Jitters - Adopted

Name: Jitters
Sex: Male (altered)
Breed: Mini Dachshund
Age: 4 1/2 years
Location: Apopka, FL

Vet/Medical Info:  Jitters is neutered. He has epilepsy controlled by phenobarb.  The records say he is blind due to congenital cataracts and "micro-something" (the person on the phone could not read the writing, but most likely micropthalmia).  Jitters was last seen at the vet's in May of 2011 and he had shots at that time, including a one year rabies shot and distemper. Had a HW test in May 2011 (negative).  Owner has not ever bought HW preventative for Jitters from the vet.  The person at the vet office said that Jitters is "overdue" for all shots plus a HW test according to their records.  She also mentioned how cute this dog is!!

Owner Info: DOB 1/15/08. Jitters's owner has a 6-month-old who requires quite a bit of attention and her husband's work schedule has changed.  This requires them to get daycare for their baby which in turn leaves them little money to continue to care for all of their 5 dogs. She has tried various local rescue organizations with no luck.  Jitters is an outdoor dog with a fenced yard, he is housebroken and leash trained.  Jitters knows many commands!  He knows how to sit, outside, inside, nite-nite (to go to sleep in their bedroom), get out of the kitchen, and in your box (he likes to sleep in his crate).  He is an outgoing boy, and good with men, women, kids, and other dogs.  He is not possessive of toys, treats, or food, and has never shown any aggression.  His owner says he's a smart dog!  In the past when they traveled in state they always took him along. He's been to many hotels and his first instinct is to go around the whole room and sniff the perimeter so he gets a general idea of his surroundings.   Jitters went completely blind at about one year old, and he also has epilepsy. He is on Phenobarbital and has had no incidents since being on medication. Jitters is a very friendly dog, he loves to go out and walks pretty good on a harness. He's been socialized quite a bit but doesn't really play with other dogs. He loves to sunbathe and sleep with you. He's got a great temperament and does well with kids.   

Bella - In Foster Care

Name: Bella
Sex: Female (altered)

Breed: Schnauzer

Age: 4 years

Location: Maynard, MA

Vet info: They have only seen Bella one time, have no previous records. Apparently a previous owner was to fax over records from another vet and that never happened. Bella was seen in April 2011 at which time she received only a 3 yr. Rabies vac.  ~ no HW or Distemper was checked or given. They stated that at that one visit that the dog had an eye issue???. She also is spayed. Bella weighs 20 pounds. 

Owner Info: Bella's owner is going through some very difficult times and is completely overwhelmed.  She (Bella's owner) is 8.5 months pregnant and on bed rest, she has a 10 y.o. with special needs, and an 8 y.o.  Her father died 3 months ago and she is executor of his estate. She is overwhelmed and cannot properly take care of Bella or incur any additional costs at this time.  She has tried Craigslist and the local Schnauzer Rescue with no luck. Bella has no tear ducts and her eyes need to be rinsed a couple times a day. Because she can't see well, she has to be supervised when out. Bella's owner believes she can see shadows.  She has not had Bella long, she took her from a friend who couldn't take care of her and that friend can't take her back now.  Bella is an outdoor dog on a tie-out, she is housebroken and leash trained.  She is somewhat nervous, but good with women and children.  She is not possessive of toys, treats, or food and has never shown any aggression.  Her owner notes that she is a very cuddly and loving little girl!  She adds that Bella is a sweet girl that would thrive in a home that had a fenced yard.  Bella cuddles and is very sweet!!                     

Champ - In Foster Care

Name: Champ
Sex: Male (altered)
Breed: Pit Bull/American Bulldog Mix
Age: 2-4 years (estimated)
Location: San Jose, CA

 

Vet/Medical Info: Champ is neutered. Rabies and distemper next due 7/17/2015, Bordetalla due 7/24/2013.  He is heartworm negative. Vet is holding him as a special favor to the lady that saved him (she works there), they can only give him a couple of weeks at most more there. 

