It Never Fails …

As my former rescue partner can attest, it never fails that rescue emergencies arise when we’re out of town or getting ready to leave town … my recent trip to San Antonio was no exception.  In day four of the trip, I get an email about an Apso mix in the Canon City shelter who needs to be transported to a rescue NOW or face euthanasia.  A flurry of emails and phone calls ensues; she’s being transported on Thursday to Denver for pick-up at 12:30 p.m.  Great.  My first day back at work and there’s no freakin’ way I can meet the transport at that time.  Recalling Kirby’s family said, “If there’s anything we can do …”, I make a call with fingers crossed.  Kay, ever so gracious, interrupts me pleading my case by saying, “We can go get her!”  Not only did they go get her, but they also set about to get her cleaned up with a bath upon their return home.  And then offered to foster her when it became readily apparent she was a very sweet girl.  What a blessing for both “Tootsie” and rescue!

Tootsie actually arrived with the name of “Stubbie” … she’s missing her left front paw.  Given what I know of anatomy and as confirmed by Doc Sherry, the missing paw is genetic in nature.  In any event, she gets around quite easily and even navigates the doggy door in the foster home.  After much discussion between two vets and two groomers, we’ve come to the conclusion she’s an Apso-Yorkie mix.  From her transfer paperwork and the various emails with the shelter in Canon City, it appears she was a transfer in from a shelter in New Mexico.  Quite the traveled little dog!

She underwent a spay about ten days ago and is healing up quite nicely.  We opted for the laser treatment on the incision — something new at the clinic — which was touted as promoting faster healing.  By all accounts, it is doing just that.  Anything that can help them heal faster is definitely worth the extra $15.

The day after her spay, we got an email saying that one of the other dogs on the transport had come down with parvo.  Definitely not someplace we want to go!  Although Tootsie had a parvo vacc at the shelter in April (probably her first ever in her short life), we scrambled and got her in for a quick booster per Doc Sherry’s recommendation. 

Tootsie is a sweet little dog.  She is very much attached to her foster family and plays with the other dogs in the house.  A quick study, she’s picking up very quickly on the housetraining and sleeps the night through in her crate with nary a peep.  She would probably do best in a home with adults and one other dog.  If interested or would like more information on her, please contact me at:  ApsoRescue@aol.com.

Tootsie is about as loving and low-key as they come … just a great little dog.  In a phone conversation with Kay, she mentioned that while one initially feels sorry for Tootsie and her obvious disability with the missing paw, one quickly realizes that she has known nothing else so her life is “normal” … she gets along just fine, thank you, and does everything that a dog with four paws can.

Our thanks to Kay and Dave for stepping up to the plate to help rescue when Tootsie desperately needed a ride to a new life.  Angels come in many forms …