Malamute or Husky for adoption in MI
There is a dog i've been helping to try to re-home. She has even been placed on Petfinder classifieds. In two months only two people have wrote in about her. One was looking for her lost Husky, the other was almost certainly a scammer evading most of the questions asked of her.
Koli is in Bay County, MI. Spayed. You may contact her legal guardian at earthfirenospam*ATsymbol*nomadinter.net for an application or to ask questions. (She's pretty much a group effort rescue by no one charity or individual.)
At this point outside help is welcomed. "Does anyone know of some trustworthy northern breed rescues from around the state that could be contacted? Currently I'm waiting to hear back from a friend who knows a breeder (whom I've met in the past) that might help with the rescue. (I'd trust this friend with my life and know where they stand on how animals should be treated, so i'm not worried.)"
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Koli is a three to five year old Malamute or Husky, possibly a mix. Black and white. About 50lbs. Stocky build. She was a stray picked up by the animal control so I know nothing of her background. I’ve been fostering her to find out about her personality. She is very loving to humans and somewhat submissive. She is very intelligent and a quick learner. She seems to understand almost every sentence you can utter. Seems to be OK with kids. She has a VERY high prey drive though so she won’t be going to a home with small children. She has been very successful in her hunts. She *might* be OK with birds, but I can’t guarantee that. She currently is afraid of other dogs and to counter that attacks them. We are working on this with her and we are enrolled in an obedience class. She needs lots of exercise and will run and not come back when you call her so she’ll need a securely fenced yard. She would LOVE a jogging partner or possibly someone experienced in working with her breed to give her a job to do. She enjoys being outside very much but also strives for the companionship and security the indoors offers. She is happiest when she gets to enjoy both on and off for a few hours at a time. (Two to four hours here, then there.) She would like someone that wants to share both worlds with her. (She does know how to get into trouble alone outside, but seems to be a well mannered house dog.) She seems to be house broken and when she chooses a spot to use outside she’ll return to that one spot if you clean it daily. Also, she is not for someone who wants a beautiful lawn. She is a turf thrower when she’s done going potty. And a turf thrower she is!
Update Nov. 14th, 2006: I might consider adopting Koli to people with small animals after all. They must understand the risk they’d be taking though and understand the commitment involved. She has shown a lot of self control the past few days in not going after the squirrels; even when I encouraged her to one time (she declined and instead asked to go inside for a treat.) Also, after reading my ad I realize I hardly described her as the cute and fuzzy lovable dog I fell in love with at the pound. She is a great cuddle bug and gives warm soft kisses on occasion when they mean something. She also knows when you are hurt most of the time and will see what she can do to help. She feels really bad if she was the one to cause the pain. (We get a bit riled up during play. One time she ran over my hand to chase a ball and she was already turning around by the time the “Owe” even escaped me.) She takes treats really gentle and is not food aggressive. I can put my hand right in her bowl (to make sure she doesn’t forget I do this once a week.) She was protective of her fresh kills though, but I wouldn’t have expected less. It wasn’t even so protective that I felt I had anything to worry about (I would have been worried though if it had been a child going up to her.) Her nose is a counter surfer, but her tongue and fangs don’t follow :- ) (Then again she knows I’ll give her some if she waits long enough.) We’ve had no incidents with her going in the trash, but I wouldn’t put it past her. I definitely have to say that she is house trained. She was sick this past week (my fault) and was able to make it out each time. She continues to not get into anything around the house that isn’t given to her.
More than likely I will not do out of state adoptions. For the right person, the surrounding states might be considered.
Process:
Read over the dog’s description (and requirements.) Talk with family members and see if they think she’ll fit into your lifestyle. Does everyone agree? Fill out the application and email it to me. If I approve, you can then come meet her with your ENTIRE family. I’ll think it over and get back to you in a few days. I’ll send you a copy of the adoption contract. If you think you can agree to the terms then we’ll then come do a home visit. This does not guarantee that she is yours! Her wellbeing and happiness is my priority. I am going to take my time in deciding. I will keep your application on file. When and if I decide that you are a great match, I’ll have you sign the adoption contract on the day we turn her over to you.
Requirements for adopting this dog:
You must fill out an adoption application.
You must be willing to sign the adoption contract and adhere to all of the statements with in.
You must be at least 18 years of age.
You must be able to financially care for this dog as with in the terms set forth by the contract and with in accordance to local guidelines.
Your WHOLE household must agree to this adoption.
Written permission from landlord if you are renting.
Give references with which you have received their permission for me to contact them.
Realize that this is a commitment for the natural life of this dog.
Be willing for me to do a home check on this dog at least annually (there'll be a few in the first year,) for the rest of the dog’s natural life. Be willing to release the dog back to me if I think it is living in substandard care.
