July 1, 2008

If you are interested in adopting one of our dogs, please contact Joyce Gambacurta at 813-546-3100. We try to return calls within 24 hours, but we cannot always do that. We appreciate your patience if we can't get back to you right away. We will return your call as soon as we can.

If you are having problems with your pyr, we can help so that you don't have to give up your pet. Contact Marge Bernstine at 407-359-9639.

The first step in our adoption process is to fill out our online application. We also conduct a home visit and ask for a veterinarian reference. Many of the dogs we have available have been strays because of their propensity to roam, so the home visit is primarily to confirm secure fencing. Plenty of shade and water is also necessary.

Feel free to give us a call if you don't see what you're looking for. We often have new dogs in rescue whose pictures haven't made it up on the website yet. We can let you know who is currently available. We don't usually post photos of puppies under 6 months of age on the website. Since we never know when we will get a puppy (or puppies) in, we have a Puppy Waiting List and will call you to let you know. Puppies are placed on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Joyce Gambacurta to be added to this list.

All of our rescue dogs have been neutered or spayed, heartworm tested (and treated if appropriate), microchipped, brought up to date on basic vaccinations and started on flea and heartworm preventative.

FEMALES:.

PEACHES (approximately 3 or 4 years old)

Peaches is a special girl who has had some difficult times in the past, thus she's learned to be wary of people. But that's changing, and a calm, assertive owner who will be her pack leader will do wonders to put her mind at ease. She is already warming up to people as she receives more attention and interacts more with others. She is by no means aggressive, only wary. Peaches will play a bit with other dogs, though she is still careful. She's learning that playing is fun and other dogs are friendly.  Peaches is housebroken, spayed, with all vaccinations current and a negative heartworm test. She may look a bit scruffy due to her recent haircut, which relieved her of her matted coat, but she'll soon grow a fine replacement.  A loving, strong owner is just what she needs to get her confidence back.  

ALLIE (5 years old)

Allie is 24 inches tall and weighs 66 pounds; she may be a pyr-mix. When Allie was rescued from the shelter, she had dry, brittle hair that sparsely covered her red, inflamed skin. She had suffered from such chronic ear infections that her ear canals were calcified. Her front teeth were worn down to nubs, and the front half of her canine teeth were gone. She was stiff jointed. The vet was perplexed: Allie didn't seem very old, but yet she looked about 6 years old. Allie didn't know what to make of "home" at first, but she knew it wasn't all bad! Food twice a day, comfy places to sleep, bones to chew, life was getting better. With the help of antibiotics, iron supplementation, and a good, regular diet, she was feeling good and looking pretty. Allie knows what life was like on the street. I'm sure she lived it for a long time. Of all the dogs that I've fostered, Allie appreciates "home" more than any of the others. She loves the little trifles of affection: the stray glance in her direction, the absent-minded pat, the silly song sung just for her. She watches with her big brown eyes, trying to read thoughts and gestures, anxious to please, worried that things might change, that she might have to leave. Allie is a fiesty girl. I guess it comes with the territory. Allie doesn't like to be bullied or bossed around, and as such doesn't get along with blatantly dominant dogs. She herself has been known to throw her weight around, mostly when there is a choice bone on the line. She plays and rough-houses with her "brothers" but is more reserved with dogs that she doesn't know well and it takes her a while to warm up to new dogs. My cats might as well not exist as far as Allie is concerned. She doesn't bother them, and they don't bother her. She loves walks, even though she prefers to walk right down the middle of the street! She's very good on the leash, doesn't pull AT ALL, and she knows sit, stay (she knows it, not necessarily will do it!), and down. She's patient in the bathtub, loves to be towel dried, and rolls in the sun-warmed grass. She loves freeze-dried liver treats and sleeps upside down in bed next to me. She has a fort underneath the dining room table and all the other dogs know and respect it. She's not a digger or a fence jumper--why would she ever want to leave?

SWEET PEA (3 to 4 years old)

Sweet Pea was a stray. When she was found, she had no hair except on her toes and cheeks. She had mange everywhere, and was emaciated. She has been under treatment for several weeks, and her hair is finally starting to grow back in. She is very sweet, loves to prance around, and gets very excited about her dinner. Her foster mom says, "Sweet Pea is an absolute delight, everyone at the vet's office fell instantly in love and all are trying to think who could adopt her. She now sleeps on the floor by my bed but in the morning climbs up on the bed for a love-in, lies on her back and wriggles herself into a position where she can tuck her head under my chin and have my arm reach around her shoulders and over for a belly rub. If I don't comply she pats at me with her front paws until I give in."

