AR-News: (KS - US)Stray dog scheduled to be killed brings life/love to nursing home

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 -Abilene, Kansas June 24, 2004-

Stray dog finds home hours before she is scheduled to be euthanized 

Dena O'Dell 
Lifestyles Editor 
Published June 22, 2004 1:41 PM CDT 

Just hours before she was scheduled to be euthanized, something miraculous happened to A.J.--a stray dog picked up and taken to the Abilene Animal Hospital. The right people came along at the right time. 

While delivering candy for National Nursing Home Week, Amy Hoch Altwegg, executive director of Village Manor, made a stop at the animal hospital. While there, Linda Jark, assistant at the Abilene Animal Hospital, approached Altwegg to see if she would be interested in a small mixed-breed dog they had picked up five days earlier.

Jark said she felt that since the dog was small and had a gentle demeanor, it might benefit Village Manor residents.

Altwegg then approached Jo Schwartz, activity director at Village Manor. Schwartz, along with Village Manor residents traveled to the hospital to see the dog.

"She is a very loving dog," Schwartz said. "We put her in the van with all of the wheelchairs, and while other dogs might get frightened, A.J. just sat there. She then walked around to different people in the van. We all just looked at each other and said, 'Should we get her or not?'"

Schwartz said Village Manor residents are not the type of residents to just sit back and watch things happen--they get involved.

The residents agreed that they all liked A.J. and she was adopted that day.

During Resident's Council, the residents picked the name for the dog--A.J. (After Amy and Jo).

"We had no idea they were going to do that," Schwartz said.

Since becoming the newest resident, A.J. has brought new life to the center and can most often be seen waiting at the front door for visiting families to come in looking up at them with her big brown eyes, she said.

Other times, though, A.J. is not so innocent. A.J. likes to roam the halls and go into residents' rooms, while many of her "friends" sneak her food, Schwartz said. But, she added, A.J. knows not to enter the dining facility.

A.J. is also currently learning commands from Sarah Zehnder of Abilene, who comes to the center on Tuesdays to work with A.J.

A.J. is just one of several animals at Village Manor that Schwartz said help residents with the Eden Philosophy which includes eliminating boredom, helplessness and loneliness.

The center also has a cat named Miss Kitty, fish and birds.

"Some residents like the animals, while others think they should be out in the barn," Schwartz said. "Even for the ones that say they don't like them, it is still giving them something to do. There is so much life and there is always activity between the animals that we have here."

Schwartz said from the moment A.J. arrived at the center she acted like it was her home.

"We didn't just pick her," Schwartz said. "The dog picked us."

A.J. was lucky. According to Jark, A.J. is just one of 15 to 20 stray dogs picked up on a monthly basis and taken to the animal hospital.

"Five to seven of the dogs may be claimed and three might be adopted on a monthly basis," said Jark. "The rest of the dogs have to be euthanized."

Jark and others at the hospital wish that were not the case, but unfortunately, until Abilene can fund an animal shelter, employees at the animal hospital's hands are tied.

"There are just too many dogs and not enough owners or funding," she said.

But since the adoption of A.J., Jark said, more people want to know how they can get a dog like her.

"Since this has transpired, people who have visited Village Manor are wanting dogs similar to that," Jark said. "Dogs are available if people would just come and visit us."

Jark said adoption fees run from $120 to $130 which includes adoption fees, a rabies vaccination, a wellness exam and a microchip implanted in the animal for identification (the microchip is valued at $40). Jark also said that $50 to $75 is refunded after the animal is neutered.

Jark reiterated that owners only have five days to claim dogs picked up within the city limits and only three days for dogs picked up in the county.