More than 400 Animals Rescued from Mississippi Shelter

On January 24, under the authority and request of the City of Clarksdale, MS, the ASPCA dispatched members of our Field Investigations and Response Team to assist in the removal of more than 400 cats and dogs from the City of Clarksdale Animal Shelter.

"We found more than 400 animals living in a space designed for about 60," reports Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. “Our goal is to export as many of the animals as possible to other agencies where they can be placed up for adoption.”

The animals were suffering from obvious neglect—including medical conditions such as mange, and injuries and bite wounds sustained as a result of living in overcrowded cages. A team of local veterinarians conducted exams on each animal and triaged any immediate concerns.

Rickey says, "It appears that this is a situation where the intake of unwanted animals was much higher than the number of animals being adopted, and it led to horrible living conditions. We are glad to be able to provide relief."

Essential medical aid has been provided by a veterinary team from Mississippi State University, led by Dr. Phillip Bushby, as well as local veterinarians Dr. Andrea Marble, Animal Medical Clinic; Dr. Jody Swartzfarger, Lawndale Pet Hospital; Dr. Wayne Adams, Adams Vet Clinic; and Dr. Rebecca Coleman.

On January 26, groups of animals began leaving the area with various rescue agencies, including the ASPCA, bound for New York City and several rescues based in Vermont and Delaware. The Atlanta Humane Society is transporting at least 100 animals to Georgia, and countless other shelters, individuals and organizations are offering their critical support in the rescue and temporary housing of the animals, including:

• Anna Ware of Holland M. Ware Foundation
• Mississippi State Animal Response Team
• Mississippi Animal Rescue League, MS
• Greg Norred with Norred & Associates
• Tailwaggers for Life, MS
• Jane Berry of Sterile Feral, GA
• PAWS Humane, GA
• Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, MS
• Tampa Bay SPCA, FL
• Broward County Humane, FL
• Delaware Humane Association, DE
• Kent County SPCA, DE
• White River Animal Rescue, VT
• Northern New England Dog Rescue, VT
• Bolivar County Animal Shelter, MS
• Louisiana SPCA, LA
• Capital Area Humane Society, OH
• Petfinder

For the latest information about the rescued animals, including those who will be available for adoption from the ASCPA Adoption Center.

Little Orphan Annie

My son-in-law found Annie in a box of puppies outside a Wal Mart in Cullman, AL. He hoped to keep her as a playmate for his other dog, but Blondie did not like having another female in the house. My daughter knew my schnauzer, Jack, needed a playmate as he was driving my husband and me crazy! Annie came to live with us and she and Jack are now best buddies.

Barbara Assell
Birmingham, AL

Sweet Amy

About 10 years ago, I was working at a veterinary clinic. Someone brought in their 9 month old puppy that had gotten her leg stuck in a trap or barbwire fence. Her leg was in bad shape. We amputated her toes, and knew it was possible that we may have to amputate her leg. Her family was told that they would have to keep her inside (they had been keeping her outside) and treat her leg daily. They felt that was more "work" than they wanted, so they asked the vet to euthanize the puppy. The puppy was one of the sweetest we had ever met. The vet declined to euthanize the puppy saying that we would try and find her a home. The puppy was black and part pit bull, so she might not be the easiest to adopt out. But her personality was second to none! Well, she came home with me and I named her Amy. I began to treat her leg, and she healed remarkably well. She has been such a wonderful addition to our family all these years. I've often said that I think Amy is the perfect dog with her heart of gold!

Sara

Pickerington, OH

George the "Ladies Man"

In May 2009, when the three-year-old Pug mix formerly known as Joe Jackson arrived at Animal Care and Control in New York City, the poor little guy was suffering from severe neglect. He had an excruciatingly tender, dangling paw, and veterinarians at the shelter determined that he’d been in pain for two to three weeks. Joe was transferred to the ASPCA, where his right leg was removed.

It wasn’t an easy road for Joe—but by all accounts, he made great strides during his weeks of recovery at the ASPCA. In early July, he was made available for adoption and feeling well enough to participate in Broadway Barks, our annual adopt-a-thon in Manhattan. But before the big event, on Friday, July 10, certified trainer Cheryl Loiacono of Albertson, NY, received an email from us about the pup and was instantly smitten.

“I just knew!” Cheryl says. So she immediately called our Adoption Center and arranged to visit the shelter the next morning, before Joe made his way to Times Square for the adopt-a-thon. The rest is history, as they say—the pup still went to the big event, but he was already spoken for.

