Now, at the end of a long day this dog deserves a beer! Bowser Beer of course. For those of you out there looking for a job, changing careers, or just getting over yet another rejection letter…. Take heart! Here’s how one seemingly useless, never-amount-to-anything shelter dog is making an impact on an entire [...]]]>

Now, at the end of a long day this dog deserves a beer! Bowser Beer of course. For those of you out there looking for a job, changing careers, or just getting over yet another rejection letter…. Take heart! Here’s how one seemingly useless, never-amount-to-anything shelter dog is making an impact on an entire population of endangered killer whales.

Too hyper for a family, rejected as a drug dog, terrified of water, Tucker’s prospects of a happy life outside of a shelter seemed dim. But Dr. Sam Wasser and his graduate assistant Katherine Ayres of the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, saw a glass half full in him. They made lemonade out of his ‘lemons’. His energy was channeled to finding whale scat, informally known as whale poop, his fear of water assured them that he wouldn’t get too distracted by water play, and with his renowned sense of smell and natural playfulness they trained him to track a scent and be rewarded with his favorite ball.  His ball is his currency and he’s cashing in and earning his ‘salary’. For the full story and pictures check out this slideshow , and the above links.  It’s a heartwarming story.

Is Tucker is a metaphor for a segment of our population who are finding themselves without a career direction or feeling of belonging? While Tucker didn’t go to any job fairs, or submit an application to get where he is now, his skills were recognized and enhanced by some very out-of-the box thinking researchers. Don’t we need more people to think like that — not to see a glass half empty in someone out of work, but to realize the experience and innate ability this person could bring to a job? Those job searching should take a hard look at their skills and brainstorm on how they could use them in various ways. Entrepreneurs are great examples of this –they may recognize it in themselves and hire themselves to do something completely different than what they have done in the past. They realize that the same skills that worked for one career can be applied to a different one. I offer myself as an example: degree in Biomedical Engineering, now making dog beer. Who knew?

So the next time you are at a cocktail party and someone asks, “So, what do you do?”, at least you don’t have to say “I track poop”.   But surely, you can think of something equally creative.  Like Tucker, take it and run with it.

Jake grew up beside the warm waters of the Gulf coast.  He loved nothing more than a good run on the beach in the morning to start his day.  When the oil spill occurred he was happy to donate his shorn locks to help the clean up – it didn’t seem to be that [...]]]>

Jake grew up beside the warm waters of the Gulf coast.  He loved nothing more than a good run on the beach in the morning to start his day.  When the oil spill occurred he was happy to donate his shorn locks to help the clean up – it didn’t seem to be that big of a deal.  Until one day he found himself sitting in a strange, scary place that was a far cry from his warm, cozy home.  Jake had been abandoned by the only family he had ever known.  Jake is not a Brown Heron or a sea turtle, but another innocent victim of the oil spill.

Hundreds of dogs like Jake are being dropped off at Gulf Coast shelters because their owners can no longer afford to care for them.  To give up a beloved family pet at a time when that very pet can provide comfort and be a buffer to despair, is truly heartbreaking.  Dogs live for their families – how devastating is it to them to lose everything they know and love?

The Louisiana SPCA and other organizations have been actively trying to provide assistance through programs such as The Gulf Coast Companion Relief Program to Louisiana pet owners in the fishing industry.  It’s a start, but where is BP in all of this?  Have any payouts been earmarked for pet related issues?  Perhaps pets should be allowed to file claims for assistance.  After all, there are a lot of working dogs who are now out of a job because their owners aren’t fishing.  One day you are getting 3 squares and chasing birds and the next the whole family is crying in your fur as they leave you at the shelter.  Ken Feinberg – are you listening?

After Katrina struck, many pets were put in shelters.   Later, when the owners had relocated or found a stable housing solution, they could not reclaim their pets because they had been adopted out.  It’s like losing a child and knowing he’s out there somewhere.  Will the same thing occur again?   At the bleakest of times no one should have to make the Sophie’s Choice of giving up their pets.  Hopefully more organizations can provide interim relief so that no dog goes hungry or has to be relinquished.

Right now, organizations are dependent on private donations . . . so check them and please give.