Animals rescued from hoarding: One volunteer's perspective

I volunteer with an incredible group, United Animal Nations that rescues animals in crisis – natural disasters, hoarding situations or puppy mills.  On August 31, my sister Jeanne and I deployed to the small town of Baker, Montana (pop. 1,700) to assist with a dog rescue from a hoarding situation.  The first evening, all of the volunteers gathered for a dinner to get acquainted.  It was an amazing feeling to be in a room of 20 strangers, yet knowing we all already had something in common and a mission to fulfill.

Please continue to this personal blog post by EARS volunteer Marsha Steckling of Boulder, Colorado to read the rest of her story and see some great photos!

Rescued Montana dogs settling in at Colorado shelter

Today we received some photos and an update from EARS volunteer Marsha Steckling, who visited five  of the Montana dogs transferred to the Longmont Humane Society in Longmont, Colorado.

Marsha reports that:

"The dogs were still pretty frightened and shy but showing some good signs. One of the dogs licked the hand of the behaviorist in charge of them and even expressed a tail wag! The behaviorist, Sarah, is incredibly patient and loving and has a great understanding of feral, shy dogs. They will work as long as it takes to rehab these dogs and will find them the right homes."

Check out the photos below!

Latest News Article on the Montana Dogs

Hoarded dogs sent to Larimer Humane Society, The Coloradoan, Fort Collins

EARS gives Montana dogs a second chance

Submitted by UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies

As with all the others, this deployment brought us many challenges as well as successes. From the can opener that took an engineering degree to make it work, to tricky dogs who refused to stay in their kennels and found various ways to get out and run, frolic and play a one-sided game of chase, to dogs who had never set foot outside of the attic – let alone felt the touch of human hands. The one thing that continually stood out to me was the volunteers' kindness toward the animals and to each other.

These were not your run-of-the-mill “neglected” dogs. These guys were taken care of, but with the inevitable limitations of what only one person can do with 100 dogs. Many seemed friendly, but would not allow us to touch them. This all came from fear of the unknown, but the volunteers took that in stride and showed the utmost patience and compassion for these animals. While calmly communicating with each other, backing each other up and spotting one another, the volunteers cared for these animals like they had never been cared for before. Cleaning their crates or even feeding thoroughly traumatized some of these dogs. The volunteers worked together as a team and spoke softly, moved slowly, and even sang to the dogs. That EARS magic did its trick.

After a day or two of being calmly and quietly cared for, many of these dogs started to show interest, curiosity, bravery and even affection. They would come toward the front of the kennel and give a few tentative kisses to the hands that fed them. Some allowed pets and scratches, some even rolled over for belly rubs. These small victories were shared among the team of red shirts with quiet rejoices and positive affirmations to the dogs. These were not the same animals who came into our shelter only days before. These dogs were interested in becoming family pets, an integral part of someone’s life.

The UAN team gently coerced the timid dogs to have a bite to eat, take a drink of clean water, accept a pat. The result was a new faith in people, a realization that our intentions were good. We were able to see these dogs show trust as they stood shivering on the vet table, tolerating thorough medical exams while the UAN volunteers held and comforted them. When we began loading the dogs up to be transported to rescue groups and shelters, many of them who were previously unhandlable were easily lifted from their crates and carried to the rig. The resilience of these animals continues to amaze me; going from knowing and trusting only one person their whole lives, to trusting an entire team of red shirts, so thoroughly and knowing we were there to help.

The environment these dogs came from was utterly indescribable, even to the veterans who have seen it all. Feces lay two- to three-feet thick on the floors and counter tops. The majority of these dogs had never set foot outside of the house or a particular room. The owner had given everything to his dogs and had nothing more than the shirt on his back, literally. These dogs were loved, but had never received medical care and were completely unsocialized. To see them go from frightened, unsure, trembling dogs to romping with each other in large kennels and then cuddling up to the volunteers made all of the hard work, sore backs and long days worth it. The dogs did not have a chance to become pampered pets in the environment they came from. Now with the help of the UAN volunteers, these dogs will receive that second chance they so deserve. Thank you to everyone for helping to make this happen.

The dogs were sent to the following shelters and rescue groups for continued socialization and eventual adoption:

• Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter – Billings, MT
• Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter – Bozeman, MT
• Lewis and Clark Humane Society – Helena, MT
• Humane Society of Western Montana – Missoula, MT
• Prison Paws for Humanity – MT Women’s Prison Billings, MT
• Dumb Friends Animal League in Denver, CO
• Boulder Humane Society – Boulder, CO
• Humane Society of Pike’s Peak – Colorado Springs, CO
• Larimer Humane Society - Fort Collins, CO
• Longmont Humane Society – Longmont, CO

Photos courtesy of EARS volunteers Ruth Koehler and Marsha Steckling.

Montana Dogs Make the News Again

Nearly 100 Dogs Hoarded in Home Rescued (article and video), KMGH, Denver

Great photos of the rescued Montana dogs

Many thanks to EARS volunteer Marsha Steckling from Boulder, Colorado for these wonderful pictures.

Marsha comforts a mama dog
while the vet examines her puppies.

Lloyd Koehler of Garrison, Montana
comforts a frightened dog.

A puppy being examined by the vet.

A dog being examined by the vet.

A dog getting examined by the
vet while Lloyd Koehler comforts her.

Remaining Montana dogs bound for Colorado

Submitted by Ruth Koehler of Western Montana

September 5, 2010

Good news last night. Shelters in Colorado will be taking the rest of the dogs. They will be loaded on the van first thing Sunday morning and head out for their new homes in Colorado. There are some great dogs in there, and some that will require a lot of TLC. Thank Heaven for large shelters that have the money and the time to spend to assure a great foster or forever home placement.

UAN started with eight volunteers for this deployment and ended up with three for the last couple of hours on Sunday. This has been a truly amazing experience for my husband and I and we can’t wait to go again. We got home Sunday night after a 500-mile drive, still in Montana! UAN volunteer Marsha Steckling sent us some pictures today and said that 15 of the “Denver Dogs” are at shelters very close to her home so she and her sister, Jeanne, also an EARS volunteer, are going to go visit tomorrow!