Gizzy - In Foster Care

Name: Gizzy

Age: Approximately 1 year

Sex: Female (not verified as altered)

Breed: Harlequin Dachshund
Location: Arlington, TX (near Fort Worth)

Vet Info: We do not have any vet information at the moment. She is trying to get together enough money to take Gizzy to the vet to be checked out.  Gizzy weighs 6 pounds.

Owner Info: Current owner took Gizzy as a favor to a military family who bought Gizzy from a back yard breeder.  Current owner was told she has been spayed.  Owner reports that Gizzy is a very beautiful white with dark splashes harlequin Dachshund who was born blind and deaf.  She is an indoor dog who is housebroken but not leash trained.  Gizzy is good with all adults and female dogs. She is not possessive with treats or toys but does not want to share her food bowl.

Joy - At Humane Society

Name: Joy

Sex: Female (altered)
Age: 1 year
Breed: American Bulldog Mix (possibly Dalmation)
Location: Las Cruces, NM

Vet information: Joy is spayed and is being treated for heart worm by the slow kill method.  Joy is blind in her left eye and is mostly deaf but can hear high pitched noises.  She is UTD on vaccines and is in good health overall.

Owner information: Joy was pulled from a local animal shelter at the request of the animal control officer who picked her up. She had been running the streets for a while and was being abused by neighborhood children with BB guns, etc. She is an outdoor dog in a fenced yard, and is not housebroken or leash trained.  Joy is good with adults and teenagers, but her owner writes that she shows aggression between the kennels, especially when new dogs come into the area.  When she gets to know them, she mostly ignores them--seems uninterested in them.  She has a good temperament and is smart so would do well with the right training and resources.

Update 10/13: Joy's owners are willing to donate $500 for her transfer, help any way they can with the transport itself, and also provide the rest of her heartworm treatment medications to any legitimate 501c3 rescue who is able to place Joy.

Update 11/23/13: Joy is still looking for her forever home! Her owner writes: “She is still with us, and we are still looking for a home for her.  She needs a lot more work with socialization than I can personally give her, so she is mostly in a kennel right now, which is very sad.  I tried to hire trainers to work with her, but I have had no luck yet.  I will try again soon to keep searching for someone who can come get her during the day and take her out and work with her more. She has settled down a lot here and is very smart.  We had thought she was deaf, but it turns out she is not. Any help you can offer is appreciated; here's her listing on Petango:  http://www.petango.com/Adopt/Dog-Bulldog-American-2067323 “

Update 4/13/14: The OS Team heard this morning that Joy is being transferred to a Humane Society in a couple of weeks. She will be safe there, and will get specialized behavioral training that she really needs so she can be ready for adoption. The Humane Society has a very high rate of adoption, and will notify the current owner if, for some reason, Joy is in danger of euthanasia.

Timmy - Adopted

Timmy is a former Owner Surrender dog who found a new home in February 2013 but now is back with his old owner, and she needs to find him a new home once again. His original post and and update are below:

Name: Timmy
Sex: Male (altered)
Age: 6 years
Breed: Australian Shepherd
Location: Pittsburgh area, PA

Vet Info: Timmy is up to date on rabies (due again in 2014) but is overdue on all other shots (was due for more shots in October of 2012).  The last time he was at the vet clinic was in October of 2011 and he weighed 52 pounds at that time.  He has been neutered and is blind.  They have no record of a heartworm test.

Owner Info: Timmy was adopted from the pound and is an indoor dog with the run of the house.  He is housebroken but not leash-trained.  He knows the following commands:  sit, lay down, get down, outside, hungry (mealtime), no.  His owner said that she worked with a trainer when she first got him but she has never been able to take him for a walk because he is "too big and excitable."  He is an outgoing dog who is good with other dogs, adults and older children.  He would not be good around younger children because he loves to jump. He is not good with cats.  If he is backed into a corner or pulled by his collar (instead of his leash), he may snap.  When a leash is clipped onto his collar and he is comforted, he does not snap.  The owner says he weighs 70 pounds.  The owner's mother is moving in, and the owner is worried Timmy will push her over and/or she will fall over him so she wants Timmy to have a new home. The owner wrote:  He needs a lot of love and snuggles!  He thinks he is a lap dog.  He has provided me with so much love, and a wonderful learning experience.  He deserves nothing but the best home a person can provide.  Other than his vision, he is in perfect health.  Loves to run and play kong!

