Checking the Numbers

With the recent addition of our little pup Pandora it got me thinking of dog numbers and the delicate balance we maintain here.

It is delicate mostly as a financial aspect but there is also the reality that I am the main caretaker for these guys and I need to make sure I don't stretch myself too far and keep enough of myself to go around to for all. At times I wish I had more hands to pet everyone but there is a nice balance here when we stay focused.

Years ago I realized that I could operate my kennel very well with 12-15 of my own personal dogs. Personal meaning that they are pups Ive raised from babies or those who were born here who will never leave. This allows the older dogs to pass through retirement and old age with no pressure to work within the team if they are unable and there is a much closer personal connection with these dogs compared to the foster dogs who pass through.

The logic is that I can allow foster dogs to go into new homes much easier without nearly as much heartbreak if I am not as personally connected. Of course there are a few fosters who get a bit too close to my heart who are harder to see move on but if every one of them were close we would never be able to rotate the new ones in when the other ones find new homes and help save more lives.

The arrival of Pandora has pushed our 'personal' numbers a bit over from 15 to 17. This isn't too terribly important but it does mean that we cant take in any more young pups to raise for a long while. The foster dogs though are a completely different group who's numbers can fluctuate up and down at any time. Currently we have seven fosters, soon to be eight with the arrival of Sally tomorrow.

The other group of dogs who live with us are our boarders who stay with us for as long as they need. Some have been here so long that they truly feel like family.

Hard to believe there are 30 dogs living here!

Here is the break down:

Personal dogs

House Dogs:
Mercury (retired)
Griffin (half retired)
Ajax (honorary lead dog)
Juno (coat too thin to live outside)
Gaea (coat too thin to live outside)
Pandora (puppy)
Buddy (retired)

Outside Dogs:
Chronos (medically retired)
Calypso (main team)
Boreas (main team)
Thanatos (main team)
Hermes (main team)
Salmon (retired)
Hera (main team)
Lykos (in training)
Remus (main team)
Shasha (in training)
Gemini (retired)

Foster Dogs
Second Chance League:
Polar (main team)
Coyote (half retired)

Fairbanks Animal Shelter:
Minnie (medically retired)
Stripe (medically retired)
Maude (retired)
Madeline (retired)
Sally (main team)
Brooks (main team)

Boarders
Reba (main team)
Ichabod (main team)
Mandy (retired)
Eli (main team)

You can see how the number of dogs in a kennel don't necessarily mean they will be part of the main team. Each dog is in a different stage of life both physically and mentally. In order for a kennel to keep a solid working team of healthy active dogs you inevitably end up with a few extras.

Since we are a life long kennel our older dogs, or those who have medical issues, do not leave the safety of the home they have grown to love. Many of our fosters also fall into this category. Since an older dog is less likely to be adopted, as is a dog with medical issues, they often stay here for the rest of their lives.