Wednesday, April 8, 2009

All dogs great and small


By DENNIS HIGMAN

Jo-Anne Dixon DVM and her husband, James Coyle, of Hailey once had 10 sled dogs that they raced all over the Northwest, rescue dogs Dixon describes as a "mismatched collection of mutts that loved to run." With 3-year-old twins, Per and Signe, they are down to 3 dogs, but now Dr. Dixon cares for an average daily population of 50 dogs and 50 cats at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley where she has been executive director and medical director since 2007.

Every year over 1,000 animals pass through this unique, privately funded, "no-kill" facility where every dog and cat gets what she describes as a "second chance for a forever home." Dixon is a quiet, direct young woman who has a passion for her work and mission. She conducted this interview with "Pickles" on her lap, a recently neutered Chihuahua who needed some reassurance and tender loving care.

Dixon is originally from Seattle and is a graduate of the University of Washington in comparative literature. She has always loved animals but it wasn't until she was faced with going on to graduate school that it occurred to her that there might be more to life than reading.

"I ran a kids' horse camp during college and met people there who told me I ought to do something I really love," she recalls. "So despite the fact I'd always been told I wasn't much good at science, I changed direction and went to the School of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University."

Dixon not only found she had a penchant for science but discovered a life calling as a veterinarian. Upon graduation, she and her husband, who grew up in Ketchum, moved to the Wood River Valley where she worked at the Sun Valley Animal Center for 10 years before moving on to the Animal Shelter.

"I never imagined in a million years I'd work at a shelter, but now that I do I can't imagine being anywhere else. It's a privilege to be associated with such a dedicated group of donors, volunteers and staff who believe, as I do, that every animal has inherent value and deserves to have a voice, an advocate. It's a simple matter of kindness and basic humanity that we share and we're all better for it as a community."

It's also very hard work because the need is great.

"You know the typical dog here doesn't live a fairy-tale life like those you see outside the Ketchum post office," she says seriously. "Although it's not readily apparent in our valley, there is a lot of animal neglect, abuse, abandonment and an increasing number of good people in economic distress who simply cannot care for their pets when their family has to come first."

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Maintaining a "no kill" policy in the face of these stark circumstances means completing some 20 to 30 adoptions a month so that the shelter, which has a capacity of 65 dogs and 65 cats, does not become overcrowded with animals waiting for a home. That requires what Dixon refers to as "creative adoption" efforts.

The shelter's programs include "Pet Pals," under which volunteers are matched with a dog or cat until they are adopted; summer "Hikin' Buddies," under which people and dogs can enjoy a day away from the shelter; and on-campus training to make dogs more adoptable by acquainting them with fundamentals such as getting in and out of a car and good house manners. A small model home is on premises for that purpose.

The shelter has also placed dogs with police training programs and in juvenile detention centers that provide offenders with the chance to mentor, train and adopt dogs as part of their personal rehabilitation.

"We don't just shove dogs and cats out the door to achieve impressive numbers," Dixon emphasizes. "We make a concerted effort to match people and animals to insure a good fit and we guarantee adoptions. That means that if the adoption doesn't work out, we take the animal back, no questions asked. Fortunately, most of our adoptions stick."

Another key element of the program is the Spay/Neuter Clinic, a no-cost service provided by the shelter where Dixon does all the operating herself.

"We're never going to make any meaningful progress in our humanitarian work if we don't tackle the problem of overpopulation," she notes. "So we offer the service to all comers."

All this takes money, of course, which is the other half of Dixon's job. The major fundraising event is the annual "Dog Days of Summer." Other funds come from the Barkin' Basement Thrift Store in Hailey and through providing an impound service for Blaine County. But private donations and volunteers are what keep the shelter in business. It has been in operation for 25 years and has a full-time paid staff of 11.

Touring the shelter with Dr. Dixon evokes personal memories of meeting a happy husky/red heeler named Dot there nine years ago who literally threw me a yellow tennis ball when I walked in and won my heart on the spot. I've been buying her yellow tennis balls ever since.




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