Update September 2013: Timmy is up to date on all of his shots until February of 2014, except the rabies which is due in April 2014. Since it's a 3 year rabies shot, the vet said it can be taken care of in February. He's pretty tough to get on a scale, so 52lbs is the last record weight, but I'm positive he's more than that. Probably closer to 65-70. He has gotten better on a leash. Usually, the first part of the walk is a little rough but he settles down after a little while and is ok. I think a home with no children is the best. He's fine with dogs and has stayed in a home with two cats and hasn't bothered them. I don't think he can see them. He was staying with my sister, but she didn't know how to handle him and he bit her when she tried to get him off of a bed. The best thing to do in a situation like that is to get a leash on him. I've done it lasso style just to get it around his neck. As soon as you get it on him and tug, he comes quietly. He really needs a stable environment and someone to stick with him no matter what.

Toby - In Memory

Name: Toby

Breed: Shih Tzu

Age: Estimated 10 years

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Melbourne, FL area

Vet Info: Toby is confirmed neutered and heartworm negative.  He is up to date on vaccines, and is next due for his rabies vaccine in 2/2014.  He weighs about 20 pounds. 

Owner Info: Toby's owner has a new job and now works almost 12 hours a day.  As much as it breaks her heart, she is unable to give Toby the time and attention he needs and deserves, and she feels this is the best action for his health and happiness.  Toby is an indoor dog confined to one area of the house, and he is leash trained.  He is good with people of all ages, but his owner says he usually does not do well around other dogs because of his blindness; he often snaps and snarls at them.  She adds that he has never bitten any person or other animal. He is not possessive of toys, treats, or food.  Toby is completely blind, and has retinal degeneration in one eye and a corneal abrasion in the other.  He is allergic to gluten and is incontinent, but his owner says the reason for his incontinence is not known.   His owner writes, "Writing this email breaks my heart more than anything in the entire world...he is the kindest, sweetest, most cuddly dog in the whole entire world but I just do not feel as though he is getting the life he deserves with me anymore. I cannot even bare the thought of giving him up without making absolutely sure that he will be in a home where he is loved. He LOVES children (he would often roll on the floor with my 7month old niece) and is just the kindest dog you have ever met." 

Buddy - Staying With Owner

Name: Buddy

Sex: Male (altered)

Breed: Blue Doberman

Age: 1 year
Location: Waldorf, MD

Vet information: Buddy is confirmed neutered.  He is UTD for rabies but not distemper. Not heartworm tested.

Owner information:  Buddy’s owner rescued him from the street when he was just a puppy.  He is totally blind. Buddy is an indoor dog with the run of the house but is not housebroken. Buddy can use the dog door well and can go up and down stairs.  Owner reports that Buddy is good with all people and dogs but treats cats like play toys but does not have a mean bone in his body.  The owner feels she cannot manage such a strong dog and would like to find a home for this nice boy.

Sapphire - In BDRA Foster Care

Name: Sapphire

Breed: Siberian Husky
Age: 9 years
Sex: Female (not altered)
Location: Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Vet info: Sapphire was diagnosed with diabetes in June 2013.  Records show that the owners have mentioned dog has vision problems but vet has not tested dog.  Insulin prescribed but not being given.  Dog in good health otherwise.  Vet said that owners had appointment for dog to be PTS this week but cancelled.

Owner info: Owner has owned dog since 2004. They say she is spayed. She is described as an indoor dog who is crated, housebroken, leash trained, been through formal obedience training and is outgoing and good with people.  Sapphire is very spry and energetic. They want to surrender her because they feel they cannot manage her needs.  

