Happy Tails

 The volunteers of our humane society love to be kept posted on the condition and adjustment of the animals that are adopted out. Luckily, many of our adoptive families like to send us e-mails and drop by to explain how the animal is doing well and how much they love their new addition into their families. We like to call these stories our “Happy Tails”. These are a few of our recent and favorite happy tails from this past year.

It was a very cold day…the nights were in the teens, December 23, Christmas Eve Eve.   Lisa Bowman (a local realtor with Country Homes) was driving on Renee Ford Road and noticed movement on the side of the road.   She thought it was a ferret running, but soon realized it was a puppy.   She stopped and picked up the little girl with a shirt, because she was in such bad shape.  Suzie had no hair and had open bleeding sores….she weighed five pounds.  She would not have survived the night’s temperature.  Lisa took her home: cleaned her up, made her a sweater, fed her, and waited until she could take her to the veterinarian’s office on Monday. 

Locust Animal Clinic and their wonderful staff started Suzie on her road to recovery.  She was definitely a project and I didn’t know if she should be euthanized or not.  She started medication for a skin infection and also for demodex mange….the reason she had no hair.  She eventually came to my house and I just loved her.  She was adorable (even with no hair) and very smart.  Slowly she started looking better and feeling better.   She had such a cute face that I put her petfinder.com under the Stanly County Humane Society and started getting immediate inquiries. 

Within two weeks she went to her wonderful new owner in Raleigh who fell in love with her on sight.  We are still in touch and waiting to get Suzie spayed after her treatment.   She still only weighs 7 lbs, so is going to be a petite girl.  Most of her hair has come back with a few stubborn areas where she had open sores.   She is much loved and is the luckiest little girl.  It is a joyful thing to see the end result of your efforts.  

On a side note, the Stanly County Humane Society adopted out over 450 animals last year.  Many of these animals came from our local Stanly County Animal Control. Others came from puppy mills and owner surrenders for various reasons. 

Last fall we opened a new adoption center on the by-pass in Albemarle and have dog adoptions there every other Saturday and have beautiful cats as well.  Three years ago, the Humane Society started a program at the prison with inmates, their foster dogs and a dog trainer.  These dogs are trained for 8 weeks and then adopted out after a graduation ceremony where they “show off” their new tricks.  Wonderful relationship evolve during the training period and make it a “win, win” for all involved.  Within the last year, the Humane Society had started community spays and neuters that are reduced cost to those who need help.