Owner Info: Champ was found on July 11, tied up to a school fence with a TV cable. He was beat up, bleeding, and severely starved. The person that found him called a family member who works at a vet, crying, that she couldn't even cut him free from the fence and that she was sure he would die without help. He was in such horrible condition. His ears were swollen and oozing, his face was covered in puncture wounds and scars, he had an actively bleeding abscess on his chin and several lacerations on his legs, he was so starved you could see the bones in his hips and back, his eyes were swollen almost shut and one was cut, he could hardly stand, and he was terrified. He was taken to a very kind vet clinic to be treated. It was discovered there that he was completely blind due to trauma. The clinic believes that he was used as a bait dog.  The called him "Champ" because he is such a wonderful dog despite what has happened to him and he is living his life like a champion. The hospital cleaned his wounds and got him started on vaccines but his eyes were very worrisome. One was extremely swollen and had a floating lens, the other was not much better. Last week the hospital removed both of his eyes and neutered him. He is recovering the same way he has been living-like a Champ. Aside from needing to have the stitches removed from his eye removal surgery and his neuter, as far as they know he is in good health. He still needs to put on more weight (he is now 75 pounds and still growing) but his other wounds have healed nicely. He just has a few scars. Champ is a wonderfully happy dog, a miracle considering what he has been through in his short life. Since he's been getting love and attention and food he has really come out of his shell. He loves to give kisses and go on walks and his tail never stops wagging! He loves to play with toys he can hear as well as rope toys. He is getting the hang of the leash. Champ is housebroken and crate trained, He only started training a week ago but is working well with a clicker. He is learning "here" "sit" and "whoa" (whoa has meant stop so he doesn't run into things while on the leash). He is also learning how to take cookies gently. A trainer/behaviorist came out for about 2hours and donated her time to work with him during that time. She has offered 3 more sessions as well. The lady that took him to the vet and works there has been working with him as best she can everyday with the advice she provided. Obviously his medical expenses have been difficult so help with his surgery costs would be wonderful. More importantly however, Champ really needs to find a loving foster or forever home. He deserves people who will love him and treat him the way he should have been treated from the first day he was born. He is an outgoing by, good with adults and teenagers. He gets very nervous when he hears other dogs barking and has gotten nippy with them if they come to his kennel. They have not tested him with other animals. He did attempt to bite a technician at the hospital when she took his temperature. She said that she thinks she surprised him and it wasn't a nice surprise. Champ adapts well to new situations, he knows exactly where you are despite the blindness and he learns VERY quickly through clicker training. He doesn't like places with a lot of dogs barking but other than that he is curious and friendly in new places. He doesn't really like staying at the hospital, he stays in a 4x6 run all day with lots of barking dogs and only comes out for brief walks. In addition, now that he has had a very big surgery it would be better for him to be somewhere where he can get used to his surroundings while he recovers as opposed to the very stressful environment of the hospital. The hospital have said that he is becoming dog aggressive in the stressful environment of the kennels and that if he doesn't find a home soon he will have to be euthanized. They can only keep him for at most one to two weeks longer. It is life or death for him now and it would be awful if such a great dog would have to be euthanized after coming so close to a new life. Champ is such a smart sweet boy. All he wants is a ball to chase and a rope for tug of war. He does need work with training. He went through a traumatic experience and still loves people. He is recovering well but still has a long way to go. He learns well and just needs someone patient and as special as he is.      

Update 8/13/2012: Champ has generated a great deal of interest and many people have been touched by his  story. Champ has a wonderful new foster home.  He is still looking for his perfect forever home, but he is safe until he finds it.  If for any reason anything changes, we will keep you updated! 

We've received this from his caregiver: "This morning I got a phone call from a co-worker who asked if she could foster Champ! She is actually the person who named him Champ to begin with! She is familiar with bully breeds and has been present at every single one of his training sessions.  She has lots of land that have separate fenced-in areas so he will be safe and have lots of room to play outside (supervised) without hurting himself. She also has an older son who is almost always home so Champ wouldn't be alone. He will be out of the loud environment of the kennel but still with someone he knows. He will be with someone who is aware of his needs medically and capable to handle them (since she has been already) as well as someone who knows how he is being trained and able to continue it, and he would be in a place where he could easily work off all that young pitty energy." 

