Service Trip 2024: Day 3 - Malvern & Pine Bluff - Last Hope K9 Rescue
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Service Trip 2024: Day 3 – Malvern & Pine Bluff

Service Trip 2024: Day 3 – Malvern & Pine Bluff

Day 3: Malvern

By Kai Phoenix

 

We arrived at Cuddle Babies Rescue in Malvern, Arkansas an enthusiastic bunch, ready to work and improve the lives of dogs. Little did we know what we were walking into. At this facility, where the volunteers fiercely love each animal in their care, we heard the barking chorus of over 100 dogs. Some of the dogs were in a garage-type building with roll-down doors. Others were in outdoor enclosures which were a pretty good size with protection from the weather and the sun.

During our morning huddle, the lead from Cuddle Babies, who is a mama to all 100+ dogs, told us about the work that needed to happen. The main projects were deep cleaning an indoor dog room and decluttering, deep cleaning, and organizing a storage room. There were five new enclosures to be assembled and added to the outdoor area, and if we had enough time, there were also a couple of smaller projects and some yard work to complete.

I came on this trip with a pre-existing injury. I was really hopeful that I’d be able to get my hands dirty. This, however, was not the reality for me. But I DID spend a lot of time with the dogs. Walking them, holding them, standing with them, sitting with them…keeping them company while their kennels were cleaned. While doing this, I was able to observe a lot of the other projects from afar.

As I hung out with the pups, I watched the assembly of all five enclosures, which were moved behind the gate and lined up with the rest of the others at the end of the day. Inside, another group was deep cleaning the dog room and storage area. This included trash removal and scrubbing everything down with bleach and handheld brushes, as volunteers took turns to give each other breaks. The crate liners were rinsed, scrubbed, and set out to air dry. The whole time, we kept up a rotation of dogs so that there were always empty kennels ready to clean.

I was able to sit with at least three of the dogs while their kennels were cleaned. They started off nervous and excited as they were led out of their enclosures… lots of roaming, jumping, and barking. Within about 40 minutes they were lying on the ground resting. Donnie was a great dog on the leash. Andrea Lady was just that – a lady! She relaxed with me as we sat outside and enjoyed each other’s company. She was a precious gal!

By the end of the day, we had completed all of the requested projects! Lots of deep cleaning and scrubbing. And lots of time, for me, with dogs! Most importantly, there was lots of community and coming together for the love of the animals – a common cause that brought strangers from Massachusetts and Arkansas together. It was a tough but amazing day!

 

Day 3: Pine Bluff

By Alexandra Bach-Weidmuller

 

You would think, visiting Pine Bluff for the third time, that I’d be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster this shelter always takes me on. It was awesome to see how many things have been improved since my first visit in 2017. The back building is now very well-lit, and this year the building received new AC units, making the dogs and volunteers much more comfortable. Amazingly, Pine Bluff now has a dog walking team, so dogs get walked and loved on most days. What was also new to me is that they strive to become a no-kill shelter by 2025.

It was great to see Janie Smith and her team again. They continue to impress me with their efficiency and professionalism. It was also great to see the many Southern volunteers who support us during the service trip every year. Like last year, the lunch was incredible, and we were very well-fed.

The Northern shelter leads, Krystal and Amy, kept us in line and directed us well. Efficiently, they broke us up into different groups from kennel cleaning, dog walking, and dog bathing to painting and gardening. Dogs were heartworm (HW) and temperament tested. So much needed to be done, and the rain did not deter us. The day was busy, and it felt like we achieved a lot.

Several of us, me included, went to work cleaning the kennels in the back building. We fell into an easy rhythm of taking dogs out, scooping poop, dry cleaning, spraying, bleaching, rinsing, drying, and then repeating it all again. It was also always fun to play with the puppies in the puppy pen.

So, why was this such a rough day for me? Three out of three dogs I walked in the afternoon tested positive for HW.  I understand that HW is not necessarily a death sentence. I have seen many dogs go through HW treatment in my ten years with Last Hope. But mix HW with temperament issues and the odds become less favorable.

Let me introduce you to Edith.  She is a Lab mix. Not being a pit bull – they can only be saved in this area by rescue organizations – you would think she’d have a good chance of leaving the shelter. However, Edith is a black Lab mix. Black dogs have a much harder time getting adopted. They do not photograph well and do not get noticed on rescue websites. Strike 1… Unfortunately, Edith’s HW test showed a positive result even before the control band had a chance to appear. Strike 2… To make matters worse, Edith does not seem to be good with other dogs or cats. Strike 3…

When I walked her back to her newly cleaned kennel she seemed very stressed, and as soon as she was inside, she had diarrhea. I kept pondering all day whether I added to the stressful situation and influenced her failing the temperament test. Edith was the gentlest dog taking treats from my hand. When I left, her paw kept reaching through the kennel door seemingly asking me to stay.

At the end of the day the sky opened. The drive home took place during a torrential downpour and mirrored the mood and mixed emotions in our car.

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