Almost like a child: having a dog in New York is a huge life-changing responsibility.

Recently, I decided to help the shelter and took the dog for an overexposure. Temporary custody is called foster-care. This is a program for animals that are not yet ready for adoption and require care and attention. Someone is recovering from an illness, someone needs a home workout. Everybody wins: people and animals enjoy each other’s company, and places are made available in the shelter, writes in her blog Elena Zakharova.

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

I chose a Shelter for ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), this is a large non-profit organization helping animals. Interestingly, it was founded by an American diplomat who worked in Moscow in 1867, where he saw a coachman beating a horse. He returned home to New York and nobly changed his profession. In New York, the ASPCA has several floors on the Upper East Side with a shelter and a veterinary hospital. From the first visit I decided that in the next life I would become an American dog.

New York is a super-dog city: there are about 425 thousand dogs, which is more than people in trendy Oakland, or one dog for every seven houses. Statistics are collected by the city, which actually asks to register all dogs, but understands that about 80% of people give up on this.

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There are no stray dogs in New York, so the state “imports” them from all over America along with other abandoned animals. Ray came from somewhere in the south, where he was rescued along with his six siblings. In a newsletter with Ray, there was a giant red cat that “demanded” a two-week stay, as he awaited the visit of the dentist. I once again looked at the calculation from my dentist and was very jealous.

Under an agreement with the ASPCA, while the animal is not ready for care, it cannot be spread on social networks. Sadly, I understand that the shelter does not want to announce the animal until it is convinced of its health. The ASPCA also cooperates with the New York Police, which places them in temporary custody of all animals involved in police matters. Most often these are victims of animal abuse, sometimes pets of dead owners, whose fate remains in question.

I filled out an application, went to a two-hour lecture and signed no less documents than an American visa. Then I was included in the newsletter with animals in need of help, and when I saw Ray, I answered yes. At the appointed time, a team of five to six people was waiting for me, where everyone was responsible for his work. One person was engaged in documents (I again signed a small contract), a representative from the psychology / behavior department told how to play / train, the veterinarian gave me medicines, someone told about food and toilets. Ray was a three-month-old puppy recovering from pneumonia.

Together with the dog, I was given a whole set of “necessary” things and paid a taxi home. Arthur seriously said that he had fewer things.

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

We were given a cage to close Ray when we leave the house. I immediately asked how humane it was, to which I was sent a video about how inhumane it was not to do so. First, a puppy can easily kill itself (for example, a plastic bag), and secondly, a cage can become a favorite place for a dog where it feels good and safe. And the truth is, when we were at home, Ray loved to sleep there. It was harder to stay alone: ​​sometimes he slept, but more often he howled and barked like a fool, which made me write a million apologetic messages to my neighbors.

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One time, Ray still got out of the cage while we were going for coffee, and in 15 minutes blew the house. After that we bought a padlock, and the “humane” way became even funnier.

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I was warned that you should not walk with him, because pneumonia can be contagious for other dogs and due to illness Ray missed the vaccination. Instead of normal walks, we, to the delight of the whole area, dragged him in our arms.

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

In an emergency medical case, I could go to the nearest clinic, but according to Ray's passport my bill would be billed to the shelter, not me. All this time the shelter was in touch, and I could ask a question at any time. Here is my stupid question translated into a behavioral team.

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Also, under the contract, I had to use only their food and equipment. Ray was taken with a whole kindergarten with toys and a bag of tris. I never had a dog, so I had to learn how to use them. My screen with the youtube of those days (this is not a sex toy).

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Ray loved these mocking stuff for food.

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The result (as promised by talking sex from the video) is a calm and contented dog.

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In a few days, Ray completely redesigned our lives for his. I turned into an 24-hour surveillance camera, so that it does not devour anything, with the functions of food, games and changing the toilet. I almost stopped going out of the house (why? All these people don't know my dog, what to talk to them about?) And learned to eat with one hand, and the second to hold the mouth that bites me. Because of the damage, only Apple wired headphones and slightly gnawed legs of wooden furniture.

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Then it became a little calmer. Most of the time I was working, and Ray was guarding me under the table. Or just ran like a tail (I realized what they were talking about, young parents, when they dream of going to the toilet alone).

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

Arthur showed the wonders of parenthood and taught the dog, by the command of Tail, to chase his tail.

I got a life hack to prolong my morning sleep, taking him to sleep in the living room at five in the morning, hugging me on the couch. In general, it was the best dog in the world, although the dog’s test was not quite adequate: the puppy still needs much more attention.

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

Photo by the author

I knew in advance that this was just a jitter and we could not leave him, so I kept well. A week later, they wrote to me that Ray had already found a new family. I am of course very pleased. The whole process was well organized, and given the time and love of animals, I see no reason not to try.

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