Kris - Adopted

Name:  Kris
Sex:  Male (not altered)
Breed:  Mi-Ki
Age:  4 months
Location:  Myakka City, FL

Vet Info:  Vet assessment and first series of puppy vaccines given.  The followup vaccines were given, according to FL law, by owner.

Owner Info:  Kris is a shy 4 month old puppy.  We have several other breeder dogs/pets, and 4 puppies right now. Kris seems to get very frustrated when he is with another puppy. He is fine when he is with my husband and I.   Kris was born on 12/23/11 and showed signs of blindness at about 5 weeks of age. We had a CERF test done on him which showed that the pupils were very small and underdeveloped. The ophthalmologist thought that as he matured the pupils would grow to normal size and he would be able to see correctly. However, that has not happened. We have also had Kris to the neurologist. They did a brain scan, heart scan, and liver scan on him. All tests were negative but the neurologist said that there was a chance that there might be "a deep seeded problem in the brain causing damage". We have been told that this is not a genetic problem. We have also taken Kris to an alternative vet. He said that he definitely can hear and he feels that he can see shadows. My husband and I too have felt that. The alternative vet put him on some supplements, this seems to be all we can do. The alternative vet said that a puppy such as Kris should respond well to training that is geared for a blind dog. He is a very adventurous and curious little dog. He is an inside dog confined to one area of the house.  He is housebroken but not leash trained. My husband and I do love Kris very much. Obviously, we wouldn't have tried everything we could to give him a better quality of life through the medical community. We feel that Kris needs to be in a home where he has one on one care....consistent care if you will....someone who is more trained to dealing with a puppy/dog with Kris's problem. We do what we can, but we are very busy with our other dogs a lot of the time and don't feel that we're giving him the best chance in life.

Jude - In Rescue

Name: Sir Judas of Longhorn - Jude
Sex: Male (not altered)
Breed: Cocker Spaniel
Age: 9 years
Location: Charlotte, NC

Vet Info: Bordetella due 7/6/12, Rabies due 12/11/12, DHPP due 12/18/12.  No heartworm done.

Owner Info: DOB 3/7/2003. Due to Jude’s blindness, he will growl if approached quickly. Jude went blind at 7 months of age due to a congenital defect, he does have some side vision on the right. His right hip has been broken and he has one undescended testicle – he needs to be neutered asap. Jude is shy, but gets along well with people of all ages, female dogs and cats. He is an indoor dog with run of the house, he is housebroken and leash trained. Owner states “He's a very loving special dog and if I didn't have to move I wouldn't give him up.”

Maia - Adopted

Name: Maia
Sex: Female
Breed: Pug/Beagle Mix
Age: 7 yrs
Location: North Las Vegas, NV

Vet Info: Rabies due 4/23/13. Distemper/Parvo due 10/18/12, Bordetella 9/24/12. Heartworm neg.  Placed on eye drops on 04/11/12.  Current vet did not spay her, but they did confirm that she's a spayed female.

Owner Info:  When our son was 2 months old she went blind. It was sudden and the vet said there wasn't anything that could be done to correct it. With a very young child who cannot communicate his location (5 month old) it is a worry that she will accidently step on him or jump on him. We have taken her to the vet since the blindness set in and they didn't advise any treatments but confirmed that she is blind. She has a sage brush allergy which is controlled with Cyclosporine. Since sage brush is not in other areas of the country I think this is a regional allergy. Since she has gone blind, if the other dog takes her by surprise she will make an “I'm here” noise but that will be all. She has been to the dog park multiple times before the blindness and was calm and social with all the dogs. She is such a sweet dog. She will walk right beside you and lay right beside you on the couch. She was somewhat hyper but since the blindness she has really mellowed out and will rest on the floor or couch most of the day unless she can go on a walk. Maia is an indoor dog with run of the house, she is housebroken and leash trained and knows sit. She is outgoing and gets along with people of all ages and other dogs. Cats - unknown. She could be the perfect best friend for someone who is single and looking for a dog to love on them and cuddle!

Mattie - Staying With Owner

Name: Mattie
Sex: Female (not altered)
Breed: Shih Tzu
Age: 6-7 yrs (approximate)
Location: Dekalb, TX

Vet Info: Mattie was found as a stray and her medical history is unknown.

Owner Info:  I recently found this Shih Tzu dog wandering in and out of the highway in Idabel, OK.  She is totally (99% blind), maybe some vision in peripheral vision.  I have 7 other dogs, 4 are large working K-9 Search and Rescue dogs and I am afraid she will get trampled or hurt in our very active pack.  She doesn't know when to get out of the way. Mattie's vet history is unknown and she is not spayed.  Appears to be cataracts in both eyes.  Both eyes get matted daily and require cleaning.  She's an indoor dog with the run of the house.  She is not housebroken or at least not well.  She will come when called and is learning her name.  She loves to go outside to potty when asked.  She is not leash trained.  Mattie is outgoing and she is very good with all the other animals: pit, lab, 2 bloodhounds, daschund, bull terrier, chihuahua and two cats.  Currently she sleeps with my son and the male pit bull and does just fine.  Overall she seems pretty healthy.  I just want her to get a good safe home environment where she gets the best care and treatment.

