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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Marianne Williamson draws overflow crowd ... Ashland drinking water supplies free of lead contamination ... AMS students to volunteer at food bank ... Marianne Williamson draws overflow crowd ... Ashland drinking water supplies free of lead contamination ... AMS students to volunteer at food bank ... ESSAY CONTEST ENTRY Essay Contest Entry: Much ado about much ado Comment By Brandy Carson DailyTidings.com By Brandy Carson Posted Feb. 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Brandy Carson Posted Feb. 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Come on. You all know it. You’re either a dog lover or you’re not. And I am. And I plan to make the world a better place in 2016 because I regularly head out to the Jackson County Animal Care and Control facility in Phoenix and jump into the middle of the dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, (lovebirds?) that are taking up residence with us. So many people say things like “I don’t see how you can do it” and “I’d want to take them all home” (not that we’d let you) but it’s really a no-brainer. These little honeys are in a safe — yes, small, but safe — place, getting fed and exercised and loved mercilessly rather than be roadkill or abused and neglected. So it is a joyous place to be. Come on down, let me show you around. The dogs can be seen in the adoption area. Likewise, the cats have several brightly painted rooms where they can “strut their stuff.” The animals are held for a specific amount of time if they come in as a stray (and so many do), so hopefully they can be reunited with their owners. Putting a chip in the animal is always the safest way to have important ID on your animal, and staff checks for chips first thing. The dogs that come into adoption have been thoroughly evaluated by the shelter staff in our new best thing there: play groups! Everyone is welcome to come and have a seat and observe dogs from holding areas and dogs from adoption interact — and be dogs. Staff can get a lot of information this way, and we volunteers run back and forth with various dogs, always curious to see how they are doing, sometimes surprised that the big bad-looking guy turns out to be the one taking care of the more shy, insecure doggies. And we all have favorites — or favorite breeds. When a really old Rottweiler was confiscated from a neglect situation, the staff knows that I love that breed, so I get to foster the dog while he is doing a lot of healing and eating and growing fur and then he will be available for adoption. This is a dog who would not do well in the shelter, as he is deaf and does not see well. It is an even more confusing place for him. So my two cats and rescue dog Molly get to have a new guy in the house, and we will help him along his path with a nice soft bed to sleep on and great food to enjoy. And doing things like this makes me feel I just might be making the world a better place, one dog at a time. And how about this ! The shelter also has a “cuddle room.” Great for de-stressing dogs after a romp in the agility yard and before they get put back in their kennels. And often very great for dogs who just need that human touch (we all know what that ’ s like) — just to be quiet and appreciated for who they are. There’s just something for everybody at our shelter. I’m serious. Come on down and look around and talk to one of us. I’m sure there because I feel of value, and I bet I speak for many of the others of us who volunteer there. And bring another dog/cat lover with you — always room! And plenty of good feelings to go around! Brandy Carson lives in Ashland. By Brandy Carson DailyTidings.com By Brandy Carson Posted Feb. 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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