Rescues During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the city of Sochi. Our team has been travelling around to feed homeless dogs who once relied on restaurants, tourists and supermarkets for scraps to survive. We are taking in any injured dogs or puppies who are too young to survive by themselves. In the past three weeks, we’ve taken twelve dogs!

Meet a few of our newest shelter residents

Puppies:

When puppies like these four little guys are tossed out on the street they have no way of surviving on their own. We found them on two separate occasions both likely born to a house pet that was not spayed. Since they are still very young, they are now in a special quarantine area until they can be vaccinated and introduced to the other shelter residents.

Tina:

When we saw Tina on the street she hadn’t eaten in days and she looked weak. After a little food our team put her in the car and now that she has been at the shelter for a few days she has blossomed into a beautiful loving dog. Tina loves to sunbathe.

Danny:

What was a dog like Danny doing running along a highway? We don’t know but we do know had we not stopped for him he surely would have gotten hit by a car. Danny is now safe at the shelter where he loves meeting all the other dogs and does a little dance whenever anyone calls him over.

Pasha:

A local resident saw Pasha and contacted Sochi Dogs, we found him by the railroad tracks, he was hit by a train. Pasha is slowly recovering but already he understands just how lucky he is and he is so grateful. Every time someone checks in on him he licks their hands as a way of saying thank you.

Raff:

A local resident found poor Raff with a neck injury lying in the bushes in her neighbourhood. Had Raff not been found, he would have likely died of his injuries or starvation. He had surgery and his neck is on the mend. Now at the shelter, he spends time with Gloria and Lulu.

Nina:

Nina was neglected by her owner. At the age just 7-8 months old she was tied up on a short chain and did not have the ability even to walk. The owner refused to give her up but we offered him $100 to buy her out. It might be the best $100 we’ve ever spent. This beautiful girl is soaking up all love and we can’t wait to find her true forever family.

Paco:

Masha and Platon found Paco begging for food outside a butcher shop. Being a smart dog, he followed them all the way back to the car and jumped in. Now Paco loves to play with Platon at the shelter!

Rescuing Gloria

We found this sweetie by the side of the road. Originally we thought she may have been hit by a car, but an x-ray at the vet shows that she had BB gunshots and her right leg and elbow are badly damaged. Surgically almost all BB gun bullets were removed and 2 spokes were inserted in to her leg. She had a smooth recovery and we named her Gloria!

A few weeks later Gloria is feeling great at the shelter. A huge thank you to everyone who helped with her surgery!

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Keeping your Pets Health and Happy During the Coronavirus Pandemic

by Lisa Baker

Coronavirus is affecting all of our lives and our pet's lives too! In this article we will walk you through some tips to keep your dog healthy and happy during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Safety first, let's talk about the ways we can keep our pets safe. There is conflicting evidence about whether dogs can be infected with COVID-19 and no reliable information about whether they could pass the virus to people. In addition, there is very limited information about what, if any, symptoms they experience from the virus. In order to protect yourself and your pets you should always follow good hygiene practices regarding animal handling. This means washing your hands after touching your pets. You should also wash your hands before and after handling their food, to keep your pets and yourself safe. 

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If you become ill with COVID-19 you should isolate yourself from other family members and this includes pets! Ask someone else in the household to provide their daily care such as walks and feeding. Do not allow them in your area or pet or snuggle them. If no one else is able to provide care for your pet make sure to wash your hands before and after touching your pet or their food. Make sure to have an emergency plan in case you need to seek medical attention. Talk to your friends or family about who will care for your dog in the case of emergency and how you can transfer them to their care while minimizing contact. Plan for emergencies for your pet too. Check with your vet and emergency vet to see if they have limited their hours or have changed their process for seeing patients to maintain social distancing precautions. If your pet is due for routine check-ups, dental cleaning, or vaccinations check with your vet to see if it can be delayed.

If you are using hand sanitizer make sure to let it fully dry before interacting with your pet. Hand sanitizer is made with isopropyl alcohol which is toxic to dogs. Make sure they do not lick your hands after you've applied it. Your dog's fur may be able to carry virus particles as do other surfaces. If your dog has been in contact with someone that you suspect has COVID-19 use a grooming wipe or give them a bath. Never spray your dog with isopropyl alcohol or other disinfectants, these are toxic to dogs and can be absorbed through the skin. Make sure to store your hand sanitizer and disinfectants away from your pets in a place they cannot reach it. 

There has been an increased demand for pet food and supplies. Try not to hoard food so that others have access to the food and supplies they need. If you're ordering online, shipments may be delayed so make sure to plan in advance. 

To keep your dog happy, make sure they get plenty of exercise by walking or running, stay in your yard if you can but if you don't have a yard always follow social distancing recommendations. Here's how I've been managing: I don't have a yard but my dog walker has been taking my dogs to her yard to run and play. We do this without any human-to-human interaction; she comes to my deck, closes a gate behind her, and I leash my dogs inside and let them run out to her. Ask around to friends and family members to see if someone has a fenced-in yard that you could access without interacting with them for an hour or so a day. Fetch is a great way to burn your dog's energy off!

Another way to keep dogs stimulated is to refresh their training basics like sit, down, come, stay, and leash manners. If they've already mastered those skills, teach them an advanced trick like roll over or speak or heel. Practice their skills daily with a fun game. You can use a puzzle food toy to extend their mealtime. Get them a new toy to keep them occupied. As the weather gets nicer, fill a kiddie pool and let your pooch splash around. If your dog loves the car, take them for a ride and let them enjoy the smells. Have a lot of phone calls or virtual meetings throughout the day? Keep your dog quiet and entertained by stuffing a Kong with peanut butter or yogurt and fruit and freeze it. It will take your dog some time to finish this frozen treat. If you're working from home, make sure to try and retain a routine with your dog. Dogs are creatures of habit and if you can stick to their normal daily routine it will help them understand what to expect through the day rather than begging for walks and attention throughout. 

Shelter Life

There is a lot going on in the world. It’s a scary unpredictable time, but dogs remind us to take things day by day and live in the present. All of the dogs at the Sochi Dogs have been through so much but regardless of their past they are enjoying every second of their new lives. Watching them always brings a smile to our faces, and we hope it does the same for you!

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