Nearly a month later, the pooch has a new home, a new name—George!—and a new life with four fabulous ladies—one pet mom and three four-legged sisters.

“He’s terrific!” says Cheryl. “George has a great disposition and gets along well with my three other girls, all rescue dogs.”

Not to worry, though, this little Puggy hasn’t grown soft surrounded by all this maternal affection. “Sometimes the girls get a little annoyed because they’re older and want to relax, while George just wants to play,” Cheryl laughs. “But he’s doing great and making friends.”

“It’s nice to have a man around again,” she adds. “He's as sweet as can be and I adore him—I really do.”

Alive and happy!

This is my adorable German Shepard. His name is Oso. When I got him he was just a puppy. We didn't know how old he was because my brother had found him in the streets. Apparantly his family didn't care for him because when my brother brought him home he had a piece of rope and a piece of belt as a collar. I love him so much he was saved too. Now today he's grown up and he's a trouble maker he bites on the fence which is wood he gets out all the time and my mom is tired of it but we still have him and no one wants to buy him so I'm happy and he loves us he's very friendly and funny. He loves to play a lot too and right now he's about 1 and a half.

Cali

Victorville, CA

I Love Lucy

I was given a young Blue Healer in 1998 that had been found wandering in a neighborhood. It was truly love at first sight. Lucy and I have been through a lot in the 11 plus years we have been together. She has been there for me during some difficult times. Truly my Best Friend.

In 2005 she was hit by a car; however, she came out of that with only a bloody nose and the loss of a tooth.

Today she is 12 years old and brings my wife and I much happiness. She never fails to put a smile on our faces. She is funny, beautiful, and sweet as she can be. However, she is still very wary of strangers. Our time with her has been priceless. We look forward to sharing our lives with her for many years to come.

I highly recommend a "rescue" dog.

Shawn
San Angelo, TX

Bello from Brazil

We adopted Bello before meeting him. He was found by a caring person on the streets of Brazil, desperately but unsuccefully trying to eat a piece of meat tossed to him. He was taken to a Vet and they understood the problem. Someone cut off his tongue and left him on the street to fend for himself. His mouth was getting septic and he was going to dye soon, if not treated. The email headline asking for help stated "Dog with tongue cut off" and I knew I could not leave him behind. Luckly for him, the Vet agreed to take care of him, and he recovered enough to make his trip back from Brazil to the US.

Bello continued to recover here, put some weight back on and developed a gorgeous, silky coat. He is the sweetest dog I've ever met. He cannot get enough loving (or cookies) and insists on being REALLY close to me -on my feet, leaning his head on my legs, or just laying on top of me. He is funny and full of personality and everyday teaches us something about kindness, forgiveness and strength. Bello is the light of our lives.

Ines Castro
Silver Spring, MD

Louie

We adopted Louie from the Sacramento Animal Shelter in 2002 when he was 7. He had been there for 4 months and his "number" was almost up. Thankfully we found him before it was too late on petfinders.org because he is the most wonderful boy.

This picture is at a restaurant that Louie likes in Portland, Oregon where they have a doggie menu and they bring him his water when they bring ours. For his adoption party we had 7 adults and 5 dogs at dinner, what fun!

Karen Hiller
Kelso, WA

Harley comes home

A dog came trotting out of the woods next to where I park my car. I hadn't taken the food out of the car. The dog just looked at me. How did he know I had food? I put food down on the ground and when I went away, he ate it up. He was very malnourished and looked like he had been in a dog fight. After work I came out to my car and looked over my shoulder and here he was coming out of the woods again. I put some food on the ground, sat next to it with my back to him. When he started to eat, I talked to him, told him what a good home I'd give him. I squatted down and he let me pet him after about 1/2 hr. I asked him if he wanted to come with me, patted on the back seat and said, "Come on".

He put his paws up and I lifted his back end into the car. I talked to him the whole way home, it was dark by now. I turned on the inside car light so he wouldn't be scared and discussed what I would name him. I decided on Harley. He sat perfect in the car (he's done it before I could tell). When we got home, I walked him around the perimeter of the yard, coached him through the dog door 3 times till he got the hang of it. I let him sleep in his big 12 x 24 laundry room with the door closed and a night light on. He didn't make a peep, he didn't go potty in the house and he's been my best buddy ever since.

