We love dogs

We love dogs.  I love dogs, my husband loves dogs, Widget loves dogs (he has since he was a tiny infant), and they love him.  Ever since we brought Widget home from the hospital, our pup has followed him around incessantly, protective of him when new people came to visit, hovering at their feet as they held him and making sure that all was okay.  Lately, Widget has been really fascinated by cats — but the soft “dog!” and delighted coo each morning when our dog comes into his room to greet him (and ask to be fed) is so sweet and wonderful.  

We’ve been preparing Widget for the arrival of his new baby brother by reading him books and talking about babies when the subject comes up.  We recently realized, however, that we’re not doing all we can to prepare the new baby brother (due in 3 short months) for the prospect of living with dogs.  When I was pregnant with Widget, we had 3 dogs who barked and played, and, as a result, Widget has never so much as blinked at the noise of dogs barking.  He even sleeps through it with no problems.  But now we’re down to one dog (the others were geriatric, and time has passed), a very quiet dog, at that.  He doesn’t bark.  He doesn’t whine.  He doesn’t even remind us to let him back inside if he’s been out too long.  He’s absolutely wonderful.  But what happens when we get another dog and he keeps the new baby up at night? 

I had a brainstorm the other week.  I would simply take Widget and the baby in my belly (hereafter called Whybaby, because sentences like this are just too weird) to visit the dogs at our local animal shelter.  Daddy and I used to volunteer there (and at others) and there was always plenty of barking and howling in the kennel area.  Surely an hour of this chaos now and then would not only be fun for Widget & me, but good preparation for Whybaby and his sleeping skills once he’s born.  We packed a snack and went to the Washington Animal Rescue League.

The Washington Animal Rescue League has been a favorite of mine ever since we’ve lived here.  This no-kill shelter has been in continuous operation since 1914 and has been a model facility for many many years.  They started keeping dogs of similar size and temperament together for companionship and to reduce stress years ago.  Similarly, all the dogs have slept on elevated beds off the floor, and they are fed a top-quality diet.  Since they house dogs together (and, as a private shelter, they are not under the onus to accept every intake, as public animal shelters must), they fill their cages by working with overcrowded shelters in this and other areas, similar to the way that rescues work today. 

When we arrived, we saw signs posted for an open house to introduce their renovated facility to the community.  The place had changed completely.  The cages with chain link fencing are gone.  The overwhelming noise of dogs barking, whining, and pleading is gone.  In their place, each pair or trio of dogs have their own glass-block room with a frosted glass dutch door for privacy.  This enables them to chill out and get the rest they need, even if a kennel worker, volunteer, or visitor is walking up and down the aisles.  No longer do big dogs rush the front of the cages and beg for attention from people who are just looking — or just looking for that perfect little toy dog.  At about waist level, the doors and sides of the cages are clear glass for a more open effect, while blocking noise from nearby cages.  The top part of the door can remain open for air if the dog is not overstressed.  The top of each kennel is covered with a glass roof with cascading water for a soothing look and light white noise.  During the day, they pipe in relaxing music to further calm the dogs.  The only noise in the kennel area came from the soft rush of the waterfalls, gentle harp music, and the occasional click-clicking of a dog being walked to the outdoor exercise area.  No dogs barked when we opened the door.  No dogs howled when their neighbor got attention.  There wasn’t a frustrated or cage-mad dog in the joint.  It was actually quite lovely.

Add the new environment to their practices of walking each dog three or more times a day, the fantastic cat area with kittens free to roam among the rooms and an oxygenated waterfall for them to drink, and this is truly a pleasant place to visit.

Unless, of course, you came by to hear the noise.

Click here for a recent story from The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/20/AR2006102001399.html and photos:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2006/10/20/GA2006102001384.html

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