PAWS New EnglandTessa is Ready for a Run!
In mid April of this year, PAWS foster Mom Carrie Schmidt decided to take a different route home from running errands. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dog lying on the side of the road. She pulled the car over and jumped out, praying that the dog was still alive. The dog had been hit by a car and was whimpering in pain. Carrie was horrified to see that someone had stopped because there was a water bowl placed next to the dog. Someone had hit her, left her for dead on the side of the road in excruciating pain, and cruelly placed a water bowl far enough away so that she could not reach it with her broken legs.
Carrie rushed the dog, whom she named Tessa, to the animal hospital. The initial news from the veterinarian Dr. Robert Parker from Shelby Animal Center was not good. Tessa’s back leg sustained multiple fractures and her front leg had nerve damage from severe road rash. She was dehydrated and quickly going in to shock. Dr. Parker performed emergency surgery to treat the fracture in her back leg with two plates and multiple screws. But the fracture was so precarious that her back leg needed a second… and then a third operation to completely stabilize the limb. For almost a month, Tessa had to be kept sedated so she would not re-injure herself. Just as she was about to be discharged home, Dr. Parker and his staff were devastated to see that the nerve damage Tessa received to her front leg was irreversible and her front leg needed to be amputated. Tessa (aka Million Dollar Baby) endured four operations and two months in the hospital before she was ready to be discharged..
Through her two month hospitalization, Tessa’s enduring spirit touched all of the staff at the veterinary clinic. She was the first dog to be walked in the morning and the last dog to be walked at night. The staff took to letting her stay up at the front desk with them and would “love on her” every chance they got. Carrie visited her frequently and championed for the dog she had saved from a terrible death on the side of the road. When it was time to bring Tessa home, Carrie and her family set up a “Tessa-friendly” area in the kitchen and laundry room so she would not have to navigate stairs. They faithfully did her rehab exercises and assisted her when she needed to go outside.
Last week, Dr. Parker finally cleared Tessa for adoption! It was quite a moment when we were able to add her to Petfinder. It is truly incredible to think what this dog survived and we are in awe of her bravery. Tessa does not even seem to notice her disability now.. She plays with toys, loves the other dogs in the house, and is actually a little bit of a “Diva.” Tessa loves attention and seems so grateful for every day she gets to be alive and pain free.
If you are interested in adopting this amazing dog, please visit her petfinder page here.
Tessa’s veterinary bills were over $4,000. Please consider making a donation on her behalf so PAWS has the means to help other dogs in need of significant medical intervention.
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PAWS would like to thank the many get well wishes and donations you have already sent in for Tessa. We know her story has touched so many people and we are just thrilled to be sharing this great news with everyone!
Many thanks,
The Pups and Volunteers at PAWS New England
Especially Tessa, aka “Million Dollar Baby”
Nicky Has Been Found- Incredible Story!
“It Takes A Village To Bring Home a Dog..”
On July 20th, Nicky, an elderly shepherd mix escaped from his new adoptive home by slipping through a hole in the fence. For 47 days, a rescue team made up volunteers from multiple animal welfare groups tirelessly worked to bring him home. Click here to learn the extraordinary story of his return home! Click here to donate to PAWS New England to help us bring home two other lost dogs.
A New Life for 6 Aussies…
A few months ago, we asked some of our supporters for foster homes for six Australian Shepherds who were victims of a cruelty case.
The dogs had been kept in a chicken coop their entire lives, were under-socialized, terrified, and scheduled to be euthanized within days. In a remarkable display of support, the PAWS community came together and all of the dogs were saved hours before they were set to be put to sleep.
We knew that it would be a long road to rehabilitate such intelligent, sensitive dogs who had been shown the worst of humanity. In fact, PAWS was the only rescue group in the county who came through for these dogs. Other rescue groups believed that these dogs were “beyond hope.” But the volunteers at PAWS believed in the power of second chances and knew that our talented foster homes had the ability to perform miracles.
And what a miracle it has been to watch these dogs! Keep reading…
September 18th Adoption Event at John Gagnon’s Pet Resort
When: Sunday September 18th 11am – 2pm
Where: John Gagnon’s Pet Resort, Colchester, CTDirections on Google Maps
RSVP on Facebook (optional)
This is one of the best adoption events in New England. Sponsored by John Gagnon’s Pet Resort, dogs of all shapes and sizes come in hopes of finding their forever family.
Many PAWS dogs will be present and we will be updating this post with pictures and bios of dogs that will be available for adoption at the event. Hope to see you there! If you would like to bring home an adoptive dog on the day of the event, please fill out an adoption application here and make sure you have an approved application on file before you arrive!
Bookmark this page – we’ll be updating it regularly!
Come Meet Some of Our Dogs
Click on dog’s name to view their listing on Petfinder.
Insurance for Dog Owners
We just added a new tool to our Resource Center. It’s a primer on liability insurance for dog owners.
Atticus (aka Batdog)
Atticus is one our recent success stories. He’s now with a loving family and couldn’t be happier!
Trooper’s Surgery Fund
A military family emailed us yesterday, desperate for help for their 9 month old German Shepherd Trooper who had developed an intestinal blockage and needed emergency surgery. During these tough economic times, they were unable to come up with the funds to pay the vet and were actually sent home with Trooper when he was in horrific pain.
The family was not willing to give up or allow their dog to suffer.