San Jose Animal Advocates (http://sjanimaladvocates.org) is facilitating finding a permanent home for Champ.  If you are interested in adopting Champ, please complete this application (http://www.sjanimaladvocates.org/adoption-application-for-champ.html).  Any questions can be directed to sjanimaladvocates@gmail.com

If you would like to contribute to Champ's chip in here’s the link: http://sjanimaladvocates.chipin.com/champs-recovery

Sandy - Adopted

Name: Sandy
Sex: Female (altered)
Breed: Labrador/Australian Shepherd Mix
Age: 10 months
Location: Middleburg, FL

 

Vet/Medical Info: Sandy was last there on 1/4/12.  She is current on distemper and bordetella and those are due 1/3/2013.  Sandy was spayed 7/2/2012 at another clinic, she also had her rabies vaccine the same day. No record of hw testing.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Owner Info: Sandy's owner recently moved to Indiana. To her dismay, four days prior to moving, she found out Sandy could not accompany her like she had planned. In the meantime her Mother has been tending to her in Florida, but cannot much longer due to her starting work soon. Sandy's owner says "Please believe me when I tell you that this dog was my world, and my very best friend. I took her everywhere I could and I wish I still were able to do so. After having time to think about this unfortunate situation I came to realize that I just want Sandy to be safe, and happy, and protected; even if all those things are not with me." Sandy was found wandering on a busy highway, her owner picked her up and took her home. Sandy is an indoor dog with the run of the house, she is housebroken and leash trained. She is an outgoing girl, good with people and children of all ages, dogs and cats. Sandy does not have a mean bone in her body. Physically Sandy adjusts well to new situations but her owner recently discovered she is scared when she is in a new environment without a familiar human. As a result she potties in the house until she readjusts to the situation. Sandy was born blind and knows no different. The vet said it is a condition that is most common in Australian Shepard's. He said she has eyes but they are super tiny and behind a film of tissue. She can see shades of light, to humans it would be like looking into the sun while waving a hand above your face with your eyes closed. Sandy is in perfect health according to her vet. However, Sandy is not only blind, she was also born deaf. Yes. Although Sandy is blind and deaf she gets around just fine. Every now and then, or while learning a new landscape she bumps her head, then she continues what she was doing. Whether that be playing at the beach or the dog park, Sandy makes her way just fine. Actually, many people have told her owner that they never knew she was blind or deaf until she informed them, because she acts like any regular pooch. She has been taught how to sit through hand placement and for negative reinforcement she uses a spray bottle of water, and she associates. She just wants her to go to a loving home like the one she was already in. This dog has been more and more of an inspiration to her owner every time she sees her. There is nothing she cannot due or nothing one could not teach her. She is always just so happy, and that has given her hope.

Patches - In Foster Care

Name: Patches
Sex: Male (not altered)
Breed: Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler Mix
Age: 8 1/2 months
Location: Waynesboro, PA

Vet/Medical Info: No vet info able to be verified.

Owner Info: From his Craig's List ad: We have a puppy that will be one on November 15, 2012. He is blind in both eyes. His name is Patches. He is a Australian Cattle Dogs mixed with Australian Blue Heeler. We have five other dogs and can't handle everything so we decided it would be best for him to go to another family that could spend more time with him. Once he gets to warm up to your home he navigates just fine. We have all the vet paperwork to go along with him! He is bigger now than in the photo below. More information: Patches is great with other dogs. We have five miniature poodles along with him. He is good with people but he has a ton of energy and likes to run fast and bang into things and jump up at you so I wouldn't recommend to someone who has kids under nine. He has never bitten anyone. Even when he plays and gets rough its a very soft bite on the hands when he plays. And if you just raise your voice normally than you do while playing he will stop. He also has gotten into a fight with one of our male poodles that they started but no one was injured. We have two male poodles and they fight all the time so I know they started it. I probably wouldn't recommend him being around a lot of other dogs... Maybe just one or two.

Snuffles - Adopted

Name: Snuffles
Sex: Male (altered, per owner)
Breed: Parson Russell Terrier
Age: 10 years
Location: San Francisco Bay, FL

 

Vet/Medical Info: No vet info able to be verified.