Laura Novak

Rutherfordton, NC

Lost and found

Nov. 17, 2009 my husband was elk hunting in the high desert of southern Idaho. He saw an animal scratching at the ice on a pond, trying to get a drink, and followed her to an old cow carcass which she was chewing on and living in. He coaxed her out and brought her home. She had her front paw injured, probably in a coyote trap, and one toe half gone and infected. She had been out there 6-8 weeks in the freezing cold.

She was dehydrated, malnourished, ears and foot infected and she was very smelly. We bathed her twice and then she spent the night at the vet on IV fluids and antibiotics. The Doc said she probably would not have lasted out there one more day. She is still very scared of loud noises and the dark. We think she was lost during bird hunting season in September and caught in the trap for who knows how long. We named her Sadie and after 6 weeks of TLC she is doing much better. She gets along well with our two Labs, Buddy and Sassy, and Chewy the cat, and has been a lovely addition to our family.

Judy
Buhl, ID

Mikey Likes It!!

Remember our fab five poodles? They were the special pups who needed extra loving care, after being rescued—with nearly 30 other pooches—from a home in Queens, NY. We’re happy to report that all of the poodles found homes, and we recently caught up with Richie, the group’s elder statesman.

Now known as Mikey, the wee ten-year-old was a favorite at the ASPCA. He easily won the heart of Vicky Tierney of Hudson, MA, too, who first read about Mikey on our website. Vicky saw our video of the petite pooch preening and indulging in a cool drink of water, and knew she had to adopt him. Partially blind and afflicted with the same dental disease shared by his fab five brethren, Mikey required an attentive pet parent with a heart of gold.

But Vicky wasn’t daunted by his needs. “I’m at home all day," she says, "so I can look after him and give him special attention.” Now Mikey spends the day sitting on Vicky’s lap while she works, and greets her at the door by lifting his front paws off of the ground in a little jig.

Mikey was also heartily welcomed by Vicky’s happy fur family, which includes two Yorkshire terriers and four cats. The Yorkies first met Mikey at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center in Manhattan, and now the three amigos are the best of pals. “Mikey always stands in between the other two, like when I’m cooking dinner,” says Vicky. “He definitely knows how to beg! He drinks a lot of water, and the other dogs have started to join him for ‘group waterings.’”

“Angel, our Himalayan, has also taken a shine to Mikey, and is very curious about him,” Vicky tells us with a laugh. “She stares at him as if to say, ‘What is he?’ and occasionally puts her paw on his head.”

Smoke - living the high life!

From the mean streets of NYC to a leafy Connecticut town, one dog’s journey is a truly happy tale of pooch victim turned beloved family member. In the spring of 2008, the ASPCA received an anonymous tip from a caller who had seen several neglected dogs in Staten Island, NY. When our Humane Law Enforcement Agents investigated the report, they made a terrible discovery—dogs left for days in outdoor crates without food and water. The dogs’ temporary caretaker voluntarily relinquished one of the dogs—whose rightful owner had recently been incarcerated—to the ASPCA. The young Pit Bull, whom the ASPCA named Smoke, was malnourished and suffering from a neck wound.

The energetic pooch initially had a tough time putting his troubled past behind him, but after more than a year of rest, relaxation and compassionate care, Smoke emerged as one of the most popular and active dogs in our shelter. A true champ, he was a workout king who loved to chase tennis balls and run around with volunteers. Deemed a “charmer” by ASPCA Manager of Shelter Behavior and Training Victoria Wells, it was no surprise that potential adopter Camille Fleetwood of New Milford, CT, saw something special in Smoke’s soulful gaze.

“I had originally seen Smoke on the ASPCA website in early August and thought he looked sad in his picture,” says Camille. She was intrigued, and eventually made the trip to the ASPCA in Manhattan to meet the dog. One seamless adoption later, Smoke is happily nestled in his fabulous New England life.

“Smoke has settled in nicely,” Camille reports. “He still gets spooked occasionally, but he’s adapted very well and is comfortable in his new surroundings. He has met a lot of our neighbors and seems to be a real people dog!”

Thanks to the kindness of his new family, Smoke finally feels secure enough to relax and let down his furry guard. Camille says: “He loves to roll on his back and have his tummy rubbed! He also loves to cuddle and sprawl with his back legs behind him. He sleeps with me on the bed and pulls the covers over himself with his mouth!”

She adds: “Smoke means the world to us, and we are so glad to have him. We feel blessed to have such a magnificent dog and so happy that we were able to give him a good, loving home.”