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Bella the basset

This Valentine is Looking for a Forever Home!

February 14, 2019

As you know, sometimes we post to help a dog in need, one who is looking for their forever home.

My friend Kim, who works as an emergency veterinary technician often meets dogs whose circumstances have led to them needing a little extra help. For one of our best success stories, please check out Bella the Basset.

So today, I want to share with all of you Bucky’s story:

Hi there. I’m Buckbeak, Bucky for short, my foster mom says I should tell you my story so you can get to know me. Maybe even come to love me.

My life was alright, I think, until this last Christmas day when my family surrendered me to the shelter. We drove there and got out. I thought I might be meeting a new friend. The nice shelter people took me inside and my best friend filled out some paperwork. I didn’t know what was happening but figured this is how you get assigned a new buddy. Then the shelter people made me a bed in a different room and my human didn’t come with us. I figured that was ok too because they would come back soon like they always did. I waited and waited. And I waited some more. The shelter was really scary and loud. Some of the other dogs just cried for their family and some of them said bad words. Some of them just sat quiet like me and kept waiting.

Three weeks of sleeps came and went but my human never came back. Every day I hoped they would be there again but every sleep I was alone. The shelter people tried to be nice to me but I only wanted MY human and I got depressed. The shelter was so loud and my kennel didn’t have a warm couch. Some of the other dogs would be there for a while and then they wouldn’t be. The shelter people would talk about home (I like that word!) and sometimes they would talk about this place called the rainbow bridge (I don’t know where that is and it sounds nice but the shelter people always seemed so sad talking about it that I don’t know). One day I woke up and the shelter person told me I might have to go to the rainbow bridge. She seemed sad so I gave her kisses. Then that night I went to bed as usual but part of my good night from the shelter lady was that I might not go to the rainbow bridge.

After that sleep I woke up and I she told me that today I would meet a new lady who saw me on the facebooks. At lunch time this lady came to my kennel. She was different. She got in with me and sat down. I was afraid to trust her at first. She just sat so quiet and seemed to really like me. I decided she was ok so I gave her a little kiss. She walked me outside and we spent time together. After I sat and gave her my paw she told the shelter guy that I was going home with her. She seemed so happy and that made me happy too! It took a while and I got worried, but then she put a real collar on me and we WALKED OUT THE FRONT DOOR! WE GOT IN A CAR (I LOVE THE CAR!!) AND WE DROVE A WHILE (I LOVE THE CAR!!). I’m sorry. Just remembering that car ride makes me really happy.

The first day home I basically just slept. I felt really bad that I didn’t have more energy, but since I hadn’t slept well for so long it felt really good to just melt into the couch. Since then I’ve met three other dogs who look a lot like me and I have a warm bed and food and lots of love. My foster mom said she’d tell you more about me since she says you should hear the stuff I’m proud of and the stuff I’m embarrassed to admit.

More details from Bucky’s Foster Mom, Phoebe:

Foster-mom Phoebe here! Bucky is a wonderful dog. He’s just a big doofy loveable lug. He loves to lean his 70 lbs into you to get pets and his tail never stops wagging now. He knows sit and shake but not much else. It’s obvious that he would take to solid training well as he tries really hard to please. Bucky kennels well and is a very quiet boy. I haven’t heard more than an excited whine from him when he first wakes up. He’s gone with me to patio dining at a busy restaurant and did great. Even making a few friends. He clearly loves car rides, but doesn’t know about jumping into the car on his own (or really even the couch for that matter). He’s the sweetest cookie taker I’ve ever met especially for his enthusiastic self. He has allowed me to pet him all over and even trim his nails by myself.

The things he’s most embarrassed about are his excitement over meeting new friends and his concern that another dog is going to steal the things he wants most. His enthusiasm causes him to greet other dogs somewhat rudely. He hasn’t been aggressive at all, but his manners are a bit like a college age boy. As far as the resource guarding it seems to only show itself when it’s another dog. I have taken his food and toys away from him with ease. This behavior can be extinguished with some training.

His ideal forever family would provide him with additional basic obedience and consistent activity (running buddy anyone?). Although I haven’t seen him show any aggression towards cats, small children, or small dogs the adopter would ideally not have any of these in the home as he’s so enthusiastic and intense I don’t think it would be a good mix. I think Bucky would do best in a home that is familiar with the loveable blockyheaded-wigglebutts.

Health wise he is perfectly healthy. He’s approximately 3 years old. Fully vaccinated. Neutered. Microchipped.

If you think that Bucky might be your next best friend please feel free to contact Phoebe directly by email at p.owensheppard@gmail.com

Finn the Border Collie Needs Your Help

December 17, 2016

If you have followed our blog for a while, you might know that occasionally, we put together campaigns to support local dogs who need veterinary care and a forever home (Check out the inaugural foster campaign and success story, Bella the Basset). My good friend Kim Adams is a veterinary technician at our local emergency veterinary hospital. When she sees a dog in need, she always goes the extra mile to make sure they get the care they deserve and a forever home. A few days ago, she met Finn. Today, I want to share with you Finn’s story.

Finn the Border Collie Needs Your Help

This is Finnegan (Finn for short). He is a 1-year-old (as of Halloween this year) male neutered purebred Border Collie.

He was brought in to SAGE Dublin ER on December 15th because he was limping and not using his right rear leg. When he arrived at the clinic, the technician who received him was told by the owner that he had been stepped on/kicked by a donkey on the ranch he was living on. It was later discovered that he had actually probably been hit by a car which the owner didn’t see happen. (There were also several small wounds and abrasions in various places that the medical staff found once he was anesthetized and being prepped for surgery, further supporting that Finn was hit by a car).

