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 all manners of ways to get out and run, frolic and play a one-sided game of chase, all the way through to dogs that had never set foot outside of the attic – let alone feel the touch of human hands. The one thing that continually stood out to me was the volunteers kindness towards the animals and to each other.

These are not your run of the mill “neglected” dogs. These guys were taken care of; however with the ultimate limitations that only one person can do with close to 100 dogs. Many seemed friendly, but would not allow us to touch them. This all came from fear of the unknown and 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, some even sang to the dogs and 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 towards 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 that came into our shelter only days before. These were dogs that 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 and the result was a new faith in people, a realization that our intentions were good. We were able to see these dogs show the ultimate in 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, many which had come in unhandlable, were easily lifted from their crates and carried to the transport 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 had any type of 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. They 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 multiple rescues across the country. These rescues include:

• 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!

From the field: Day 4 in Montana

Submitted by Ruth Koehler of Western Montana

September 4, 2010

Things continue to improve. HSUS staffers are still looking for shelters to take large numbers of dogs. Twenty-four dogs are going on the truck today to shelters across Montana. Four of those are going to the Montana Women’s Prison for their dog training program. The four dogs were chosen because they were the most timid and will need a lot of one-on-one care to become socialized enough to be adoptable.

After the truck left we continued to do clean up chores. There are always plenty of crates and kennels to be cleaned. The dogs are amazing. Considering the filth they were raised in, now that they are living in clean kennels many of them appear to want to stay clean and are housebreaking themselves! They are also becoming socialized at an amazing rate. We cannot take them out and play with them, but they are almost all starting to eat well, and they will come to the front of the cage and seek attention when approached.

Rescued Montana dogs make headlines in Colorado

Dogs Hoarded in Montana Brought to Colorado (article), CBS4 Denver

Dogs Removed from Home in Montana (video), CBS4 Denver

Colorado shelters looking for homes for rescued dogs, Denver Post

Dogs taken from hoarder arrive in Colorado, 9NEWS.com

Dogs rescued from Montana hoarder arrive in Denver (video), Fox 31 KVDR