LUCI

CUBBIE (2 years old)

It turned out that Cubbie is is not destined to be a working dog, but she is very sweet and knows the word "Come." She is not as shy around her foster family anymore but continues to to be shy with new people and new situations.

LEE (1-1/2 years old)

CRYSTAL (6 years old)

Crystal is a young lady with great potential. Though her name at the shelter was Wild Thing, she is hardly "wild."  She's a cautious girl, but with some encouragement she warms up quickly. Some of her wariness can be seen with other dogs. Instead of running up and playing with them, she prefers to get to know them a little first. Once this is done, however, she gets along wonderfully with them. She finds them quite interesting. She'll watch them, then imitate whatever they do. When she and "the pack" become friendly enough, she'll begin to play a bit. She is also friendly to other pets such as cats. Crystal has a loyal spirit and loves nothing more than to please her family. She's also a quick study, especially when she is rewarded. Currently she is learning that sitting earns her praise and other benefits. She has good manners indoors and is crate trained and housebroken. She still has a lot to learn, but she will progress quickly under the guidance of a patient teacher. Crystal is very devoted and will happily cuddle beside you. When she learns that she is safe in her home, she begins to relax and enjoy herself. An owner with a calm, assertive, reassuring demeanor goes a long way toward making her feel comfortable. Crystal has much to offer anyone who will invest some love and time in her. 

HEIDI (4 years old)

I LOVE, LOVE people!!!  Nothing in this world makes me happier than a tummy rub or head-scratching.  I warm up to strangers very quickly; in fact, I was invited to be a therapy dog at my local nursing home because I love people so much.  I also love to take walks and I rarely tug on the leash.  I really like children, too, and I know how to treat them.  I never jump on them or lick them in the mouth.  I would rather be around older children that know how to treat me, though, because I might try to protect myself if they hit me or pulled my fur.  My ideal home would be one in which I was the only dog (I do well with cats.).  I CAN live with other dogs…I live with two now…but they annoy me; I just like people.  I like to be outside but also enjoy coming inside to be with you.  I am housebroken and won’t bother anything in your house.  I am very smart and know some English, like…”get in your bed” and “do you need to go outside?” 

MACI (about 3 to 4 years old) -- SPECIAL NEEDS

Maci is a beautiful girl, about 3 or 4 years old. She is petite, weighing in at about 60 pounds. She's playful, and loves being with people. She is incredibly gentle, even when trying to jump up on you (which we're trying to discourage!). She has central diabetes insipidus, a chronic condition that requires drops in her eyes twice daily. It is not life threatening; the condition is an inability of her pituitary gland to secrete a hormone that enables urine concentration. However, without treatment, it is imperative that she have unlimited access to water and to being able to get outside to potty. Also, it would be almost impossible for her to remain housetrained. For a easy-to-understand description of this condition, go to http://www.petdiabetes.org/diabetes_insipidus.htm. There are several links on that page that go into more detail. The one drawback to this condition is that the medication costs about $90 a month. You would be getting an absolutely adoring companion in exchange. If you would like to meet her, or would like more information, contact Toni Tregear or Ron Sabetta, 352-332-3259.

JILLI (3 years old)

PEGGY SUE (about 1-1/2 to 2 years old)

Peggy Sue was recently spayed and is currently being evaluated. She is very, very thin. She is housebroken and well behaved in the house. She likes to bark when she is outside. She is going to have a beautiful coat when it grows back in. She came into rescue very matted and the only way to get rid of some of the knots was to use scissors. We will post more photos and information as we get to know her.

NANA (approximately 3 years old)

We have had Nana in rescue for about 3 weeks. She currently weighs about 86 pounds, but is very thin (not that you can tell that by looking at her with her beautiful full coat!). We thought at first she might have been a working dog because her hair was terribly matted, but now we think she was probably a companion. She is well behaved in the house, even though she is a large dog. She is a bit shy around men until she knows them.

SHELBY (pyr-mix, 7 months old)

Watch for better photos soon. She was very skeptical about the camera on transport day. She is a cute, cute girl, well-behaved in the car.

BAILEY (8 years old)

Bailey is a very large, well-behaved girl. Bailey is 8 years old but doesn't act like it.  She is still a puppy at heart.  She loves everyone but can stand her ground if challenged by another dog.  She is certainly an Alpha female.  She is very loving and likes children.  She loves to play and even chases her tail when she gets very playful. She loves to be outside when the weather is cooler but searches for the air conditioning in Florida's very warmest days. She was raised by one family most of her life but adapts well to changes and goes with the flow.  She has even learned quickly to fit in with other dogs in the household.  She has learned to walk on a leash and looks forward to daily walks.