Roommates
Sleepover a life-changer for pets, people
For 31 hours, 12 people lived like shelter animals. From Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon, the volunteers moved into the Humane Animal Rescue dog kennels and cat rooms in Homewood and the North Side, eating when the animals were fed and getting “potty breaks” when the dogs were taken outside for walks.
The Shelter Sleepover sponsored by Healthy Pet Products had people who regularly volunteer at the shelters moving cots or air mattresses into eight dog kennels and two cat rooms. On Sunday, I visited them at the North Side shelter.
“They are not used to having people in the kennel with them,” said Liz Wozniak of Observatory Hill, who shared space with Amos, a 1-year-old Labrador retriever mix with spots.
Amos and the others quickly warmed to the unusual arrangement, cuddling with people during the day and sleeping with them, on big human beds, at night. Eleven dogs and six cats took part; five dogs and three
cats were adopted.
When the sleepover ended at 5 p.m. Sunday, there were tears for the dogs that were left behind as volunteers packed up their bags and beds. Summer, a 7month-old black Labrador retriever mix, barked loud, long and angrily when Danielle O’Rourke of Brookline left. The good news is that Summer was adopted. She was spayed the next day and went home with her new family on Tuesday.
“It’s a fun weekend but very emotional,” Ms. O’Rourke said. “When you volunteer here, you’re only here for two hours at a time. When you are here all weekend, you see what the dogs go through.”
More than one participant noted how unsettling it is to be living in public view with people constantly looking into your bedroom. Sleeping through the
night was a challenge.
“One dog played with a squeaky toy all night,” said Ali Rovers of Mt. Lebanon, a college freshman who bunked with Gabbie, a 1year-old cattle dog mix.
“She sacked out on top of my legs. At some point she was on my chest and that’s when she started snoring.”
Gabbie is awesome, Ms. Rovers said, but she was disappointed that no one adopted her even though the dog “was giving paw” through the bars of her kennel as people walked by.
“This has been a humbling experience,” said Melanie Crockard of Sewickley, a member of HAR’s board of directors.
Her roommate was Jacob, 9, a Jack Russell terrier mix. His elderly owner had to move to a nursing home, and the family’s pastor brought him to the shelter on March 9. Jacob came in with fleas, and hair is growing back on the bald patches caused by the infestation.
“I am going to be so sad when I go home if Jacob is not adopted,” Mrs. Crockard said. “I’d take him in a minute, but we already have five dogs from Humane Animal Rescue — three Chihuahuas and two Chi mixes.”
Jacob was not adopted last weekend, but Mrs. Crockard is promoting him on her Facebook and Instagram accounts, “where people are starting prayer chains for him.”
Older dogs like Jacob can be tougher to place, but she has hope. Three years ago, Mrs. Crockard slept over with CoCo, a 16-year-old Chihuahua.
“CoCo’s owner died. She came here and was dying of a broken heart, so my cousin adopted her. CoCo is 19 now and doing well,” she said.
At Humane Animal Rescue, dogs live in kennels large enough to accommodate people and their beds. Both shelters are bright and clean, and volunteers take dogs outside on frequent walks. But a shelter is still a stressful place for animals, and Coal is a perfect example.
The 6-year-old black Lab mix panted and shied away from people before Megan Victorson of Crafton moved in with him last weekend. Now Coal is a happy dog who enjoys the attention of strangers. He caught the eye of Nate and Becky Ferrer of Lawrenceville. Coal went home with the couple and their children, Bruce, 9, and Natalie, 7, who were delighted with their very first dog.
Staff and volunteers love seeing dogs take that “freedom walk” out of the shelter. I loved watching Coal leave, as well as a little brindled dog named June, who went home with Brian and Amy Walters of Carnegie. There was great jubilation on Saturday when the sleepover with Cam, a pit bull mix, was cut short because he was adopted. He’d been in the shelter for three months.
Throughout the weekend, the two shelters adopted out 41 animals: 15 cats, 13 dogs, five fish, two guinea pigs, four rabbits, one mouse and one snake. Sleepover volunteers raised $13,000 for the animals left behind — and for the new ones that are always coming in.
Post script: When Mrs. Crockard went back to the shelter on Tuesday to visit Jacob, she was thrilled to see a sign on his kennel that said “Adoption Pending.” Her Facebook page has a farewell photo of Jacob in her arms with the comment, “Our prayers were answered.” Jacob went home Wednesday.