Shelter angel adopts old, special needs animals

Loretta Bordelon, an angel to the Flathead County Animal Shelter, runs a heaven on earth for dogs, cats and many other rejected animals on about 17 isolated acres off Batavia Lane.

Instead of taking home the cutest puppy or most beautiful young dog or cat from the shelter, she seeks out old and special needs animals bypassed for months and even years by others. A true poster child for October’s “Adopt a Shelter Dog” month, Bordelon holds the local facility in high regard.

“It’s a good, clean facility,” she said. “I like the people there.”

She encourages others to look beyond the adoption fees charged by shelters and other rescue organizations for dogs and cats.

“It’s a much better deal because they’ve been neutered and spayed and have all their shots,” she said. “You know you’re getting a good, healthy animal.”

Bordelon adds that also spares the dog or cat the trauma of an immediate trip to the vet on top of adjusting to a new home. She has learned a lot about that process as the owner of four shelter dogs and 25-plus cats.

“I still have a cat from the old shelter that was up by the dump,” she said with a smile.

As Gussie, her alpha female dog, circled her protectively outside a pasture, Bordelon introduced Geraldine and Murdock, two mules retired from packing in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and rescued llamas Pops and Effie. Her goats Rosy, Scotty and Saga mingled amicably with the mules and llamas.

On the compound backed up against public forests teeming with wildlife, Bordelon also cares for chickens, geese, pet doves and parakeets. From her earliest memories growing up on an Iowa farm, she has seen herself as a protector of animals.

“I used to sneak barn cats into my room,” she said. “I always knew this was what I wanted to do.”

Bordelon said she has always adopted dogs and cats as space and time permitted. Recently retired, she now gets to spend the majority of her time tending to the feeding and training of her diverse pack.

Her methods emphasize simple commands, firmness of voice and leadership, with obedience rewarded by praise.

“I never hit anybody,” she said. “It’s all done with voice. The first thing is to get a name they respond to.”

Bordelon has learned that some animals associate the name they carried to the shelter with mistreatment. Other strays came with no name but may not like the sound of the name they received at the shelter.

 When Bordelon finds a dog not responding to its name, she begins experimenting with different sounds. She used the example of the shepherd/heeler mix she adopted two years ago.

He came with a very short name that he didn’t respond to, so she worked through the alphabet of sounds.

“I got to ‘T’ and he seemed to like that,” she said.

The name Tracker was long enough to garner his attention and distinguish him from the rest of the pack. With a name established, Bordelon uses her tried-and-true method of firmly saying the name followed by a correction to stop forbidden behavior, such as chasing cats, chickens or deer.

“Most of my animals think their name is ‘no’ for the first two weeks,” she said with a laugh.

With Eddie, adopted a year ago at age 13, she disproved the old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Eddie, a mixed breed, offered a double challenge of an old dog who may have suffered from head injuries.

He learned slowly but surely.

“I keep it very simple and repeat it,” she said. “He tries very hard and he does beautifully. You just have to repeat things.”

Bordelon said she met Taffy, a white German shepherd, and Eddie on the same trip to the shelter. She took Eddie because she knew he had little to no chance of being adopted at age 13.

When she returned in August to adopt some cats, she found Taffy still had no home and had earned the dubious distinction of being the shelter’s longest-residing dog. She had been adopted and returned a couple of times.

Bordelon’s heart wouldn’t let her leave without her, as well as four cats. Once at the compound, Taffy followed a typical adjustment pattern.

“When you first get them, they want to please you. Then you go through a period when they learn the basics,” she said. “Then they go through the ‘terrible twos’ when they test the boundaries.”

 Bordelon describes Taffy as a very active dog who didn’t want to walk on a leash. After months of confinement, she wanted to chase everything, including deer.

With consistent, strong leadership, Taffy mended her chasing ways to become a wonderful dog who loves her place in the pack. Bordelon accepts that Taffy will never relish the leash.

“People expect animals to come perfect for their circumstances,” she said.

Bordelon said that she manages cat behavior by working with their independent nature. As soon as they come from the shelter, cats go into a very large cage where they can see, hear and smell their surroundings.

She observes the cats’ reactions before letting them go free.

“Some I let out in a few hours and some it takes a few days,” Bordelon said. “I try to introduce them to cats that are really laid back. From there on, it’s pretty easy.”

Her cats choose when and how they want to interact — or not. Some want to cuddle in her lap while others prefer to live in the barn where they coexist with a resident pack rat.

Bordelon, an ardent opponent of killing wild animals, would never think of eliminating the pack rat who eats with her cats.

“I feed all of them,” she said.

She buys five different varieties of dog and cat food from cheap to “the nice stuff.” Bordelon said age and condition play a role in what she offers, but the animal ultimately decides what works best.

Food and veterinarian care present a substantial financial challenge. She said she has a very understanding group of health providers at Calm Animal Care in Kila.

“They’re fantastic,” she said.

Bordelon, self-described as a very private person, shared her story in hopes others will consider bringing shelter dogs and cats into their hearts and homes. She finds that the companionship of so many best friends more than repays the work and cost of their care.

“This is a labor of love,” she said.

Visitors may go to Flathead County Animal Shelter Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to see the animals and interact with them. For more information, call 752-1310 or visit www.flathead.mt.gov/animal.