Kuvasz Fanciers of America PO Box 80596 Bakersfield CA 93380    Kuvasz Fanciers of America, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are also certified as a tax exempt charitable corporation in the State of California. Your contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

To adopt one of the these dogs, please fill out this application

December  23, 2006

8 dogs still need homes!

Thanks to the efforts of many, many people, all 49 dogs made it safely out of Binghamton. The majority of the dogs went to foster care and rehab with Lisa Boyle, Leanne Parks, and Steve Kovacs. Most of the dogs have stayed in the Northeast. They are as working livestock guardians or family companions.

In August, the 8 dogs that were still in the Binghamton Humane Society were moved to Steve Kovacs' home. Those dogs were filthy and afraid. Steve also took in the 4 dogs that Lisa Boyle could no longer care for. Since August, Steve and his friends and co-workers have restored these dogs to both physical and mental health. These 7 along with the one in foster care in Maine with Leanne Parks are ready for new homes... YOUR HOME.

If you would be interested in adopting one of the these dogs, please fill out this application

We still need your tax deductible donations. With 8 dogs to feed during the cold weather, we still need your help.

If you would like to donate to Kuvasz Fanciers of America, Inc. for this effort please send your check to:
Kuvasz Fanciers of America
PO Box 80596
Bakersfield CA 93380 

Click here for the photos from months ago: August Karpati Photos

OVERVIEW  of the Karpati RESCUE (Kovacs FARM edition) for Adoptive Families
 
You may already be familiar with the Karpati story from the beginning. This is an update on the dogs that have been sharing our lives for the last few months.
 
After the majority of 49 Kuvasz at the Karpati farm were rescued to foster homes or elsewhere, 8 dogs were still left. They were moved from the Karpati farm to a humane society in Binghamton. While there were intentions to rescue them from the shelter, the rescue of over 40 dogs already taxed the resources available. Those 8 spent about a month and a half at the shelter. On hearing from someone local to Binghamton who has a Kuvasz, Will Hotchkiss, about the conditions the dogs were in, the kennel here at the farm was arranged to be reopened (after six years closed). The new owners agreed to allow its use.

When those 8 dogs arrived here they were truly traumatized and untrusting. To date, none of us have been able to find out the real story behind the humane society period. They deserve their  due for GETTING the dogs out of the situation at the the Karpati farm. There is no question that there were caring volunteers at the shelter. "Something" besides that, more than kennel confinement and moving affected them in a very adverse way.

The eight, Travis, Bodie, Birdie, Pops, Abbie, Marcie, Baby and Winston, came in thin, haggard and non-responsive to positive human interaction. There was a sense of positive reaction from them to being in "real" runs again as they moved out  of their travel crates, however.

After they'd had five or six hours to settle in, Steve went out to the kennel to try to evaluate them for early handling. Soft conversation while sitting on your heels got at least an interested, if leery, look from several. Some plastered themselves against the wire runs. Going into the run and doing the same, the two labeled by the shelter as most difficult, came close enough for an ear rub and the start of interaction. Several others were willing to allow touch, but only briefly. The dogs that were "up against the fence" allowed a slow soft approach. A gentle touch. They would not look at you but allowed the touch.

It was clear that they would need time, on THEIR time, to come around. They would be treated positively, upbeat, with no "push", to allow THEM make the "decision" when they were "ready" to interact. They'd been through enough that they deserved whatever time that took.
 
Pops and  Baby were "plastered" against the wire of the runs for a good two weeks when anyone came around. Heads hung down bodies pressed into the wire in a corner. They were unresponsive to food as treats, would only eat after "people" left the area. If they were approached, they would tense up.
 
Winston, from the beginning was a bundle of raw nerves. The shelter records indicate that he had been un-noticed in his run at the Karpati farm and was without food or water for 7 (who knows for sure) days. When discovered, in serious distress, he was removed to a vet clinic and put on intravenous for severe hydration and nutrients. The records show that he was hand fed while being treated. The next records, from the shelter indicate that he was unmanageable and fear aggressive.  By the time he got here he was TOTALLY unapproachable, would fly into a panicked state. Contrary to the notes, however, he was not aggressive towards people. He would charge an opening to try to escape, and if a person happened to be near the opening, he'd charge right past.  If he even brushed a leg as he ran out of his kennel, he would scream (literally)...as if he were being dowsed in hot oil. In that condition any dog might bite if cornered and he is being allowed to get over his panic.
 
Travis took the position as lead dog. She was quickly reasonable and agreeable to interaction . She had horrible mats along the top of her back and rump, and Steve was able to work at them within a day or two of her coming here. She was "on duty" and would bark warnings, but would then come to food/treats/attention quickly. Interestingly, it was physical contact that was her first interaction. As the lead dog in run #1 the others started to key off her. If she thought someone was "ok" they were willing to THINK about it, but not act on it.
 
Bodie, is a BIG BOY. He also has that "Kuvasz Eye". He was  unsure of himself and the situation, and would stand back when his run was approached and give the eye. Bodie was another dog that was labeled fear aggressive, and one of two or three that were feared enough at the shelter that their runs were not cleaned out. The reality was that he was being aloof, and when approached properly, came for touch and attention within the first day of coming here. At no time has he shown fear aggression. He was put next to Travis, and he took his cues from her. Bodie is very very laid back and easy going.
 
