Eagle County Animal Shelter.
Though that they had a tough introduction to Eagle County, the 5 dogs have since discovered a caring neighborhood on the shelter, the place they’ve been socialized with a wide range of folks and animals and given a clear invoice of well being. They noticed the shelter’s vet on Monday, Oct. 9, and had been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, examined for heartworm and dewormed. All of the puppies went up for adoption Thursday.
“They’re all doing well. They’re playing each day up front with us. We’re interacting with them. They’re meeting new dogs, playing with puppies that we have here, and with older dogs that we have at the shelter,” mentioned Rhiannon Rowe, supervisor of the Eagle County Animal Shelter.
The dogs are believed to be littermates, round seven months old, and a few sort of shepherd combine, maybe Dutch shepherds. They had been named by Eagle County Animal Services officers Nathan Lehnert and Theresa LeMaitre after characters within the film “Top Gun,” as they had been discovered close to the Maverik gasoline station in Avon. The two boys within the litter are named Goose and Maverick, and the three women are Phoenix, Charlotte and Penny.
After difficult begin, puppies opened up
While the dogs’ precise historical past is unknown, the time and placement they had been discovered, in addition to the conduct they displayed after they arrived on the shelter, have supplied some clues about their background. “We believe they probably didn’t have a lot of human and other animal interaction before they came to us, just because they are a little shy at first, but they warm up really quickly,” Rowe mentioned.
“It was tough because they were getting labeled as aggressive and dangerous, and we were worried at first that bringing them in here and trying to find homes for them, people were going to see those labels and worry that they were aggressive, and that’s completely not the case,” Rowe mentioned.
Lehnert, who was a part of the staff that rescued the dogs in Avon, agreed with Rowe’s evaluation. “It’s really clear that these dogs have not been socialized. When they came in, they did not know how to act, and it has only been a couple weeks, and they’re different dogs,” Lehnert mentioned.
Although throughout rescue efforts, the dogs displayed some protecting conduct, it was on account of their unfamiliarity with the scenario, and ensuing fear-driven pack mentality. Since arriving on the shelter, the animals have displayed utterly completely different conduct, based on Rowe.
“We just want to make sure that people understand that these dogs were in a really scary situation. They were probably dumped in a place that they had no idea where they were. It was cold, it was raining. There were so many people trying to help them, but they didn’t understand. And being so young, they were looking at each other, because that’s probably all they’ve known, and they trusted each other but they didn’t trust anyone else,” Rowe mentioned.
“They were in a situation that was terrible for them, and for them to come back so quickly and learn to trust humans and other dogs so quickly is pretty amazing, and we think that their resilience is just really great. It’s a humbling story for everyone involved, especially the officers that were out there,” Rowe mentioned.
The dogs’ personalities have shone by since arriving on the shelter. “They all pretty much have that same goofy puppy personality, but some of them are a little bit more outgoing, and Charlotte’s a little bit not as outgoing. They love treats, they love cuddles, they’re very nice dogs,” Rowe mentioned.
“I think all of the staff here have had moments with each of those dogs wanting to just climb in their lap and just be with them, and so that has been pretty amazing to see them just trust us so quickly and learn that they’re safe, and that has been fun,” Rowe mentioned.
Energetic dogs search lively households
The dogs will likely be adopted out individually, consistent with the shelter’s coverage for puppies in the identical litter. They have additionally been stored individually on the shelter, because of the pack mentality they exhibited to officers when frightened in Avon.
Though they had been disadvantaged of correct socialization in the beginning of their lives, households that undertake the dogs can treatment it by guaranteeing they get a number of socialization going ahead. “Being that they’re young, I think that’s great for them because they haven’t had many years of not being able to socialize, so I think they’re going to do great being in homes where people can give them that kind of — human and other animals — interaction and socialization,” Rowe mentioned.
The puppies will likely be medium to giant in measurement when absolutely grown, and can do finest in properties with lively households which might be ready to take the time to socialize the dogs and train them on a bodily and psychological degree. The dogs at the moment weigh in at almost 30 kilos, and are anticipated to develop to round 50 kilos or bigger, be very clever, and have quite a lot of vitality.
“(Dutch shepherds are) high energy, very smart, very trainable, very loyal, just really nice dogs, but families have to realize that they’re not going to be couch potatoes. They’re going to want to get out there and go on hikes and play in the snow. They also crave stimulation. They crave working, learning how to do commands — sit, stay, lay down — they want to do all of that stuff,” Rowe mentioned.
“Also, (adopting) families (will be most successful) that are going to take the time to build their confidence by getting them out there and meeting new people, different stimulus, and just being able to get out there and experience the world,” Rowe mentioned.
Like any puppies, they’ll must be skilled, however their intelligence makes them extremely trainable. “They still have a little bit of growing to do, but they’re past the tiny, tiny puppy stage. They still need that basic training, leash work, but they’re so smart, so they pick it up really quickly,” Rowe mentioned.
Rowe has solely constructive expectations for his or her futures. “These guys had a really tough start to our county, whether they were dumped or not, and so just for people to understand, they are really good dogs, and they will make great companions,” Rowe mentioned.
Information concerning the puppies might be discovered on the shelter’s web site and Facebook, and the third-party pet adoption web site Petfinder. Those excited by adopting one of many puppies can attain out to the shelter and organize a time to satisfy them in-person. The Eagle County Animal Shelter and the Inn at Riverwalk will likely be additionally co-sponsoring an adoption occasion on Friday, Oct. 20. From 4 p.m. to six p.m., the foyer of the lodge will characteristic a number of lovely puppies up for adoption. “Any of these guys that aren’t adopted by then will be at the event,” Rowe mentioned.