He was given pain meds and the staff took X-rays and found that the right femur was broken (see photo). The only treatment option was surgery. This is not an injury you can splint or allow to heal with any expectation that the pet will be pain-free or able to walk normally ever again without surgical intervention. 

Finn the Border Collie Needs Your Help

When the veterinary technician reviewed the surgical estimate for pinning and plating the bone (ranging from $6000-7000), the owner immediately declined it. He looked upset and crest-fallen, saying he may have to euthanize the dog, knowing that not operating and fixing the leg would be cruel and against medical advice. My good friend and veterinary technician, Kim Adams, told him we won’t euthanize him, he can sign a Relinquishment of Ownership form and she would take Finn, fundraise for his procedure, and foster him until we found a home for him.

Finn is excellent with kids and other dogs (he’s very submissive to other dogs, and great with kids. He chases cats, and will not do well with chickens. But he’s a fantastic house-dog (even though he has spent most of his time outside). Based on the info his owner provided he knows “Sit”, “Stay”, “Lay down”, “Come”, and “Load”- he will back up and get a running start, then jump in the back of a pickup truck. He’s house-trained and has no other pre-existing medical history. 

He was super sweet when he was brought in to the veterinary hospital, wagging his tail and giving kisses despite his limp and obvious fracture. He was very healthy on exam (normal bloodwork, no evidence of heart murmur, etc), and made it through his surgery late in the afternoon of December 15th with flying colors. 

He is now recovering in CCU at SAGE-Dublin. His fracture was not clean, he had several small bone fragments that broke off making aligning his femur and pinning it in place a challenge, but they were able to stabilize it and get the hardware installed after about an hour of fine-tuning and lining everything up just right. 

The funds we are raising will go toward the cost of his surgery, x-rays, medications, and ongoing treatment in the CCU as Finn takes some time to recover before we find him a forever home.

We would be so grateful if you would take the time to share Finn’s story. If you would like to donate to Finn’s campaign, please visit his GoFundMe page here. Stay tuned for updates!

Let’s Help Biggie Find a Home

November 27, 2018

Occasionally on this blog, my good friend Kim, an emergency veterinary technician, asks for our help to find a forever home for a pet in need.

Biggie’s foster mom reached out to us and asked to share Biggie’s story to help him find a forever home. Therefore, today I would like to share with you Biggie’s adoption story.

“We are guessing that Biggie is a Pug/Chihuahua mix, approximately 8-years-old intact male. He is currently being fostered through Antioch Animal Services.

On October 28th, 2018, he was hit by a car and was left seizing in the road. A Good Samaritan brought him to the emergency hospital in Antioch, where he was treated for head trauma to stop the seizures. However, due to a non-surgical pelvic fracture he was unable to go to the shelter, so I brought him home and fostered him before he was released.

He is currently recovering well and walking on his own, you wouldn’t even know he had a recent trauma! He still can’t jump yet, but at times tries his hardest (even though I tell him no!). He is great with other dogs and cats and loves toys. Biggie is crate trained, potty trained, not a barker, shows no signs of food aggression, and loves to snuggle. If you’re on the sofa and pull out a blanket you better be prepared for him staring you down for snuggles. He does need to be neutered and have his vaccines updated (since we don’t know his history), which can be done through the shelter or the adoptees veterinarian of choice.

Since I worked at the hospital he was brought to, the shelter leaves it up to me to find him a home. Previously, I found a home for a pet and filled out a foster application for that person, then once they got the pet neutered the shelter finalized the adoption. Alternatively, I could set up the neuter and everything through the shelter, then someone could adopt him. It just depends on preference of the person.” – Rosa (Biggie’s Foster Mom)

Are you, or someone you know, interested in adopting Biggie? If so, please email his foster mom Rosa: rosa_cortese@yahoo.com

These Cute Doggies Need Your Help!

February 4, 2018

If you are a long-time reader of this blog, you know that on occasion, we try to help dogs, cats, and families in need. My good friend Kim, who taught me so much when I was a Veterinary Assistant, works as a Veterinary Technician at a local Emergency Vet Hospital.

She recently let me know about these beautiful doggies who wandered onto a friend’s property and are now at the City of Stockton’s Animal Shelter. Currently, our goal is to get them out of the shelter and/or adopted as quickly as possible since we are working against the clock to help these pups. Each of the animals Kim has helped have gone on to find forever homes because her work. The least I can do is share these animals stories on this blog and encourage our readers to share, so that Kim can help more animals!

So today, we bring you 2 dogs who need forever homes. One is a 4-month-old pup named Halo (see below). The other is a miniature Staffordshire Terrier who have had a rough life so far. He will be available at the Stockton shelter from Monday, February 5th to Thursday, February 8th.

 

Currently, none of the dogs seem to need any immediate medical attention (the male was originally found with a dog who was diagnosed with Parvo, but he has tested negative), just love and a warm place to call home! Additionally, both pups can be described as ridiculously sweet!

Here is how we can help!

  1. If you know of someone who is looking to open their home to a sweet dog, please have them contact the Stockton Animal Shelter. Halo is at a foster home for now, please leave a comment if you are interested in him.
  2. If you know of a no-kill shelter or rescue in Northern California, please list them in the comments below.
  3. Share on social media! The more people know about these pups, the more likely they will be to find their forever home!

Thank you in advance for helping us help these pups find homes!

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