Commit to exercising this dog every day.
Are not going to use it for fighting or as a bait dog.
This dog will NOT be adopted to a college setting. (Such as dorms or a frat house.)
Ugh! Yahoo! Mail Problems...
Something is going on with Yahoo Mail. I'll get an alert saying we
have new mail, but when I check there is none. This has happened
twice. Thankfully I was expecting it one of those times and knew who
to write back to and had another way to reach them. If you don't hear
back from us with in 24 hours, try to reach us at
earthfirenospam*AT*nomadinter.net (replace the *AT* with a @ of course.)
another fosterer's perspective
Now on to the good news... Koli's eval from John...
Tue, 6 Mar 2007 (private email update to me.)
The worst thing to happen so far occurred Sunday night. After getting on together all afternoon, just before I went to bed P**** needed to assert himself to Koli. He strode up to her at broadsides like warships of old. With his face at the level of her face, he emitted a low growl. Koli understood his demand and hung her head still lower as she stepped away from him. P**** moved his broadside in close again and repeated the growl. Again she moved away giving submissive body language. Yet again P**** presented his broadsides and Koli moved off. P**** was going to do this routine still again but I interceded. I brought P**** into the bedroom and he laid down for the night.
Monday morning Koli used the pet door while I was at ______. This evening P**** was almost playing with her. He seemed to want her to chase him but she was herding him.
We have not met any other dogs on our visits to the pet food store or TSC. Koli has met several adults and a few young children, though. In all situations, at home and elsewhere, she has been splendid.
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Tue, 13 Mar 2007 (overview he wrote up for the public.)
Koli's foster home wanted a break for a bit and asked for some help. I am John, a malamute person. We met for several hours over a couple of Saturdays, Koli first meeting my Malamute then meeting two of my former foster Malamutes. These meets worked so well that I substitute-fostered Koli for a week. This is my overview of Koli.
Koli is a very good looking little girl. She is from easy to walk to not too difficult. When she wants to investigate something, she may pull determinedly. I view walking a dog not as exercise but as an expedition for the dog. I allow the dog to pursue it's interest within limits that I set. Koli's only stout pulling for me involved her wanting to meet other dogs or other animals. She really wanted to interact with the wee folk at the pet shops.
This little girl is very affectionate and likes humans of all sizes. Children look at her bright, smart face and find her adorable; as she does them. (Even as children playing together can become too rough without intending to hurt anyone, so too can a dog playing with a child become too rough with out intending harm. Be aware while children are playing). Koli is very gentle when taking offerings from humans and she very much appreciates the thought. At home, she may follow her person around with interest but she is not needy. Neither is this kid hyper. Of course, she does get excited when she is about to go walking. Everyone needs to get out of the house and into less familiar surroundings regularly.
Koli likes to play. Chasing a ball is great fun. Tag is grand fun too. She will come alive with a child who wants someone to play with. She can play her most energetic with other dogs. With others of her kind the action can be enormously fun to watch. Koli seems almost to try to herd the other dog while in games of chase.
Sometimes one may wonder if Koli really is attacking the other dog. I suspect that Koli has a bit of the school yard bully in her with respect to other dogs but I also feel that in spite of this she does not intend harm to the other dog. I have watched her interaction with dogs from tiny breeds to three and four times her own size. She likes to see if she can get a game going. If she finds that she can intimidate the other dogs, she thinks that is fun too. This little girl had a one hundred pound malamute running to me for protection from the pestering she gave him. In spite of the blood chilling language and non-contact snapping he was giving her, she wouldn't stop. (I have seen this malamute effortlessly throw my own one hundred thirty pound malamute on his back). She did not hurt him in the least.
Koli played very well with a slightly larger malamute. They ran and wrestled all across the yard. When either of them got too rough, he or she was informed by voice or movement. Neither of them tried getting even. While Koli was playing with a somewhat smaller dog she moderated her force very well to what that dog could deal with. They had a grand time. An uniformed observer may wonder if Koli is fighting. She is one of those dogs who employs lots of theatrics in her play. Most dogs have very active imaginations.
She also tried playing with what may be a Yorki. This is where the school yard bull thing really presented. Koli was mouthing the tiny dog as if to pick it up. I am confident that she had no wish to harm the little one but even a sleight wrong move could have a sorry result. The worst thing this wee guy experienced from Koli was a partially unintended body slam. Koli ran toward the kid and stopped a step too late, knocking him over. I believe that with experience and guidance Koli would moderate herself around tiny dogs.
In play Koli is sometimes load, but far and away most of the time she is silent Other than in play when she talks the statements are pleasant and very cute. Koli is not destructive and seems not to be much of a digger. She is a very easy and enjoyable dog to live with.
