11/08/11—Bailey was adopted from our shelter on 11/01/11. That same day her new adopter left the car door open and out Bailey ran, never to be seen again. Reports and pictures were given to surrounding shelters in the area and one week later a shelter called and said they had Bailey. Unfortunately, she was hit by a car and if we did not want her back she was going to be euthanized. A 2 hour trip to retrieve Bailey was done and she immediately went to our vet. Bailey had 7 breaks in her pelvis. Surgery could be performed with pins and rods and screws but the vet felt at her young age of 1 1/2 it would be very invasive and require a long recuperation. The breaks were clean and her pelvis was realigned with instructions NO ACTIVITY for 6-8 weeks. In Bailey’s foster home she settled in quickly and it was hard to keep her down. You would never have known she was hit by a car.

UPDATE—12/10/11 Bailey was adopted to a couple who were looking for a dog just like her. They understand her activity still needs to be minimal for the next couple weeks but they are prepared with a crate and lots of love.

12/07/11--Romeo came in with severe hair loss, unable to bear weight on his back leg, and ears so infected he cried when you touched them. At one year old, this boy was gentle with the shelter cat, showed appropriate housetraining habits, and loved being with people. A visit to the vet indicated heavy flea infestation that resulted in a secondary staph infection resulting in his hair loss. He was given meds for his ear and skin and is now on the mend. This boy is available for adoption now.

* 03/30/11: Eva came in overweight. A nice girl. A BIG girl. Fabulous with other dogs and cats. She went on a very restrictive diet and was losing weight. Today we thought, “What is going on with those boobies?” Turns out Eva’s milk is in and pups are on the way. How could we have missed this? A whelping box is set up but a shelter is no place for puppies to be born. And yes, Eva is getting gourmet food now and loving every minute of it. We can hear her saying, “Glory Hallelujah, FOOD!”

UPDATE 03/31/11: Eva went to a foster home so her puppies could be born in a home instead of a shelter.

UPDATE 04/01/11: Eva went into labor and an emergency c-section was done. Two of the puppies did not survive. The remaining 8 are approximately 10 days premature.

UPDATE 04/04/11: The 3 weakest pups have not survived. The remaining 5 are robust and eating from mom (with a little help from foster mom Tina).

* 02/01/11: HOPE — This emaciated girl came into the shelter wagging her tail and wanting to trust. We were lucky to find a foster home who could give her some tender loving care. Before she left for her special foster home, Hope was able to see the doctor for a complete physical exam through the Weaver Medical Fund. A special diet has been prescribed that will not be a shock to her system and help her gain back the weight she so desperately needs. Hope is a 36 pound dog who should weigh 50-55 pounds.

UPDATE 03/07/11: Weighing in at 55 lbs Hope has been spayed and is ready for her new home. She plays mama to the ducks and chickens in her foster home and LOVES everyone!

* 1/05/11: Molly — Shortly after entry into the shelter, Molly came down with a severe case of kennel cough. She had been vaccinated but she is an older girl and probably didn’t have the immunity she needed for the stressful environment of a shelter. The saddest part of Molly’s story is that she came in with a very distinctive ring around her neck of a familiar collar which was no longer there. Where were Molly’s people? Since we didn’t know and they never came calling, it was up to us to take care of this sweet girl. She loved being around people and was fabulous with the other dogs she had been partnered with. Even though she was not a “spring chicken” Molly was a good candidate for the Weaver Medical Fund. After 3 different injections and several medications, Molly’s symptoms and coughing are now greatly reduced. Molly is a Beagle mix. She has a foster home waiting for her when she no longer displays any kennel cough symptoms.

* 12/30/10: Mitzi — Just in time for the New Year, Mitzi saved her own life. She was chained to a bench at an elementary school with a note attached: “Please take care of my dog.” A blanket was left but by morning when she was retrieved by Animal Control the blanket was soaked because it had rained during the night. She was fearful and she was ready to bite anyone that got close. She was brought in on a catch pole. There was no information from the person who abandoned her. We didn’t know how old she was, if she had lived with children or other dogs, and why she was chained to endure a night of rain in the cold and all alone. Like a thief in the night, her owner dumped her for someone else to take care of their problem. We knew Mitzi was traumatized so we gave her a little time. She lunged at anyone going past her pen. She growled. She wouldn’t come out of her pen. We told her that no one would adopt her if she behaved this way and we scheduled her euthanasia. A shelter is no place for a dog, let alone a dog who was aggressive.