Please note: Owners have said Mattie is a Shih Tzu but to us she looks more like a Maltese or Bichon.

Apollo - Adopted

Name: Apollo
Sex: Male (altered)
Breed: Pekinese
Age: 13 years
Location: Ocean Gate, NJ

Vet Info: Rabies 1 yr/distemper (4/18/12). HW negative (4/18). Neuter verified.  

Owner Info: I adopted this dog from a woman who came into one of the veterinary hospitals I am employed at with the intention to rehome him. He was going to be euthanized because his owner is moving to Japan.  He has chronic dry eye and is 13 years old, but is in otherwise good health. He is neutered and wee wee pad trained.  He is an indoor dog with run of the house and is housebroken.  He is not leash trained.  He knows his name, and comes when called.  He is outgoing and gets along with men, woman, children, teenagers, cats, dogs, and other small animals.  He has been moved around quite a bit and doesn't seem to have issues as long as he has a soft place to lie down. He needs to be shown where his wee wee pads are kept and they should be in a large area (preferably not on the carpet) in case he misses.  He has KCS ( chronic dry eye) in his right eye, the other eye is reduced from a previous infection when he was with his old owner. I treat with NPD ophthalmic ointment and artifcial tears 2-3 times per day.  He is a very happy little dog, he would be great with an elderly person. He loves to sleep in bed with me and snuggle against my feet. He is very happy to get attention and dances whenever I get home from work or school. If I didn't work and have school so much and have many of my own pets I would keep him, however I can not give him the attention he deserves.   

Stevie - Adopted

Name: Stevie
Sex: Female (altered)
Breed: Siberian Husky
Age: Estimated 3 -6 years
Location: Las Vegas, NM

Vet Info: UTD on Bordetella (3/16/12) and DAPP (3/6/12).  HW negative.  Lepto not done due to nursing babies.  Rabies 4/16/12 - 1 yr.  Vet feels Stevie is between 3 and 6 years of age, likely closer to 6 (her molars are well worn, and one is broken). Stevie's blindness appears to have been caused by entropic eyelashes having turned inward, thus scratching her corneas repeatedly over time and causing thick scarring. That would take significant time to reach the point at which she is now. Spay verified.

Owner Info: Stevie was picked up as a stray with her newborn litter by San Miguel County Animal Control. When taken into the shelter, Stevie was extremely stressed, constantly pacing, and moving her puppies back and forth. I feared she would continue to de-compensate and possibly harm her puppies. I was able to secure the best possible foster home I have available on the very day Stevie entered the shelter. She spent less than five hours in a shelter environment! Stevie's foster mom has given her an amazing environment to raise her puppies and recover physically and emotionally. The puppies are getting close to being weaned and they will be transferred to one of the puppy rescues we work closely with in Colorado. Stevie will now need the expertise of a group that can provide her the best possible placement for a long and happy life. This girl is incredibly smart and adaptable! She relies on her other senses and her human companion to guide her. She is of course very concerned about knowing where her babies are, but if she feels they are safe she is willing to go for walks and enjoys exploring. Stevie is walked on leash several times each day, which we both enjoy, but now we also routinely let her loose in our fenced yard and she does VERY well. She is so intelligent that she can memorize an area very quickly, and she learned our yard in no time. She enjoys having her freedom, but she also is great about coming when I call her. She will make someone a PERFECT companion. It took her only a handful of minutes to "learn" the room when she was introduced to it. She bumped into a chair twice, and then never again. She seemed to sense when she was close to a wall. She could tell where the doors were. She immediately returned to her water as soon as she knew where it was. I think she would adapt quickly and easily to a larger indoor area. I do not let her loose outdoors because our yard, although fenced, is not level (she could fall) and has evergreen trees and other sharp objects (that would be painful and dangerous to bump into). She is totally blind, so she does need a handler to keep her from falling into ditches, running into objects, etc. That said, she learns a new area VERY quickly and then can remember where obstacles are!  Stevie is shy, but gets along well with men/women.  Note: Because Stevie's immunization history was unknown and both she and her puppies are vulnerable to infectious diseases, we have kept her and the pups completely away from other animals.  Stevie is an indoor dog confined to one area of the house.  She is housebroken and leashed trained.  Stevie has had an ongoing problem with loose stools. She eats Purina One Puppy Chow, rice, scrambled eggs, chicken broth and a multi-vitamin. She has been on and off Imodium which helps a little. Dr. Gaffney feels that the poor girl had a HUGE parasite load. Stevie has been de-wormed with Panacur and Strongid T and been on meds for Giardia. Upon intake, Stevie was covered with ticks. 2/29/12: due to chronic diarrhea, stool sample analyzed: Negative for parasites except POSITIVE for Giardia. Began 5-day treatment with Panacur for Giardiasis and any other possible parasites. 3/5/12: started on 7-day course of Metronidazole (500 mg 2x/day) for Giardiasis. 3/6/12: vaccinated for DAPP (used Fort Dodge DURAMUNE* Max5). Could not vaccinate for Lepto because of nursing babies. 3/16/12: vaccinated for Bordetella (used Intra-Trac 3 intranasal).   Stevie is a great dog and deserves the best possible chance for a great life that only an experienced blind dog organization can provide. 