Shamrock - In Memory

Name: Shamrock

Age: 6 months

Sex: Male (not yet altered)

Breed: Mixed Breed

Location: Southern Alabama

Vet Info: Shamrock has not yet been neutered because of his skin condition (demodectic mange). His skin has "drastically improved," however, and the owner plans to neuter him once his skin is healed. Shamrock is up to date on his distemper and is scheduled for his rabies shot. He has limited vision in one eye and is blind in the other. 

Owner Info: Shamrock was dumped in a cemetery with a bad head injury (cracked skull) that caused partial blindness, and was found by his current owner. She has had him for over 4 months. He is about 6 months old now and weighs about 25 pounds. He likes adults and dogs, and in general is very friendly to all. He does act like he will bite when he is picked up but will not actually bite. He doesn't like being picked up and so will put his mouth on the hand of the person picking him up, but that is all. Shamrock is an outside dog who is housebroken but not yet leash trained. He is crated at night. He tends to go in circles a lot. His current owner wrote: "He is a sweet dog and he needs a chance. I do not have the knowledge or the time to help him. He loves to cuddle if I sit on the floor with him. He wants to play but my 5 other dogs are older and snap at him."

Update 11/24/2013: Shamrock's owner wrote: “Thank you for checking in on him. He is doing great and, yes he still needs a new home. He still will not go down steps and keeps a mess on our back porch. I carry him down but he wiggles so much I'm scared I am going to drop him or fall myself. Then he runs back up them at an angle and has fallen off himself. He is up to date on shots just not neutered yet. He is full grown now, medium size dog. Beautiful coat. Very loving but still the puppy hyper. I have managed to teach him to sit, not for long but he is working on it. He still goes in circles a lot. Not sure if that is from being blind in one eye or the head injury. Good point about him not going down stairs - I have an older dog that has started picking fights. Four of the 6 were tied up the other day. One can jump the fence so he stays in the front yard and Shamrock being on the porch so those two were not in on it. Shamrock is not scared of anything and would have been right there in it and would have gotten hurt. With him going in circles he bumps into the others and they growl at him. He will then go put his body right up to them. The only thing he has ever chewed up is paper. I left my shoes in the living room the other night and he did get them but thankfully he did not chew them up. I cant tell you how many shoes all the others have chewed up. He loves toys but Sissy takes them away from him and chews them up. I do hope he can get a new home. He would do so much better alone or with not as many dogs as I have.”

Lady - Staying With Owner

Name: Lady

Breed: Cocker Spaniel
Age: 5 years
Sex: Female (altered)
Location: Saint Johns, Florida

Vet Info: Lady is confirmed spayed. She is UTD with all injections but has not been tested for heartworm since 2-12 but that test was “clear”.  Lady weighs about 25 lbs. The owner reports that Lady “has had single blindness in one eye from glaucoma for the last 2 years”.  They also say Lady’s overall health is good. Lady needs a calm and attentive owner. Children, particularly, young ones would not be to her benefit; however, other dogs would be helpful.

Owner Info: Lady was rescued from a single mother. The current owner wrote  “We have a 3 year old and 20 month old and find ourselves struggling with the attention Lady needs. Also, she has become nervous b/c our children are becoming more and more mobile and playful. It is not fair to her anymore and we want to find her a good home.” Lady is an indoor dog who has the run of the house.  She is house broken, leash trained, good with both men and women and small animals.

Rudy - Adopted

Name: Rudy

Age:11 years

Breed: Corgi Mix (possibly Pomeranian)

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Gettysburg, PA area

Vet Info: Rudy's neuter is confirmed.  He is up to date on his rabies, lepto, and distemper vaccines and is next due for his rabies vaccine on 11/26/14.  He is  due for his lepto vaccine on 3/28/14 and his distemper vaccine on 3/28/16.  His owner says he is heartworm negative.  Rudy weighs 18 pounds.  His owners write he is completely blind, deaf in his right ear, and has a slight heart murmur.

