Baby - In Memory

Name: Baby

Age: Estimated 5 years

Sex: Male (altered)

Breed: Border Collie Mix

Location: Wytheville, VA area

Vet Info: Baby is confirmed neutered and up to date on vaccines. He was given one-year rabies, distemper, and parvo vaccines on 12/4/13. Baby was heartworm and lyme tested on November 25th and both were negative. He weighs 45 pounds.  Baby's foster notes he may have a collapsing trachea as he does cough, and she said the vet did not find any evidence of a heart problem.  

Owner Info: Baby is a very handsome fellow who was pulled from a kill shelter by a local rescue right before he was to be euthanized.  They thought he was to head to another rescue; however he wasn't able to go to the other rescue.  While he's safe in his foster home, they're hoping for other rescue or adoption for Baby as the house has young children and it is too chaotic and busy for him, and the children make him very nervous.  The rescue is full and they do not have another foster home available.  Baby is an indoor dog with run of the house, he is housebroken and will walk on a leash, but "is panicky".   He is good with men and women and both male and female dogs and cats, but would do best in a home without children as children make him nervous. He is not possessive of toys, treats, or food, but if startled, he does try to bite, and so they let him know when they're going to touch him.   They believe Baby has been blind since birth, and his foster says there is no eye damage visible.  She believes he can see shadows, and he can hear perfectly. He loves to play!  "That's how he finds you by listening for you. He also will play with a tennis ball he listens for it to hit then goes that direction and moves his nose back and forth until he finds it."   His foster also writes, "I just need help finding a proper place for this boy. he is sweet as can be".

Dexter - Staying With Owner

Name: Dexter

Age: 5 years

Sex: Male (altered)

Breed: Labrador

Location: Near Charlotte, NC

Vet Info: Dexter is neutered. He is up to date on rabies and distemper. He is heartworm negative. He is blind and healthy. 

Owner Info: Dexter was advertised on craigslist as "free to a good home" and his current owner saw the ad and did not want Dexter to fall into the wrong hands so brought him to her home. The prior owner said that Dexter was a breeder's dog. The prior owner knew that Dexter, the runt of the litter, was not receiving appropriate care, so the prior owner adopted him, but then posted him on craigslist because of financial reasons. Dexter is currently living outside. He will sit and come when told. He is good with adults and with dogs and cats. He is not possessive of food, treats or toys. He is a quick learner, and learned how to do the steps at his new home after just a few tries. Dexter is blind due to cataracts. He weighs 60 pounds.  His current owner writes: "Dexter would be the perfect family pet! Other than the fact that he needs to be housetrained (he doesn't poop in the house), he has no wants! He loves to play tug but is not hyper like a pup. He loves to cuddle, and sticks close to his human when outside. He honestly is the perfect dog."

Spot - Outcome Unknown

Name: Spot

Age: 5 years

Breed: Jack Russell/Chihuahua Mix

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: New Richmond, WI area

Vet Info: Spot is confirmed neutered.  His next rabies vaccine is due 2/7/15.  He is overdue for a distemper vaccine and has not been recently heartworm tested.  Spot is microchipped.  He weighs approximately 17 pounds.

Owner Info: Spot is kept in a crate most of the day as his owners have several children, including one-year old twins, and their house is too chaotic for him.  It is not safe for him or the twins.  His owners are hoping for rescue or adoption for Spot so he can have the life he deserves!  They have had Spot since he was a puppy and were told his parents had the same eye issue, but they do not know the cause of his blindness and cannot afford to take him to a specialist.  They say that he is completely blind in one eye and has very little sight in the other.  Spot has been blind for about two years.  Spot is an indoor dog who is crated, he is housebroken but not leash trained.  He is good with the husband in the house, but he doesn't seem to like other men.  He's also good with women and cats, and he's good with some other dogs, but he prefers calm dogs, and does not like dogs who are hyper and will jump on him.  He should not live with young children, but is fine with the older children in the house.  Spot is possessive of food, and does not like if you try to take his food or toys away, although he is OK if you take away his water.  He is fed in his kennel.  He has snapped, but has never broken skin.   A visitor to the house wrote, "When I was visiting, the one year old had him cornered and he bit her arm. Made 2 indentations, did not break skin or draw blood. When he was neutered, the vet called the owner to come get him out of the kennel before surgery as he was growling & showing teeth". The visitor was able to hold him and said that the owner handed him to her backward, which the owner had been advised to do by her vet.   They love Spot and are very much hoping for a less chaotic home for him so that he can have everything he deserves!  

