Wishbone - Adopted

Name: Wishbone

Age: 3 years approximately

Sex: Male (not altered)

Breed: Australian Shepherd/Border Collie Mix

Location: Springfield, MO area

Vet Info: Wishbone weighs around 25 lbs. Wishbone has not seen a vet in the year he has been with his current owner. He is not current with vaccinations and has not had a heartworm test. He is completely blind in one eye and almost completely blind in the other.

Owner Info: Wishbone was taken in after his former owner moved away and left him. His current owner is afraid he will get hit by a car and also cannot afford to take him to a vet. He is an outdoor dog without restrictions but his owner says he is housebroken and leash-trained. He knows the commands no, sit, and come! The owner has three other dogs and Wishbone gets along fine with them. He has not been around cats. His owner says Wishbone is in good health and is a very happy dog!

ZZ - In BDRA Foster Care

Name: ZZ

Breed: Pomeranian

Age: 6 years old

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Charlotte, NC area

Vet Info: ZZ is neutered and up to date on vaccines. He is heartworm negative and on preventative. He weighs 11 pounds.

Owner Info: ZZ is a very handsome boy who was saved from a kill shelter by our very own Doris right before he was to be euthanized! She has worked with him and had him vetted, and now he's ready for a foster or home of his own! He is completely blind, likely due to age. Other than his blindness, he is in good health. ZZ is an indoor dog with run of the house, he is housebroken and leash trained. He even knows the commands Come and Sit! He is good with people of all ages, male and female dogs, and cats. He is not possessive with treats, toys, or food, and has never bitten or snapped. He is a very sweet boy - just a love bug! 

Tessie - In BDRA Foster Care

Name: Tessie

Breed: Golden Doodle

Age: 7 weeks

Sex: Female (not altered)

Location:

Vet Info: According to Tessie's owner Tessie has been vet checked, she’s had two sets of puppy shots so far. She is deaf and possibly blind, micro ophthalmia. We have not verified this with vet.

Owner Info: Tessie is an indoor dog confined to one area of the house, she is not possessive of toys, treats or food, has never shown any aggression, and gets along with everybody!

Stella - Adopted

Name: Stella

Age: DOB 10/29/13

Sex: Female (not altered)

Breed: Australian Shepherd

Location: Southern PA 

Vet Info: Stella weighs 35 pounds. Her owner notes she is up to date on vaccines. 

Owner Info: Stella was rescued off of CraigsList with the hope of finding her a specialized rescue. Stella is an indoor dog with run of the house, she is not yet housebroken but is leash trained. She is learning hand signals and is doing a good job! Stella is good with people of all ages and both male and female dogs. Stella's owner writes, "Left eye smaller with third eye covering some right eye has starlight pupil- sees better up close appears harder to see from a distance," and says she is a very sweet girl!  

Halle - Adopted

Name: Halle

Age: 8 years

Breed: Labrador

Sex: Female (confirmed altered)

Location: MA

Vet Info: Halle is confirmed spayed.  She received a DA2PP booster, Lyme Disease booster, and Lepto booster on 4/5/14.  She is heartworm negative.  She is due for her next rabies vaccine in February, 2015.  Halle weighs about 72 pounds.  

Owner Info: Halle is a beautiful girl whose owners' daughter is allergic to dogs.  Halle does not have any eye issues, but she is Razzle's sister, and so we are doing our best to help Halle as well.  They have had Halle since she was a puppy.  Halle is an indoor dog with run of the house, she is housebroken and leash trained.   Halle is a smart girl and knows several commands, including Sit, Lay Down, Speak, Gentle, and Paw! Halle has lived with Razzle, and they tell us she plays well with big dogs - "much much more than small dogs". Halle can be possessive with treats, toys, or food, and when asked if Halle has ever bitten or snapped, they write that there was a "little toy dog that nipped at Halle and she did show her teeth".  Her owners tell us that Halle is a sweet girl once she meets you!!  But that she's only known them, and they checked the box on the form that she can be a nervous dog.   They tell us that she can be protective of them and the house, but it's "normal barking".  Halle is a beautiful girl and they are very much hoping for our help!  

Joey - In BDRA Foster Care

Name: Joey

Age: 6 weeks    

Sex: Female (not altered)

Breed: Blue heeler mix

Location: Southeastern Georgia

Vet Info: The vet said that this is a "super sweet" puppy who is "very in tune with her surroundings" and is very healthy. Joey most likely has microphthalmia (small eyes with other eye issues). She has no response to light in either eye and she was born this way. 

