OK PetGazette - Rocky Spot Dalmatian Rescue

Twas The Night Before Christmas
And All Through The House...SPOTS

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Nubster got to play Santa. He didn't look particularly thrilled by the honor, but he was willing to go along, costume and all. So were the other Dalmatians.

When I arrived at Theresa Monnard's Newcastle home, there were a dozen running all over the yard. I took out my camera, smiled bravely, and thought, no way. Might as well ask me to photograph "10l." But a handful of volunteers posed the dogs with surprising ease for our cover photo.

Actually, it shouldn't be so surprising, says Monnard, founder and president of Rocky Spot Dalmatian Rescue. The well taught, therefore well behaved, Dalmatian likes to please its human companion. Perhaps no dog wants to be with humans more than this one.

"You'll never have a better friend," she says. "They're the most loyal and loving dogs."

Nubster has three legs, thus the name. Seems his inexperienced mother made a mistake when he was born. She was nibbling at the umbilical cord and (pardon me) bit off a little more than she could chew.

"It doesn't slow him down much," says Rocky Spot volunteer Sue Madison. She and the Nub do therapy work. "He's quite athletic, runs and jumps. When I get here, he knows where he's going. He gets a big grin on his face, runs to the gate, I open the car door, and he hops in." Madison quit therapy work several years ago when her dog died. But when she saw Nubby, she knew he'd make a good one. He handled himself well in crowds, around loud noises and distractions. She had him certified through the local Paws for Friendship chapter, and now they visit a Norman veterans center regularly.

"Some of the veterans have lost limbs, so they relate to him," she says. "They enjoy seeing him and talking, and he enjoys it too. He likes the attention. The guys make a big fuss over him and give him treats."

Meanwhile, sitting at her dining room table, Monnard is surrounded by a shifting sea of spots: slowly moving in and out, sniffing, nudging, wagging, licking. But all are quiet and polite. They've already accepted the stranger in their midst. Some wander over, making their intention clear–you have a hand, use it, pet me. And when we start the interview, they collapse around us in contented slumber.

First question: aren't these rather decorative floor mats supposed to be hyper "problem" dogs?

"That's the reputation, but it doesn't have to be that way. They are high-maintenance dogs that require more time than most."

Monnard knows them well, having raised them for years. She started Rocky Spot after realizing the popular movie "101 Dalmatians" had created a serious plight for her beloved breed. Demand went way up. Many were bred by back yard breeders and puppy mills, anxious to make money from the fad. Many that didn't sell were abandoned. Many were bought on impulse by unprepared people who later decided they didn't want them or couldn't control them–cute puppies can grow into unmanageable adults without proper training. And many were dying in shelters.

"Most of the Dalmatians we rescue from shelters are hyper because they've been neglected, maybe not physically but emotionally," she says. "They need human contact more than any other breed I know. If they're left alone in the back yard, that's when they get destructive: digging holes, chewing things, jumping fences and barking. The owners can't handle it, and the dogs end up in shelters. Dalmatians just want to be with you." She sweeps her arm around the table. "Bring them inside and, in a week, you have one of these."

And looking at them, I can't help but think, what a shame, that a dog who so values humans should so often be betrayed by them. Monnard has 38, and even with adoptions, that number remains fairly constant.

Christmas with Dalmatians

Maybe sitting in the sleigh reminded Nubby of his past, not directly but his ancestors. In the nineteenth century, Dalmatians were coach dogs. With the endurance to run for many miles without tiring, they followed their masters with exceptional reliability, whether the masters were on foot, horseback or in a carriage. Their fondness for the horse and ability to guard the coach and occupants made them useful companions. Eventually, they found their way into fire stations where they accompanied horse-drawn fire-wagons. We're all familiar with the image of the "Firehouse Dog."

And these high-energy dogs still love to run. They need a big yard and/or your ability to walk and/or run with them and play. They like fetch and going places. They're intelligent and get bored if you don't find ways to keep them entertained. In spite of their athleticism, they belong indoors. Their short coats make them susceptible to temperature extremes.

Then, there are other potential problems to consider. Dalmatians have sensitive skin, prone to allergies. Kidney stones are a common malady, if the dogs aren't fed properly. And one in twelve is born deaf, though that can be dealt with, as Monnard deals with one of hers.

"Hope is deaf." She stomps the floor, and Hope hurries over. "She feels the vibration and knows I'm calling her. She knows hand signals. I didn't teach her, she taught me. I realized I was using certain signals, and she knew what they meant. She knows come, sit, down, stay, I love you, gimme kiss, bad dog and REALLY bad dog–all different signals, but she responds."

As for kidney stones, Monnard says a special diet usually solves the problem. "They can't digest the purine in protein. Any food high in that will cause crystals to form. Beef and liver are high. Even vitamins can be liver based. Internal organs are the highest. Owners shouldn't buy dog food from the grocery. They need to get premium food, low in internal organs, from a pet store.

"And you don't want to give performance foods for active dogs to an already energetic breed. It gives them too much energy, like giving sugar to a hyperactive child."

Rocky Spot concentrates on shelter rescues, not owner turn ins. There aren't enough volunteers or space for that. But they do provide counseling to frustrated owners in an attempt to keep "the family" together.

"We try to find the problem and fix it," says Monnard. "If it's behavior, we'll work through that. There's a reason for what the dog is doing. Sometimes it's the food; sometimes the dog is lonely. If it's a male, neutering is often the answer. Just learning how to communicate with him solves a lot of problems. Every Dal needs basic obedience."

Oh, yes, and learn to live with little white hairs. "You may have to dust and vacuum more, but it's worth it. Do the fundamentals I mentioned, and you'll have the best dog in the world."

All the dogs are up for adoption, even Nubby. If you can't go that far, Monnard says her most pressing need is foster homes. "I have this many more in the kennel because we can't housebreak them fast enough. We need foster homes for hands-on calming down, just two weeks to help housebreak them."

If you'd like to check out the adoption process, call 405-699-7358. But don't expect to adopt a Christmas present. Monnard discourages that timing. Call now, though, and you may still have a white (and black) Christmas.

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Nubby with his two favorite people: above, Theresa Monnard; below, Sue Madison
Nubby and Sue


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