Update 4/15/14: Spot's owner said he is doing well but really needs a new home!!!! Please help him find that home if you can!

Sadie - Adopted

Name: Sadie

Age: 2-3 years

Sex: Female (altered)

Breed: Border Collie/Labrador Mix

Location: Near Hagerstown, MD

Vet Info: Sadie is spayed. She weighs 51 pounds. She is up to date on her shots and is heartworm negative. 

Owner Info: Sadie is housebroken and can be food aggressive; she may bark when a dog comes by her crate while she is eating. She has snapped at the owner's toddler but she thinks her toddler makes Sadie nervous. The owner wrote: "I rescued Sadie from Alabama.  She is considered a border collie/lab mix by their vet. She is spayed and currently up to date on her shots. She's between 2-3 yrs old. She melts when she's petted and eventually ends up on the floor for a belly rub. I do have her crate trained. She is either too hyper for my other rescue dogs or they sense she's different because now it's to the point where my other rescues get into it with her so she has to be taken out separately. She is blind in her left eye so she walks on your left so she can look up at you. You can't tell she's blind in one eye by the way she runs and plays and used to play with my lab mix. She's curious about cats but is a little too playful when near mine and scares them off. I believe she would be best as an only dog with someone who can provide her the attention she wants. She doesn't mind kids - it's just she's hyper and my toddler doesn't know any better so probably no young kids. As far as other dogs - she does get along with a few of mine but sometimes tiffs break out between 2 of them but something may have brought it on...whether it was her or them...not sure. Cats - same problem. She doesn't attack them but scares them some because she's got her nose all on them but my inside cat ignores her. She's not cat aggressive, but curious and may learn once she's around one enough. With dogs, the food issue may be a problem but she eats in her kennel. She's not a bad dog, just isn't in a calm environment right now where others aren't barking at her or jumping on her on the way to the front door or trying to fight her. She may calm down once in a stable home and not in a crate more than out and about freely with no issues. She may be too hyper for an older dog but with a friendly younger one who likes to play, I think she'd be fine."  

Update 4/15/14: Sadie's owner said she is doing fine but has to spend a lot of time in a crate because she and another dog do not get along very well. Sadie really needs a new home soon!!

Shadow - Adopted

Name: Shadow

Age: 6 years

Breed: Black Labrador

Sex: Male (altered)

Location: Chaska, MN

Vet Info: Shadow is confirmed neutered and up to date on vaccines.  His bordetella and distemper vaccines are next due 5/22/14, and his rabies vaccine is next due 5/22/16.  He is heartworm negative.  A tick panel was run at the same time, and that was also negative.  Shadow weighs 70 pounds.

Owner Info: Shadow is a very handsome boy whose owner has to move, and she is unable to take Shadow with her.  She is very much hoping for rescue or a permanent home for sweet Shadow!  She has asked everyone she knows to put the word out, but she has had no luck so far.  Shadow was saved from a shelter in KY where he was slated for euthanasia, and she has had Shadow for about two years.  She believes Shadow has been blind since birth.  Shadow is an indoor dog with run of the house, he is housebroken but not leash trained.  Shadow knows several commands including sit, go on, come, and shake for food.  Shadow's owner writes, "he seems to be mostly comfortable with women. He barks at men he doesn't know, but it seems to be more about being skittish than anything else. I have not seen him around children, so I do not know how he is with them".  She adds that he may bark at people he doesn't know, but he is never aggressive. Shadow is good with other dogs and is not possessive of toys, treats, or food.  His owner says that he is in good health.  He drinks a lot, but tests did not find any cause for this.  She writes, "He is very sweet and gentle and playful. Incredibly sweet and very loveable!"

Elvis - In Foster Care

Name: Elvis

Age: Estimated 4 years

Sex: Male (not altered)

Breed: Mixed Breed

Location: Raleigh, NC area

Vet Info: Elvis is not neutered, but is up to date on vaccines. His next rabies vaccine is due in August 2016 and his Lepto and Bordetella vaccines are due this February.  His heartworm test from February 2013 was negative. He also had a dental not too long ago. He weighs 35 pounds.