Marcie was shy at first, but came around quite nicely and easily, pretty much on her own. Turning into a goofy, happy dog within a couple of weeks. One of the keys for her, as well as others (like Poppie) was realizing they could "play". With a person, even.
 
Abbie, housed in the run beside Marcie, had really had a tough time in the humane Society with barking aggressive dogs and stayed shy for quite some time.
 
Birdie (also escape artist)... chose to leave us on day TWO!!!!!!! (more about that later)
 
After about 8 weeks of constant encouragement, treats and walks, the first eight were in more reasonable shape and their personalities were starting to really come out.
 
The next bunch Shana, Molly, Shandy and Duchess came in from another rescue situation, thin and wary. While they had obviously had some positive human interaction; they were not happy or particularly robust looking. It was only a matter of a couple of weeks and they were interacting like the others and packing on weight. With proper nutrition and care, all the dogs gained weight and confidence proportionately.
 
We have to remember that these dogs had been present for the death of their owner, been left unfed or watered for the first few, what had to be confusing, stressful days, then only fed/watered "over the fence" for a month at the farm. After that, in spurts, loaded up and moved to the humane society or elsewhere. Unfortunately, through lack of information or experience, these dogs were evaluated and labeled improperly at the shelter. (Several were feared enough that their runs were not maintained other than feeding for weeks at a time.)
 
NOTHING could be further from the truth. None have shown people aggression even just after their journey down here. They are ALL loving intelligent dogs, that just needed to be "understood" and trusted, for them to come around to like thinking. For those of your familiar with the breed, its understandable why volunteers and caretakers could have mistaken their behavior for aggression or lack of socialization. There is no question with some of them if they were harshly handled by strangers to control them, that they would have resisted, Kuvasz style. That's a matter of understanding the breed, not negative temperament.
 
THAT said:  with respect, love, continuity, and dozens of  homemade "cookies", everyone has come around to more balanced, happy, loving dispositions. (wellllll except for Winston, who is still "in progress" and working VERY hard to be a normal dog!!!! He WANTS to be normal but those ghosts keep popping up)
 
The dogs have never been "pushed" or "forced" to comply, whether it was to come on command, to touch, leash walking, play or affection. They were given the opportunity. They all came/are coming around on their own individual timelines when they were/are "comfortable". As a result they are now delighted and proud to "comply", save for those normal ornery moments when they consider the request "unreasonable" for their mood. Let's not come, let's romp off just one more time with our tail in the air. They still need work and obedience training in their "new homes", but they have the mindset to do the work!!!
 
When new people come to meet them, they need to be reminded that these dogs were "damaged", and they most definitely were. They tend to withdraw for the most part, although less and less as they experience more people. They have worked very hard to regain their trust in people and each other, and they deserve the utmost respect for being willing to work at coming back into balance. We may have been there to give them the opportunity, but they had to do the work and be willing to try.
 
As an aside, credit needs to be given to Paul Korniczky. These dogs may not all meet the "standard" of the breed. He may not have won popularity contests in the dog world. But, these dogs recognize , respond to and return love and respect. That had to come from somewhere, and that was Paul. These dogs ALL have personality PLUS. When you consider that he had 49 Kuvasz, that a remarkable tribute to him and to the breed.
 
Its been an absolute privilege to be part of this, to watch them grow and blossom into happy dogs. They all have put on good weight, (Molly, Duchess are now on maintenance "lite" diets.) They run full out, bounce and play. They have toys, and blankets, recognize getting " new toys", guard them, are not destructive. They get homemade "cookies" twice a day, have "tuck-in time", which is a few minutes spent individually cuddling and talking, before lights out. We've recently opened up a huge triple run at the end as "playpen". There's a double raised bed in there, with toys and blankets, and as time permits they each get to go there and play with one of us/each other. Its a BIG deal. They love going for "walks" and vie for the privilege. They understand what "your turn", "not your turn"  and "you're next" mean and behave accordingly. They understand "in you go" whether they decide to do it or not. There were 12 of them, so "sharing" had to be learned and respected. In some cases better than others. There are no guarantees in a new environment, but they all take "direction" and "verbal correction" well for the breed, which is remarkable given that they've had no specific obedience training that we know of. It's clear that they need very little physical correction, and the lighter the hand, the better.
 
If you're ready to adopt an adult Kuvasz... please come meet these dogs and you'll be completely  hooked on "rescue". Their intelligence, resilience and spirit, is something you will feel privileged to share.
 
If your situation isn't amenable to "taking one home".... please think about supporting one of these "kids"...with donations of money (always needed)... toys, fleece blankets (they LOVE them)...or food.
 
They have their own Christmas tree in the kennel.... have some fun and send a present for Christmas morning!!!! (Christmas pictures happily supplied)
 
ie: (and we DO get mail like this)
 
POPS
c/o Steve Kovacs
38 browns road
westtown ny
10998
 
 
These dogs have quite a story. They've done their part, now its time for all of us to give it a happy ending!!!!!
 

The History of the Karpati Rescue

Success stories