Owner Info: Joey was born on April 1, 2014 and weighs about 5 pounds. Her current owners received her as a gift from someone who did not know Joey was blind.  They do not have time to spend with her and do not want her. Joey has already learned to come and to sit.  She is a very friendly puppy who needs a loving home! This beautiful puppy is in desperate need of a new home soon.  Her current owners are considering euthanasia.  She has her whole life ahead of her!  She needs a home NOW!!

No Name Maltese - Staying With Owner

Name: No name yet

Age: Unknown, probably senior

Sex: Female (unknown if altered)

Breed: Maltese

Location: Oklahoma City, OK area

Vet Info: There is no vet information. She weighs approximately 3 - 5 pounds.

Owner Info: This beautiful and very sweet little girl was found by a family in the road. They believe she was abandoned. They've taken her in and have not yet been able to find her home. They are unable to keep her as they're at their city limit for pets and are hoping she'll be able to find rescue! She is an indoor dog who is crated, she appears to be housebroken and leash trained. She is good with both men and women, but she is frightened of their other dogs who want to play with her, so they are keeping her separated. She is not possessive of toys, treats, or food and has not shown any aggression. In fact, they're happy she is eating!  She's a very sweet little girl, and she even allowed them to clip her nails!  She appears totally blind, and they describe her eyes as "completely white". They write, "She doesn't have but a few back teeth, and I think she is older. She was in really rough shape, but after we bathed and clipped her as much as we could, I can see a sweet, happy little dog under the trauma she must have gone through. I just want her to have a home she can live out her life in, and not suffer like she must have been being a stray, blind, with no teeth to eat. She deserves a happier life!"

Jack - Staying With Owner

Name: Jack

Age: 8 years (estimated)

Breed: Labrador Retriever

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Charlotte, NC area

Vet Info: Jack has had a rabies vaccine and vet confirms he is neutered. He weighs 110 pounds. 

Owner Info: Jack was found by a good samaritan wandering in the road about a week ago. He appears completely blind and in one of his eye sockets, there is only a white circle, but she writes that he may have a little peripheral vision. She took him in and has been unable to find his owners or other rescue. She is not able to keep him because she already has several dogs and cats, and is hoping for our assistance to find Jack a loving home! Jack is an indoor dog confined to one area of the house, he is housebroken (he's not had any accidents in the house) and leash trained. He is not possessive of toys, treats, or food and has never bitten or snapped. Jack is good with women, children, and both male and female dogs. He's not yet been around men, but his good samaritan writes, "I have seen no signs of any aggression from him. He has been around my other dogs, and a friend of mine and her 10 year old daughter. He has not been around any men, but he has a very gentle nature and I cannot imagine him having any behavior issues with them." When responding to the question about how well the dog adapts to new situations, Jack's good samaritan wrote, "I believe he is adapting as best as he can given his visual impairment. I have moved furniture around and he responds well to voice command. Even when he bumps into things (which is often), which is very upsetting to me, he manages to either follow my voice or find his way around things to get from one place or another. He has to take a flight of 8 stairs in and out of the house to use the bathroom and he navigates them well without being on a leash. He has been introduced to all my dogs and gets along fine with them. He has not been around my cats so I do not know how he would react, but he is a very gentle dog that loves attention. He seems happy and content when around me and the other dogs. He will bark constantly when he can't see me or knows I am in another room so he may have some separation anxiety."  She wants us to know that he is a very gentle fellow and he loves people!! 

Update 5/10/14:  ​Jack is very content when he can "see" me or be near me; otherwise he can start barking for an extended period. Even though he can't really see me (but he may be able to make out shapes) he senses pretty quick when I leave the room or the (fenced-in) yard while he's outside.  He will come up the stairs and start barking so he knows where the door is - whether he can see somewhat or just has figured out his surroundings well enough I'm not sure. Jack is very sweet and loving, but he is a BIG boy.  Even though he has some age to him he is still very energetic and strong.  I am 5'10 and big-boned but Jack has a strong pull so whoever fosters/adopts him must be physically able to handle him.  Because he is playful and sight impaired I don't believe he would be suitable for a home with very young children who he may bump into and accidentally scare when he likes to come up close and try to play or puts his gigantic paw up on, which can hurt because it is a big paw!   When I pet him he likes to nuzzle and put my hand/arm in his mouth but he never closes his mouth to bite or get a hold of...he is just enjoying being loved on and trying to love back.  He finally "sensed" my cats, who are up in their cages while he goes out through the "cat room" to the backyard.  He is now barking a lot at them and trying to push his way to them.  As I said before, Jack gets along with all of my pets (i.e. does not bother them or act aggressively in any way) - however, some of my smaller pets are intimidated by him, and I watch him carefully when they are outside together because I don't know if he could accidentally get too close or step on them this since he can't really see - otherwise I have no concerns whatsoever about him around other dogs.  In conclusion, Jack is a wonderful dog...a little older, but you would not know that by looking at him or watching him move.  I think he would be great with a family with teenagers or grown children.  I don't have any concerns about him being around small children other than his size and sight-impairment.  Jack is very sight impaired but manages to get around well, especially when he hears your voice.  Jack has also discovered how to open the outside gate!  He is a smart fellow! 

