Oklahoma dogs rescued

The black-faced mutt with expressive tan eyebrows cast a beseeching look up at the people outside its kennel. The dog whined softly, shifting uneasily on the unfamiliar, slick surface beneath its feet.

The charismatic pooch was one of 25 new tenants that arrived Wednesday at the Nebraska Humane Society.

The dogs, mostly border collies and border mixes, are among some 120 dogs that had to be relocated from an acreage outside of Oklahoma City when their former owner moved into a nursing home, said Humane Society spokeswoman Pam Wiese.

Omaha's shelter was tapped to help house the animals, she said, because shelters across the country are full this summer, traditionally the busiest season for rescue operations.

“I think a couple of other shelters are going (to travel to Oklahoma City) and taking 20 or 25 too, which will really help them out in terms of getting the numbers down to a more manageable number for the folks there,” Wiese said.

Humane Society workers picked up the dogs Tuesday evening, driving back overnight so the dogs would have a cooler trip.

By Wednesday afternoon, the dogs were resting in a darkened kennel area. Classical music played softly over the loudspeakers, and the partitions between kennels were up so the dogs could group together if they wanted.

“We want them to be comfortable, and they're comfortable with each other,” Wiese said.

The dogs seem unfamiliar with the indoors, with leashes, and in some cases with people.

“My guess is they've never been indoors,” Wiese said.

But there have been no signs of aggression from the dogs, she added.

Veterinarians were doing checkups. Yellow health assessment sheets hung on the kennel doors, along with photographs to allow Humane Society staffers to easily identify each dog. Tick and flea problems were listed on many of the sheets.

A sleeping black puppy sprawled on a blanket at the far end of one kennel. In another enclosure, a tan-and-white dog started blankly ahead.

“These dogs are really stressed,” Wiese said. “Some of them are kind of thin, and they have poor coat quality, but you find that with that many dogs and (living) outdoors.”

Wiese said the plan is to let the dogs relax and settle in over the Fourth of July weekend. “They'll be behaviorally assessed and also undergo a full medical exam next week.”

The dogs will not be available for adoption immediately.

“We'll need to work both behaviorally and medically with them,” she said.

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