Owner Info: Rudy is an adorable fellow who has been blind for about four years due to cataracts.  His owners must find a home for Rudy by the 18th of this month (September) as the management of their building is no longer permitting the use of pet pads.  Rudy's owners adore him and don't want to give him up, but moving is not an option for them.  It's been difficult for them to take him out since he's been blind as the noise from the center of town scares and confuses him.  He does go out at night when things quiet down.  They write that he does adjust well to new situations! Rudy is not housebroken but is leash trained.  He's good with people of all ages, including children, but he does not like cats and can be aggressive towards other dogs only "in that he barks as if he's a big, bad dog.  He's never attacked any other dog. As our groomer told us, once we're gone, he gets along fine with the other animals".  Rudy has never bitten or snapped and is not possessive of toys, treats, or food.  Rudy's owners have made arrangements for him to stay at the groomer's boarding facility after 9/18, but it is not known how long he can stay there.

Mystery - Staying With Owner

Name: Mystery

Age: Estimated 4 years

Sex: Female (altered)

Breed: Chihuahua

Location: Salt Lake City area, UT

Vet Info: Mystery is confirmed spayed.  She is not up to date on vaccines and has not been heartworm tested.  She weighs 13 pounds.

Owner Info: Mystery is a beautiful and friendly little girl who is need of a new home!  Mystery was found wandering in one of the complexes about two months ago, and her owner took her in.  Her owner would love to keep her, but she is only allowed to have two dogs, and little Mystery is the third.  Mystery needs to find a new home as soon as possible. Mystery is an indoor dog with run of the house, she is housebroken but not leash trained.  She is good with women and has not been around men much, but her owner writes, "she seems ok with men neighbors when we are outside".  Smaller children may frighten her.  Mystery gets along with other dogs.  She gets annoyed when the other two dogs are playing and growling and she is trying to sleep, so she will bark at them, but she has never bitten or snapped and is not possessive of toys, treats, or food.  Her owner notes that she can see bright/white objects and is a little overweight, but other than that, she is healthy! Her owner writes, "she is so cute she comes running to the door wagging her tail along with the other two".  She also tells us that Mystery likes to sleep in her bed!  

Radar - Adopted

Name: Radar

Age: 6 years

Breed: Hound / Australian Shepherd Mix

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Pittsburgh area, PA

Vet Info: Radar is confirmed neutered and up to date on vaccines.  He is heartworm negative.  Radar weighs 40 pounds.

Owner Info: Radar is a very handsome and sweet boy who was rescued from a rural kill shelter by a smaller sized rescue.  They have been unable to find a foster home for sweet Rader and he has been in a kennel/doggie daycare center since his rescue.  They would love for Radar to be able to come out of boarding and find other rescue or adoption!  Radar has been diagnosed with SARDS and is mostly blind, but is otherwise healthy.  He is housetrained but since he drinks a lot (due to SARDS), he has to go out often.  Radar is an indoor dog and is housebroken and leash trained.  He knows "sit" and "hug" and loves to cuddle!  Radar is good with people of all ages and both male and female dogs.  He does have a tendency to want to mount other dogs, but if he's watched, he is OK with them.  Radar is not possessive of toys, treats, or food and has never bitten or snapped.  Radar gets around well and will follow your voice and come right to you when called.  His rescue writes, "Radar is a real sweetheart and we really hope to find him a great foster home (or permanent home :) with someone that is familiar with blind dogs".  

Update 11/23/13: Radar is still looking for his forever home!

Bella - Adopted

Name: Bella

Age: Estimated 5 years

Sex: Female (altered)

Breed: Siberian Husky

Location: Fort Knox, KY area

Vet Info: Bella is confirmed spayed. Bella is not up to date on vaccines and has not been heartworm tested.  She weighs about 65 - 70 pounds.  Her owner says Bella had glaucoma in one eye and that eye was removed, and not long after that, she had to have her second eye removed.