Owner Info: Snuffles is a 10-year-old Parson Russell Terrier located in the San Francisco Bay area of California, who recently went blind (possibly due to age). His current caretaker got him from his owner who had him his entire life. His owner is moving from California to Washington State to go to school and he can't take Snuffles with him. She took care of Snuffles a few times when he was just a puppy and only saw him for the first time in 10 years last Sunday.  She didn't want him to go to a shelter where he'll most definitely be put to sleep.  Unfortunately, she just accepted a job offer and is moving in less than a week. If she can't find Snuffles a new home or rescue, he will be headed to the shelter, which is really the last thing she wants to do.  She says she's contacted about 30 rescue groups but has not heard back. She's also tried to contact some no-kill shelters but those take time to get in and she does not have any time. She has been doing her best to get him into a good, loving home or rescue, and she is now desperate.  She says that Snuffles is neutered and microchipped, but is not current on vaccines. Other than the loss of sight, he's still very energetic and affectionate.  Snuffles is an indoor dog with run of the house and is housebroken.  He knows several commands including Sit, Stay, No, and High-Five.  Snuffles has never bitten or snapped at anyone to her knowledge.  He is very friendly and sweet and has lived with cats.   She was really trying to do the right thing for him and is heartbroken to be stuck in this situation.  She is begging for help for Snuffles!

Ellie - Staying With Owner

Name: Ellie

Sex: Female (altered)

Breed: Hound mix

Age: 9 ½ years

Location: Charlotte, NC

Vet/Medical Info: Ellie is spayed and heartworm negative. She received Bordatella vaccination on 12/13/2011, DHLPP and one year rabies on 12/19/2011 along with kennel cough. 

Owner Info: Ellie is currently being fostered at Dog Days of Charlotte. She was originally pulled from Gaston County shelter and has been with them since March. They are looking for a rescue who can take her on. Ellie is an indoor dog with the run of the house, she is housebroken and leash trained. She is an outgoing girl, good with adults, dogs and small animals. She seems to adapt well to new situations. They are unsure what her eye conditions is, she sometimes runs into things and has trouble identifying where sounds are coming from, but she hasn't seen a doctor specifically for her eyes. Apart from that she is a very healthy girl. 

Update 8/10/2013: Miss Ellie is still in need of a new home!  She has moved to a new foster home and is doing well, although a mass was found and is going to be removed very soon. Ellie is a happy girl who gets along well with everyone, including the other foster dogs in her home. She would love to have a forever home where she could go on long walks in the woods!

Update 9/16/13: From Ellie’s current foster Mom: "Miss Ellie had her surgery and also dental work.  They removed 6 teeth and it has completely fixed that nagging cough that she has had for some time.  She is back to eating chew treats too.  Her teeth must have been really causing her discomfort.  Poor thing.  She is healing well from her cancer surgery and the pathology report showed no sign that it has spread to the other breast or lymph nodes.  So the prognosis is that she is likely completely cured." So good news for Miss Ellie - now she needs a great home!

Update 11/23/13: Ellie is still looking for her forever home!

Update 4/12/14: Miss Ellie has been waiting for her forever home for almost two years! She is living in a foster home, and is doing well, and is dreaming of a family with a house in the country.

Update 6/15/14: Miss Ellis is happy in her current foster home but would be happier in a forever home! She has been waiting for almost two years! Please share her information.

Update 11/18/14: Miss Ellie continues to wait. She is doing fine where she is but would love a house in the country!

Update 2/11/15: The OS Team has heard that Miss Ellie is not doing very well.  Her foster mom (who has had Miss Ellie since August of 2013) wrote:

Miss Ellie was at the vet this week and her neck swelling is definitely thyroid cancer.  She also has a recurrence of her mammary gland cancer on the other side and swollen lymph node showing more spread. Her heart is enlarged, her tooth is abscessed, and she has a chronic cough.  She has started meds for the tooth, cough, and pain so she is more comfortable.   She continues to eat well, enjoy afternoons laying in the sunshine and evenings sleeping on the sofa, long walks and trips to the dog park.  And she is now on hospice care and will stay with me until she goes to the Rainbow Bridge.