News
Sports
ENLARGE
November was a life-altering month for most of the 51 dogs and puppies found living in poor conditions on the property of a Dobbins man. They have made much progress, but still face a long road ahead in the search for their “forever” homes.
Of the 51 dogs, all but 12 have been spayed or neutered.
Four of these are 6-month-old puppies, part of a litter of 10. They remain unapproachable due to a lack of socialization at a young age. They have cleverly avoided being caught and will most likely have to be captured using humane traps.
The remaining six puppies from this litter are in foster care and making slow progress toward trusting humans.
Of the three litters of puppies under eight weeks of age, eight have been adopted through Pound Puppy Rescue. Seven more will be available for adoption on Dec. 5.
Eight of the 15 adult dogs rescued tested positive for heartworm disease and have been treated. Two of these dogs were returned to their owner.
“We would love to adopt out all the dogs, but we can only adopt out the ones the owner has agreed to surrender,” said O'Sullivan. To date, he has committed to surrendering all but 11 dogs.
Harvest Moon, the only adult dog to be adopted so far, is settling into her new home in British Columbia, Canada.
Toby, another of the adult dogs, is also ready for adoption. His former life consisted of sharing a small kennel with a dirt floor and no bed with two unaltered male dogs.
“Not a life for a dog,” said Kathleen O'Sullivan, founder of Pound Puppy Rescue. “(Toby) is a really nice dog, just begging for a home to call his own.”
Twelve dogs remaining on the property need to be spayed or neutered.
Long-term foster care is needed for that to happen. Care for the older, unsocialized puppies is most urgently needed. The older they are, the more difficult the socialization process becomes, O'Sullivan said.
Since there are no foster homes available for them at the present, the biggest concern is avoiding more unwanted litters. The plan is to take them two at a time to a local veterinarian for spaying or neutering and heartworm treatment.
Dr. Rob Avery, of For The Love of Pets in Grass Valley, has agreed to provide the treatment at a discounted rate. He has also offered to board the dogs at no charge while they recover from surgery.
Unless foster homes are found, the dogs will be returned to the property in Dobbins.
Sending the dogs back is not an ideal situation, O'Sullivan said.
“As Cheryl Wicks said, it is better the dogs are on the property spayed and neutered than on the property unaltered,” she said.
As foster care becomes available, they will be transferred from the property and cared for until their adoption.
“Our main goal is to find these dogs good homes. They would all like to lay next to the fireplace in their new home, with a family to call their own for Christmas. These dogs will return the gift of a new, loving home with a lifetime of unconditional love,” said O'Sullivan.
The canines' tale began with a neighbor's complaint to Yuba County Animal Control in late October.
The property owner was given until Nov. 6 to find a solution to the dog overcrowding problem. He was eventually put in touch with O'Sullivan, of Pound Puppy Rescue.
With the help of Cheryl Wicks, founder of Sammie's Friends, and the services of AnimalSave's Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic, the massive rescue effort was launched.
On Oct. 30, AnimalSave brought the mobile clinic to the Dobbins property for the first phase of spaying and neutering. When they were unable to drive the van onto the property, 10 dogs were caught and transported back to AnimalSave, where the surgery was performed.
“That day was a fiasco. Carolyn Niehaus was amazing handling everything that could have gone wrong — and did,” said O'Sullivan. Niehaus is the executive director and spay/neuter program coordinator for AnimalSave, based in Grass Valley.
O'Sullivan and Wicks were able to round up an additional 10 dogs at a later date and transport them to AnimalSave for care.
To contact Staff Writer Kim Midboe, e-mail kmidboe@theunion.com or call 477-4251.
Of the 51 dogs, all but 12 have been spayed or neutered.
Four of these are 6-month-old puppies, part of a litter of 10. They remain unapproachable due to a lack of socialization at a young age. They have cleverly avoided being caught and will most likely have to be captured using humane traps.
The remaining six puppies from this litter are in foster care and making slow progress toward trusting humans.
Of the three litters of puppies under eight weeks of age, eight have been adopted through Pound Puppy Rescue. Seven more will be available for adoption on Dec. 5.
Eight of the 15 adult dogs rescued tested positive for heartworm disease and have been treated. Two of these dogs were returned to their owner.
“We would love to adopt out all the dogs, but we can only adopt out the ones the owner has agreed to surrender,” said O'Sullivan. To date, he has committed to surrendering all but 11 dogs.
Harvest Moon, the only adult dog to be adopted so far, is settling into her new home in British Columbia, Canada.
Toby, another of the adult dogs, is also ready for adoption. His former life consisted of sharing a small kennel with a dirt floor and no bed with two unaltered male dogs.
“Not a life for a dog,” said Kathleen O'Sullivan, founder of Pound Puppy Rescue. “(Toby) is a really nice dog, just begging for a home to call his own.”
Twelve dogs remaining on the property need to be spayed or neutered.
Long-term foster care is needed for that to happen. Care for the older, unsocialized puppies is most urgently needed. The older they are, the more difficult the socialization process becomes, O'Sullivan said.
Since there are no foster homes available for them at the present, the biggest concern is avoiding more unwanted litters. The plan is to take them two at a time to a local veterinarian for spaying or neutering and heartworm treatment.
Dr. Rob Avery, of For The Love of Pets in Grass Valley, has agreed to provide the treatment at a discounted rate. He has also offered to board the dogs at no charge while they recover from surgery.
Unless foster homes are found, the dogs will be returned to the property in Dobbins.
Sending the dogs back is not an ideal situation, O'Sullivan said.
“As Cheryl Wicks said, it is better the dogs are on the property spayed and neutered than on the property unaltered,” she said.
As foster care becomes available, they will be transferred from the property and cared for until their adoption.
“Our main goal is to find these dogs good homes. They would all like to lay next to the fireplace in their new home, with a family to call their own for Christmas. These dogs will return the gift of a new, loving home with a lifetime of unconditional love,” said O'Sullivan.
The canines' tale began with a neighbor's complaint to Yuba County Animal Control in late October.
The property owner was given until Nov. 6 to find a solution to the dog overcrowding problem. He was eventually put in touch with O'Sullivan, of Pound Puppy Rescue.
With the help of Cheryl Wicks, founder of Sammie's Friends, and the services of AnimalSave's Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic, the massive rescue effort was launched.
On Oct. 30, AnimalSave brought the mobile clinic to the Dobbins property for the first phase of spaying and neutering. When they were unable to drive the van onto the property, 10 dogs were caught and transported back to AnimalSave, where the surgery was performed.
“That day was a fiasco. Carolyn Niehaus was amazing handling everything that could have gone wrong — and did,” said O'Sullivan. Niehaus is the executive director and spay/neuter program coordinator for AnimalSave, based in Grass Valley.
O'Sullivan and Wicks were able to round up an additional 10 dogs at a later date and transport them to AnimalSave for care.
To contact Staff Writer Kim Midboe, e-mail kmidboe@theunion.com or call 477-4251.
