News
For Clarence, a shelter became a home
June 05, 2009, 10:17PM MT
By Lindsay Hocker
After six years as a shelter dog, the former stray and the first dog to enter the Rock Island County Animal Care & Control shelter passed away.
After six years as a shelter dog, the former stray and the first dog to enter the Rock Island County Animal Care & Control shelter passed away.
By Lindsay Hocker, Network Volunteer
Animal shelter employees know that a lot of people think of shelters as a sad place for dogs and cats to be.
But Rock Island County Animal Care & Control staff members also know that for Clarence, shelter life was a blessing. The approximately 14-year-old former stray died May 20 after spending more than six years as a shelter dog.
"For him it was probably the best years of his life," said animal caretaker Laurel Harmening.
While no one can be sure of Clarence's past, they do know strays don't have it easy. When he arrived at the Rock Island City Animal Control Shelter about six years ago, he had things no stray can depend on — daily meals, shelter from the rain, and people to care for him.
Ms. Harmening grew close to Clarence while working at the Rock Island shelter before it was replaced by the Moline facility.
In Rock Island, he patrolled the perimeter of the shelter in an outside enclosure, earning his room and board by keeping watch and barking when anything was amiss.
When the new shelter opened on Jan. 16, 2006, Clarence was transferred to the facility, and he became the shelter's first dog. There, he also assumed the duty of guard dog and continued to be a favorite of shelter workers.
"All the staff loved him," said Sam DeYoung, operations manager. "He was a gentle old soul."
Even so, Clarence wasn't the kind of dog people came in to adopt, so no one ever took him home. He didn't like cats, he preferred being outside, and he never was housebroken. On top of that, he wasn't known as a looker.
"He wasn't a beautiful dog, but he had a big heart," Ms. Harmening said.
As the chow mix aged, some of his black hairs were replaced by gray ones. Sometimes, one of his teeth stuck out. These things just made him more special to those who loved him.
"I think that's what gave him a lot of character," Ms. Harmening said.
DeYoung said Clarence didn't have any health problems, although he was slowing down in his last years. As he aged, he also began to prefer his inside dog run, which is where he died.
"He ate his dinner Tuesday night, got on his bed, and died in his sleep," DeYoung said.
The following morning, staff discovered that Clarence had died. He was still on his bed.
Ms. Harmening said she is glad Clarence got the opportunity to live out his life at the shelter, where he enjoyed the company of staff members and volunteers, and bites of people's lunches.
As for other animals at Rock Island County Animal Control, Ms. Harmening said there are many pets to choose from, with many kittens and puppies coming into the shelter at this time of year.
About Clarence's shelter, how to help
Name: Rock Island County Animal Care and Control
Web site: http://www.qcpaws.org
Address: 4001 78th Ave. Moline, IL 61265
To donate: Mail checks to the above address, addressed to QC PAWS; for a list of needed items and naming opportunities, go here
Next volunteer orientation: June 14, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at the shelter
Story originally published in The Dispatch/The Rock Island Argus. Posted with permission.
Photo credit: Tony Vandercar of Girard Graphics & Design