From the SPA
By Kathi Hamblet

Watch for the signs

Animals surrendered at the SPA arrive in everything from mesh bags to Land Rovers. Some come freshly coiffed from a grooming parlor, some are almost unrecognizable as to color or species because of mangy or matted coats.

Sometimes we see tears of regret from a family forced to give up a treasured pet, but more often we hear sighs of relief that the shelter finally has room for a dog or cat rescued from the street and now has a chance to find a permanent home. How these animals arrive and their appearance give few hints as to how the animal will adapt to the new environment at the SPA. 

To determine that, we must look further and watch for different signs.

A sweet and caring young Mexican woman named Sandra is a savior to many homeless dogs in San Miguel. She has found homes for some of our most vulnerable animals and has saved countless creatures hiding under cars and cacti. 

When Flor, an Australian Shepherd mix, was rescued and brought in to SPA as a teenage waif, she knew only that Sandra was her safety net and everything else in the world was a potential threat. This sweet little Aussie was only five or six months old, but she had already found it necessary to be watchful and wary of every sound and every step that might expose her to danger. 

As Sandra walked out the door, leaving behind her latest rescue, we saw all the signs. Flor looked down at the floor, tucked her tail tightly to her belly and cowered to the floor looking at us with the haunted eyes of a starving child. 

That was one year ago and today Flor officially becomes an SPA Red Collar dog. “Red Collar” means “high alert.” This dog has lived in a shelter for over one year and desperately needs to find a forever home! Flor now joins nine other dogs in our Red Collar program for which we are aggressively trying to find a home.

Florecita (she prefers a longer and more uplifting nickname) has come a long way in her ability to trust people. She always will be a bit reserved and shy, and she would not do well in an environment that is chaotic and always changing, with new people and new activity. She is not a party animal, but she does have a certain confidence now and gets along very well with other animals including cats. She entertains our cat population with her tail as she quietly greets the members of our training class without any signs of her initial haunting fear. 

Two cats are batting at her tail while soft jazz plays in the background. I often picture Florecita tucked in next to a quiet single man or woman while they read a novel. She wants to find her person, the right person. It has to be a person willing to take the time to gain her trust, but once that happens she will be the most loyal companion you have ever known. If you are able to read the signs, you know that this is a young dog ready to make someone very happy. 

If you want more information about Florecita or any of the other great cats and dogs at the SPA, visit www.spasanmiguel.org  or the shelter at Los Pinos #7, off Calzada de la Estación. Clinic hours are 10am–4pm, and volunteers and visitors can drop in 11am–2pm, Monday–Saturday.