Owner Info: Bella is a gorgeous girl whose owner took her in after her brother was unable to keep her.  She's had Bella for over a year, and because of her work schedule and her other dogs, she's realized she's taken on more than she can handle as she's unable to give Bella the care and attention that she needs.  She writes, "I don't want to just take her somewhere, I want to see that she is taken care of. It breaks my heart to do so but it is in the long run what is best for her! She is a sweetheart! Very loving and affectionate."  Bella is an outdoor dog with a fenced yard.  She is not housebroken but is leashed trained.  She knows sit, shake, and will jump on you for hugs when you tell her UP!  Bella is good with people of all ages and female dogs, but her owner writes that, "I was trying to get her used to my inside dogs so I took them out on a leash my poodle growled at her and she snapped him on the back. I am sure she was just startled by him and didn't mean too."    We asked for more information, and Bella's owner wrote, "The poodle was male and not neutered .  She tried to bite at him because she was not used to him. I am new at this trying to adjust everyone so i didn't really know how to go about it until i read up on it."  Bella is fine with her owner's bichon and is not possessive of toys, treats, or food. Bella's owner says Bella adapts well to new situations.  "She has adjusted fine with coming to my home. We put in an underground fence and she has never left it. She hears the beep from the collar and backs up. She is a very independent dog, easy going, lovable, and stays close to the house. She does not venture out. She does dig some but like I told my husband, "A digging dog ,is a happy dog." At least that's what the dog whisper said. :)" 

Update 9/15/13: We've just found out that sweet Bella has not found a new home, she has been taken to the shelter:(

Here is her shelter information:

Meet Bella. She is a pretty special girl. She is a 5 year old Husky who was born blind. Her people surrendered her to the shelter because their smaller dogs didn't like her. She is super sweet and playful and gets around extremely well with just her nose and her ears. She is really an amazing dog. It was so sad to see her end up in the shelter.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=552540708144654&set=a.543462785719113.1073741835.308195932579134&type=1&comment_id=1583450

Please contact:

Meade County Animal Shelter

516 Hillcrest Drive
Next to the Meade Co Courthouse

Brandenburg, KY 40108 US  

Chester - Adopted

Name: Chester

Age: 8 years

Breed: Labrador/German Shepherd Mix

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Near Lexington, KY

Vet Info: Chester is up to date on his rabies, distemper and bordatella. He is heartworm negative. He has been neutered. He was too thin when the vet first saw him but reportedly has gained some weight. He is definitely blind. His teeth are worn.

Owner Info: Chester was about to be euthanized when a rescue group took him in. They have had him for months and no one is interested in him. He is living in a kennel. He is about 60 pounds. He is housetrained and leashtrained. He is good with people of all ages but must be an only pet. He growls at other dogs because he is afraid of them. The rescue says: Chester deserves a chance at life. Just because he cannot see does not mean he will not make someone an awesome pet. The kennel says: He is a good boy!

Update 11/26/13: Chester is doing much better around other dogs!  The kennel says that now Chester only growls at other dogs if they growl at him.  But Chester doesn't want to spend his life in a kennel.  He wants a forever home!

Update 4/12/14: The OS team heard from the rescue today that has Chester and they wrote: He is doing good - he has lived at the kennel now for over a year which is so sad. But he is no longer afraid of other dogs. And he still needs a home! A year in a kennel! :( Chester really does need a home! 

Update 6/15/14: This dog continues to live in a kennel! For over a year! He is a beautiful boy and needs to be living in a home! He likes both cats and dogs now! Please share his information!

Update 8/26/2014: Poor Chester! A family with two little girls came to see him twice. He loved the girls and they loved him. But the parents were worried he could not go up and down their steps (they didn't bring him to their house to try) and that he might shed, so Chester continues to live in the kennel and continues to wait for a real home. Poor Chester! Please share his information!

Here is some additional information on Chester from the rescue group that has Chester right now (and remember that Chester is living in a kennel and has been living in a kennel for over a year):

A little more background: Chester was a stray and in the shelter on the euth list. At that time, he would just get upset when another dog would touch him because he could not see them - not sure if his blindness was new at that time.