Owner Info: Elvis is a very sweet boy whose owners recently moved.  Previously, they had a fenced yard, but now only have an outdoor kennel and this is where Elvis is kept because her husband won't allow him in the house.  They also had Elvis's sister, but she was able to find a new home for his sister.  Even though she's tried multiple times, she has not been able to find a new home for Elvis, because he is blind.  They have had Elvis since he was a puppy.  She loves Elvis dearly and is desperately hoping for a better life for him.  She writes, "He is a wonderful dog and deserves a good loving home." They are not sure of the cause of his blindness, but she writes that "he can see or sense moving objects when they are close. If the item is not moving he has occasionally ran into them".  Elvis is housebroken and leash trained, and knows the commands sit, stay, and no.  He's good with people of all ages, and with other dogs.  They have never seen him with a cat and so don't know how he would react.  He is also crate trained.  He is not possessive of toys, treats, or food, and has never bitten or snapped.  His owner writes, "he is a loving dog and loves to cuddle. He does well with others but sometimes shys away from a male voice at first. He is in good health with the exception of his eye sight. He is playful and gentle. Last year prior to learning of his vision issues he was hit by a vehicle and broke his front leg. It has since healed while he was under the care of a vet." And she adds, "Thank you for considering him, he is such a wonderful dog!"

Rusty - Adopted

Name: Rusty
Age: 12 years
Sex: Female (altered)
Breed: Mixed Breed
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Vet Info: Rusty has just been to the vet and is now up to date with vaccinations. She is confirmed spayed. Rusty weighs approximately 25 lbs.

Owner Info: Rusty’s owner passed away recently and is currently living in a very temporary foster home with her blind companion, Holly.  The late owner’s niece is trying to find a permanent home for both dogs but feels they can be separated if necessary. She told us Rusty was rescued from the PA SPCA and is a sweet senior dog with hip dysplasia. She has a tough time with any more than a few steps. She would be best suited with someone who has a home where she does not have a whole flight of stairs to go out. Rusty is an indoor dog with the run of the house.  She is housebroken and leash trained.  Rusty is listed as being good with all people, children and female dogs.  Rusty is currently in a very temporary foster home.  She needs to find a more permanent situation soon.

Update 2/9/14: We have an urgent update on this sweet pair, please continue to share them with your contacts! Their caregivers also say that if there is interest in them but they need to be held longer, they will of course do so. They want this special pair to have a loving home just as we do.

Here’s some more info on Holly and Rusty from their caregiver:

“Holly is a 10yr old Jack Russell who is recently blind but adjusting well. She is trained, can walk on a leash, is spayed and up to date on shots. She is good with other dogs and people, but she has never had the opportunity to mix with cats or kids. Her sister Rusty is a 13yr small mix breed, who has cataracts but sees well enough. Like Holly she is trained, loves to walk on leash,is also spayed and has a pleasant sweet disposition. She also is good with other dogs and people, but never had opportunity to be with cats or kids. I came by these 2 when my aunt passed away, and currently have a neighbor coming in 3 times a day to feed & let them out, but this is no life for them after having been with my aunt all day all their lives.”

“I am afraid that a shelter would be traumatic for them, and my feeling is shared by several organizations we've contacted who could not foster them. They have never been out of their home or yard, nor put into a situation where they had to fend for themselves , and now that they both have vision problems it would be cruel to subject them to a shelter. They are older and need tender loving homes. Even though it will break our hearts, living with only a neighbor coming 3 times a day and us being with them 2 times a week is not the good life they and certainly not the one they deserve. Therefore If we cannot find a foster or adoption for them by the 1st week of March I will have to have them put to sleep.”

Update 2/18/14: We've received an update from Rusty's and Holly's caregiver that Holly may have found her new home!  She's there for a trial period and we're hoping that everything works out for her!  We will update when we have more information. Rusty is still in need of a new home, and her caregiver notes that she is not used to car travel and would not be able to handle a long journey, so it would be best, if possible, for her to stay somewhat local.

Update 2/27/14: Unfortunately, Holly's adoption didn't work out through no fault of her own, and so she is now back with Rusty.  The local media will be doing a story about them very soon, and we're hopeful that something will work out for this very special pair! Nothing is finalized, and so while there is interest, as of now, they are still in need.