Joplin - In Memory

Name: Joplin
Age: Estimated 9-10 years
Sex: Female (altered)
Breed: Beagle
Location: Boone, NC

Vet Info: Joplin is confirmed spayed and up to date on vaccines and HW negative per her Vet. Joplin is also on preventative HW medication. Joplin weighs about 23 pounds. Joplin's owner writes, "We've had her examined by 3 different vets, and have also shown our dog trainer a video of her behavior. All four have concluded that Joplin's blindness occurred suddenly instead of gradually over a period of time. In all likelihood, her prior owners overdosed her on Ivermectin (a heartworm chemical)... If not administered in exact dosages, Ivermectin can cause immediate blindness."   Her owner gave us more details about Joplin's eyes: " No evidence of cataracts.. Both retinas undamaged and intact.. Optic nerves healthy and intact.. Both eyes reactive to light.. Eye pressure normal in both eyes..  No clouding or injury to either eye.  "  She also tells us Joplin  has a "loose ACL in her right knee" and is treated with Tramadol and Deramax to keep her knee comfortable.     

Owner Info: Joplin is a sweet girl who needs a home where she can be the only dog. Due to her loss of sight, the Vet feels that Joplin panics and reacts aggressively toward other dogs as a neurological reaction to losing her sight suddenly and is NOT due to being aggressive for the sake of being aggressive. Her owner writes, "She perceives noises and footsteps around her as threats ... when she can't identify where the threat is, she resorts to "panic / defense" mode, and will literally attack air or an empty space. Knowing that she lost her sight due to irresponsibility breaks my heart, and I've come to understand that her "aggression" or sudden outbursts are due to something that was beyond her control. The vet is confident that if she could still see, she wouldn't react in this manner. Our dog trainer and veterinarians all agree that "Joplin" would thrive in a home with no other dogs ... She has lived with a cat, and does NOT exhibit this behavior with him. In fact, she had no reaction at all to the cat when he first arrived to our home (he was adopted). "  

Joplin is an indoor dog with the run of the house. She is housebroken, leash-trained and knows commands like, "sit, no, stay, outside, come."  Joplin is nervous but mainly due to not being comfortable around other dogs. She is good with men, women, teenagers and cats. Her owner writes, "Joplin has never intentionally aggressed or lunged at a human. We've been accidentally nipped / bitten due to being in the middle of the dogs when they begin fighting. It's broken skin a few times. But again, when "Joplin" lunges toward another animal that she perceives as a threat, we can literally place our hands around her snout or pick her up and move her away from the fight. She has NEVER bitten us intentionally."    

Her owner also tells us, "If Joplin were placed in a home with no other dogs, she'd adapt extremely quickly. We were amazed at how she learned the geography of the house, and location of things like crates, water bowls, beds, and furniture. Joplin is an otherwise healthy dog, and does enjoy playing .. I will frequently take her to another room and play with her, and she totally enjoys it. I want to make sure Joplin has every chance in the world to be in a stress-free home in which she can relax and enjoy her senior years. I don't want to fail her."  

Joplin's owner also wants us to know that, "I will gladly assist in transporting Joplin, and will do anything possible to find her a suitable environment. Please be assured that we have loved her, and have always understood that her behavior is something she can't help."