Currently: The kennel says now he has been going in the play yard with the other dogs and likes the cat - no aggression in a long time. They say he is very sweet. I think he just knows his way around there now; he knows how to go to get in and out. I think once he gets used to where he is (like when he gets a new home) he would be fine. He has never attacked anyone or another dog; he used to give a growl when they touched him. Now he has done very well with the other dogs at the kennel. And with the cat they have there. He is a sweetheart! 

Angel - In Memory

Name: Angel

Age: 13 years

Sex: Female (not altered)

Breed: Yorkie

Location: San Diego area, CA

Vet Info: Vet saw Angel one time on August 15, 2013 for an exam. She has a heart condition and is on lasix. She has no teeth. The vet did not give any shots or test for heartworm. Angel is not spayed.

Owner Info: Angel is 13 years old and was turned into a shelter when she was sick. Her current owner took her home and has been taking care of her. She has impaired vision and an enlarged heart. She is on medication for her heart condition. She is a Yorkie and weighs 5.5 pounds. She is not spayed. Angel is an indoor dog with the run of the house. She is housetrained and leashtrained. She is good with adults and with other dogs and cats. She has not been aggressive to anyone at all. Her current owner wrote: "She is an adorable little girl who would make a great companion for anyone who wants a quiet and gentle friend. She is very quiet and good and she is beautiful too, missing all of her teeth."

Chopper - Adopted

Name: Chopper (nickname Bear)

Age: 8 - 10 years

Breed: Black Labrador

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Annapolis, MD area

Vet Info: Chopper is confirmed neutered and up to date on vaccines.  He is next due for rabies and distemper vaccines in 2016.  He did have a heartworm test in 2012, however they were unable to find the results in the computer.  Owner notes he is heartworm negative.  Chopper weighs 78 pounds. 

Owner Info: Chopper is a very handsome boy who is in need of a new home.  Chopper has Retinal Atrophy and is 100% blind.  Unfortunately, Chopper's dad is unable to keep him as he is out of the house 10 - 12 hours a day, sometimes 15, and Chopper is unhappy being alone so much.  His owner is also in the process of moving.  He is hoping that Chopper will find a new home or rescue who is better able to meet his needs. His owner writes, "my vet has recommended that I place Chopper in a new home for his well being".   He has been unable to place Chopper with friends or family, and Chopper is now staying with his dad until other placement is found.  Chopper is an indoor dog with run of the house, he is housebroken and leash trained.  Chopper is a smart fellow who knows sit, paw, lay down, come, and stay!  He's good with people of all ages and both male and female dogs, however his owner writes that he has issues with alpha dogs.  "Typically alpha males tend to mount other dogs to get them to submit to them and Chopper doesn't like that at all.  My friends have an alpha yellow lab that kept trying to Chopper submit that way and they didn't get along at all."  His owner writes, "Chopper is a wonderful, happy, very sweet dog that if could keep him I would never part with him. he is not a high maintenance dog and everyone that has ever met has fallen in love with him. I could go on for hours about what a special dog Chopper is but suffice it to say that it is the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life but I need to do what is best for him.

Please Note: Chopper's owner just found out he has until September 14th to find Chopper a new home as his dad will be gone for almost three weeks.  They are working on finding other placement for Chopper, but may not have any luck.  Boarding is not a possibility.   

Update 9/8/13: Chopper's dad has been unable to find him any place to go, and may have to bring him to Animal Control by the end of the week.

Update 9/13/13: Chopper's owner has found him a temporary place to stay, but he is not sure how long Chopper will be able to stay there.  Chopper is still in urgent need!

Update 10/7:  The family that is currently fostering Chopper will house for about one more week then after that I will have to take him  to Animal Control and they are now saying that he will most likely be put to sleep shortly after his arrival because of his condition.  I also know that he won't do well in a kennel environment because he will be too scared to be in a confined area like that.  If there is anything you can do for Chopper that would be wonderful.  Please let me know if there is anything that could be done to save him, thank you.