Sugar - Adopted

Name: Sugar
Sex: Female (not altered)
Breed: Shih Tzu
Age: 4 months
Location: Atlanta, GA

Vet Info: One year rabies given 3/3/2012. 3/24/2012 Sugar had bordatella and distemper vaccinations (next due 4/18/2012), she was also dewormed. Eyes are congenital muture cataracts, she still has some vision. Eye drops given. 

Owner Info: Sugar’s owner can’t afford the surgery, or the medications Sugar needs if she doesn't have the surgery. She's a sweet baby but her owner just can’t afford to take care of her with these disabilities. She's a young happy puppy and deserves to live a long life. Sugar is an indoor dog with run of the house, is housebroken and leash trained.  She knows come and sit.  She is good with all people and dogs, but cats are unknown.  According to her owner, she is healthy outside of her vision issues.      

Travieso - Taken To Shelter

Name: Travieso
Sex: Male (altered)
Breed: Mixed Breed
Age: 7 years
Location: Chicago, IL

Vet Info: A 3 year rabies was given on 03/14/11. No heartworm test or information on cholesterol test. Neuter verified.

Owner Info: Travieso's owner can no longer take care of him. He is elderly and unable to walk and Travieso has lost his sight and needs extra care and attention. Travieso is an outdoor dog with no restrictions.  He is housebroken and leashed trained and knows basic commands like sit and stay.  He's had no formal training but is very obedient.  He gets along well with adults and children, dogs and cats.  His visual impairment is very recent, but he is moderately adapting. He is bumping into a lot of things, but that doesn’t hold him back or change his mood, he still seems happy. No signs of aggression, he is very loving and friendly with everyone. They are desperately looking to put him in a good home or place where he can be happy. He is a very good dog and they would hate to take him to a shelter. They are running out of time because if he doesn't find a home soon, he will have to go to a shelter. They are willing to travel to any state in the US in order for him to find a good and loving home.                                                   

Fiona - In Misfit Angels Rescue, Eastpointe MI

Name: Fiona

Sex: Female (not altered)
Breed: Terrier mix
Age: 3-4 months
Location: Ray, MI

Vet Info: Fiona was given a physical exam and eye stain test. She was prescribed eye drops which are a combination steriod/antibiotic, to be given 2x/day for a week, however, they are unsure if her sight will come back. Fiona weighs 17.2 pounds, and they thought she was about four months old. Fiona was ataxic. No vaccines were given.

Owner Info: Fiona's owner's boyfriend is a firefighter for the city of Detroit. Thursday morning he responded to a routine house fire in a vacant home on Detroit's east side. The house was almost completely engulfed in flames and smoke. When they got the fire under control and some of the smoke cleared they found a puppy in one of the only rooms that had not caught on fire. The puppy was unconscious, but they brought her out of the house and successfully revived her. To everyone's surprise, her boyfriend came home from work that morning holding the most precious little puppy. She was having problems standing and walking, so the owner immediately brought her to the vet. She thought that maybe one of the guys accidentally stepped on her when fighting the fire, however, the vet informed her that she was having trouble seeing and is most likely completely blind. The blindness could possibly be from lack of oxygen due to the fire. They are unable to keep her due to conflicts with their other rescued dog (that dog is not good with other dogs). Fiona is kept crated and they believe she is housebroken. She is not possessive with toys, treats, or food, and has never shown any aggression. In the short time they have had her, Fiona has adapted very well.

Fiona should be considered very urgent, and needs to find a new home quickly as they can only hold onto her for a few days.

Tico - Adopted

Name: Tico
Sex: Male (altered)
Breed: Kelpie
Age: 11 years 8 months
Location: Woodville, TX

Vet Info: Tico is neutered. He hasn't been to vet since 2009 so is overdue for all vaccinations and he has not been heartworm tested. No eye info available.

Owner Info: Tico's owner passed away a couple of months ago and his owners mother (Tico's grandmother) found a new home for him even though the rest of the family wanted him put to sleep. Tico is having rotten luck as his current owner is going through some extreme health issues and some other difficulties and has asked for our help in rehoming Tico. Tico's grandmother thinks he may be blind from cataracts but is not sure. Apart from his sight he is very healthy, the only problem he has is that to trim his nails, he needs some sedation. Has not seen vet since 2009, her daughter had been very ill with cancer and she was not able to take him to vet. Tico is an indoor dog with the run of the house, he is housebroken and leash trained. He is a very well behaved boy and knows commands such as sit and come. He is an outgoing boy, good with people and children of all ages and good with other dogs. Tico is a very good boy who loves to be petted. Tico's current owner says he is a cat-friendly, sweet, submissive, and good-natured old boy!   She agrees that he needs to be sedated to clip his nails, and says they're quite long now.  She also says that he does stumble occasionally and will cry out, which could be due to his long nails or to his blindness.