Update 5/10/14: We've just received an email from Jack's caregiver and he is now urgent! He is going after her cats, and while she is doing her best to keep everyone separated, her cats are having a very difficult time.  She is desperately hoping and praying Jack can find rescue as soon as possible.   "He is really a good dog and I hope and pray there will be a home/foster home found for him soon.  I'm sorry that I can't be the one to give him a permanent home or foster him long-term".

Update 5/13/2014: Things are going a little better since I put the cat's cage in the living room up on my dining room table out of Jack's sight. I pulled my couch across the opening of the dining room so for now he is separated from that cat. My other dog can jump the couch into the dining room - a trick I hope Jack doesn't learn. I am keeping him on leash as we got out through the sunroom to the outdoors so he can't attack the cages of my other 3 cats. Jack is also on a routine where he goes out 2 times in the morning (6:30 am and 7:15 am) and 2 times at night (as soon as I get home from work and around 7:30-8:00 pm.) ....As long as I can keep him separated from my cats and they can eat and live in relative safety then I'll foster Jack as long as I can; if anything changes (such as he learns to jump the couch) and would hurt one of my cats, things could change immediately.

Shyla - Staying With Owner

Name: Shyla

Age: 11 years

Breed: Beagle Mix

Sex: Female (confirmed altered)

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Vet Info: Shyla is confirmed spayed and is current on her rabies vaccine, which is next due in 2016. She is overdue for her Bordetella and Distemper vaccines. They have no record of a heartworm test. Shyla weighs 33 pounds.

Owner Info: Shyla is an adorable girl who needs to find a new home or rescue asap. One owner has moved to Holland and is not sure when/if she'll be able to bring Shyla over, and her co-owner has been given two more days to get rid of Shyla or get evicted. They've been emailing many rescues but have not yet had any luck, and they're hoping Shyla doesn't have to go to a shelter. Shyla is an indoor dog with run of the house, is leash trained (she's very good on a leash!), and knows several commands, including Sit, Stay, Shake, Paw, Down, and In Your Crate! Shyla is housebroken, but has had urinary incontinence for about a year now. "She asks to go out when she needs to go but has to use wee pads when we aren't there and because of this she has been confined to a small space in the apartment when nobody is home." Shyla currently lives with a male dog and does well with him, but is possessive of food. Her owners write, "She is possessive with food but only with dogs if they try to get at her while she is eating. A person can take her treats/food away and she has no issues. She has a big appetite, food has to be controlled or she would eat everything, this is new since she's been blind, she exhibits many SARDS symptoms though she hasn't been diagnosed. She is good with docile dogs but if there is another dominant dog she can get defensive." They also note that if she's scared of another dog and they start barking or running at her, she may snap to try to defend herself. When asked if she adapts well to new situations, they write, "She is really a pro. She jumps on and off the couch. She walks all around the apartment, she was adapting to a new partner's apartment, also did well with her dog. She was extra slow/cautious/depressed when she first went blind 2.5 years ago, but now she is happy and walking in good speed".

Please read their heartfelt email below:

I have been a proud co-parent to a very special dog named Shyla, who unfortunately is desperately in need of a good home ASAP. I have moved to Amsterdam where I have been trying to get a residence permit in order to be able to bring her here, but I haven't been able to get approved and not sure when/if that will be able to happen at this point. Her other parent has gotten a 3 day notice to get rid of Shyla or get evicted, she now has 2 days. She is in West Los Angeles, 10 year old rescue and was in rough shape when we got her when she was around 6 months. She's medium sized 33 pounds mixed breed. She suddenly went blind a couple of years ago, the vet wasn't able to offer any explanation. I refuse to put her in an LA shelter. It breaks my heart that I may never see her again and I really really really hope this isn't the case. She's blind and has to urinate a lot so she needs to have someone around to take her out or a yard that she can let herself out in. She has not had this available unfortunately and has had to be confined to a small space with pee pads while her other owner works. She is house trained but the vet says it is a common problem with older spayed females to have incontinence issues. Because of this she's been barking. She has no problems with barking too much when people are home and she is free, nor did she have problems with barking when she was alone until she had to be confined. She lives with another dog now, they've been together for 10 years. She's finicky around other dogs, some dogs she has no issues with, other more aggressive dog she gets defensive with. She is a good guard dog even though she is blind. She does need someone with a lot of love in their heart who has time for a special needs pet.