And then, as if she knew, Mitzi came out of her pen. Tentative with people at first she quickly let us know she wanted to live. At her euthanasia appointment she wagged her tail at all the people in the vet’s office, even the little baby in its carrier, and happily accepted treats from the vet staff. This girl was not going to be killed. Because of her turnaround, Mitzi became a Weaver Medical Fund recipient and went to the vet today to determine the extent of her health issues. She had a tear in her ear which she kept breaking open. Both ears had massive ear infections going on. She had hair loss which was determined to be caused by fleas. The vet and staff were shocked that the day before this girl was going to be killed because of her behavior. Happy New Year Mitzi. Let’s hope your new home is right around the corner.

* 7/21/10:  Riley was surrendered to the shelter because his person got called to Iraq and he wanted to be sure his dog would go to a good home. Riley was adopted when he was 8 weeks old and his ears had been cut off before his person got him. Riley has lived with multiple dogs, cats, kids, and is an all-around well-balanced dog. When new straw was put into the kennels, Riley developed an eye irritation. An eye exam was performed and the doctor said he had a mild case of Entropion (eye lashes scraping the eyeball with each blink). Medication was prescribed and if no difference in a week Riley will be a candidate for surgery to move the eyelashes away from his eyeball.

* UPDATE 9/01/10: Today Riley went to his new home with shelter caretaker Debbie Eaglebarger and her other two shelter dogs.

* 7/18/10:  Dora came into the shelter and her little fox face just endeared her to us. Unfortunately, just a few days after entry she broke with Parvo. Dora spent 6 days in the hospital and came back to the shelter good as new and is now waiting for a new family to adopt her.

UPDATE 7/31/10: Dora, now Foxy, was adopted into a new forever home.

* 7/7/10:  Quiggy came in a very matted dog. She had so many mats we couldn't even determine her sex initially. She let us cut some mats off but it was obvious they were very painful for her. At approximately one year old, Quiggy was a good recipient of the Weaver Medical Fund to give her a chance. What came back from the groomer was a happy, playful, and delightful little girl.

Before

After

*7/5/10:  Harbor, a fabulous pit bull who gets along with everyone and is currently playing puppy nanny. Unfortunately, one young pup came in with Parvo and Harbor, in his nanny duties, contracted the same disease from young pup. Our little pup did not survive but Harbor is currently being treated and prognosis is good. Harbor is an adult, about one year to one-and-a-half years, and not the usual candidate that would contract Parvo. We do not use the Weaver Medical Fund for heroic intervention. Harbor is just too good a dog not to treat and find a new home.

UPDATE  7/13/10:  After 6 days in the hospital, Harbor came back to the shelter a happy and grateful dog. The vet said to give him a week before he goes back to nanny duties, which he is anxiously awaiting.

UPDATE—03/17/11 Harbor has been adopted and is now traveling with Canine Stars Inc (CSI) performing frisbee acts, dock diving, and having a great time doing it.

*10/08/09:  Mama Mia came in with 9 babies in 04/09. One of them was Bugsy who was also a recipient of the Weaver Medical Fund. After all 9 babies were adopted and gone, Mama was tested for heartworms and she was positive. Good mama that she is and was, she was worth the extra expense.

UPDATE 11/13/09: Mama had her second round of heartworm treatment. She now skips and jumps and plays in the yard and has turned into a fabulous test dog for dog introductions. This girl was definitely worth saving.

UPDATE 7/21/10: Mama Mia is still available for adoption. The perfect couch potato when you want her to be. The perfect play dog when you want her to be.

UPDATE 03/13/11: After 2 long years at the shelter, Mama Mia was adopted and living with one of Corning’s City Council Members!

*5/9/09:  Bugsy, a parvo puppy, came into the shelter at about 5-6 weeks old with his other eight siblings and his mother. Bugsy was the only one that came down with parvo. Bugsy went to a foster home who adopted him a short time afterward. Bugsy has gone through our puppy socialization class and is now going through our adult obedience class. He and his new guardian have been used as examples in both classes on the right way of handling your dog.

Then

Now

*3/7/09:  Patrick, a parvo puppy, came into the shelter as one lone pup "wandering at large." Within a few days we knew something was wrong. He had parvo. It was touch and go with him and we almost lost him several times. When he returned from over a week in the hospital he was transferred to a humane society where he was promptly adopted.

*1/29/09:  Harlow and Sherlock, siblings, both requiring eye surgery.

Harlow

Sherlock

*6/17/08:  Gizmo, a 4-month old pup, who came in with an abscess on his neck the size of a baseball and his ears and tail cut off with scissors requiring repair and tail surgery.  After Gizmo's surgery he was adopted a short time later.