They began to send out frantic emails to every rescue organization in the New England area, trying to get emergent funds. They took out a small credit line to help get Trooper back to the vet immediately and he is set for surgery today.
The family especially broke our hearts when they said that, if it meant Trooper’s life would be saved, they would give up their beloved dog to a rescue group so he could get his surgery. We simply can not allow some of our country’s heroes to have to make a terrible decision like that.
Please make a contribution to Trooper’s Fund. Click here.
All donations are tax deductible and PAWS will call the veterinarian directly and make a payment on his bill. Thank you for your support!
Lilly: Happy Tail
Lilly is one of the dogs we rescued from a puppy mill a few months ago.
We were thrilled to receive this letter from her. After a little TLC from one of our incredible adopters, she’s a whole new dog!
Hi everyone,
It’s me LILLY!
The first 2 photos are of ME, when I first got to my foster Mommy’s house – as you can see I was very scared and very thin and frail. Wow, now look at ME!! My new Mommy bought me a special outfit to celebrate my very first 4th of July as a “FREE” dog!!! And now as you can see, I can now sleep in a cozy bed, without a care in the world!! I’m especially happy because I’ve kinda fallen in love with Scooter! He’s very thoughtful and gentle around me and makes me feel safe. We also like to play on the bed at night before we go to sleep. He LOVES it because he can chase me around the bed and I can’t get away from him because I’m too scared to jump down by myself! But, I let him think he’s winning – you know, the male ego!!
FiFi is my big sister – when I first arrived I was a little afraid of her because she is so rambunctious and lively and it scared me a little, but now, I really like her and enjoy following her around the garden and learning from her what to sniff and smell. I love to go into my Mommy’s antique store every day and am now so brave and confident that I like to sit in FiFi’s bed in the window and watch the people go by. My Mommy is so proud of the progress that I have made and the customer’s can’t believe that I’m the same dog from just 3 months ago who used to hide in the back room in the corner under a blanket, so scared, but thinking, that if I couldn’t see the world, then no one could see/hurt me. But, I now know as long as my Mommy is close by, she’ll never let anyone hurt me, and I like that!
I also just loooooove to drive in the car, sharing the same car seat as Scooter. We go everywhere with Mommy and its great because Scooter has a lovely big and comfy dog stroller and because I have problems learning how to walk from one place to another, I get to sit in it with him and watch the world go by. I don’t even mind when people stop and pet us, although I still tend to coward away when it’s a man. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze when FiFi’s legs get tired and she decides to join us, but I don’t mind! I’m a very easy going little girl and starting to come out of my shell every day…..
Thanks everyone!!! As you can see I’m very happy nowadays! I love my new home and am starting to realize every day that maybe I won’t be leaving and can stay here forever! Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
I’ll have my Mommy send you more photos and maybe a short video of how happy I am…….
Thanks again, Lilly xxoo
Lilly on her first day... a bit shy.
Lilly on her first day... a bit shy.
Lilly's "Independence Day" outfit!
Taking a nap on the Fourth of July!
Lilly cuddling with her siblings.
Angie the Therapy Dog
A letter from PAWS rescue dog Angie…
My name is Angie and I’m a 7 year old Jack-a-Bee, which is a hybrid breed of dogs developed by crossing a Jack Russell Terrier with a Beagle.
I was picked up as a stray in Tennessee, so nobody knows my story. Unfortunately I ended up at a high kill shelter and my future was almost non-existent, but my luck was about to change. I was saved by a rescue league in New England called PAWS and they put me on a truck for up north and then found me a forever home.
When I first got to my new home I would play with my cousin, Ruby, who is a Boxer/Rottweiler with a massive head. My favorite play activity was to stick my little head inside Ruby’s open mouth We would do that all day. My mom would be so nervous!
One day my human cousin Shannon was teaching me to sit. Ruby was with me but she already knew how to sit. Shannon would say “SIT” and even though Ruby was sitting, I wasn’t sure what Shannon wanted me to do. So
Ruby must have been impatient because she took her paw, put it on my rear end, and pushed me into the sitting position! Everyone said they wished they had a video camera because nobody was ever going to believe it.
At first things were going well but my walking became difficult so my mom took me to the hospital. When the x-rays came back they showed that my backside was sprayed with bullets. Everyone is wondering who would shoot such a sweet Angel?
That was the cause of my bad walking but we fixed everything up with surgery. Another happy ending for me!
Sometimes when I’m so happy I will start wagging my tail like crazy. When I wag my tail, my whole body wags, which is really cute and I love to give kisses…
Volunteer Spotlight: Christine Metcalfe
Profession: Graphic Designer
Current pets: Lila, dog, female, lab/pit mix. Rosie, kitten, female, just plain cute. Rhino, rat, kind of gross, but I like him. Dirt, fish, (my son Wyatt named him).
How long have you been a volunteer? Since December of 2010.
How were you introduced to PAWS?
I contacted them after finding them on the internet. I had wanted to get another dog but when I looked into fostering it seemed like a better plan. I filled out a request to foster and passed the test!
Since then I have met so many wonderful people and had some really great experience.
What do you do as a volunteer?
I am mostly a foster mom. I try to attend any animal fairs and/or meet and greets that PAWS is going to attend to get my foster dog seen. Pictures don’t always do them justice! You have to meet them to really fall in love.
Favorite Volunteer Moment
My daughter, Georgia, who is 7, and I spend a lot of time together because we both bond with the foster pups. She attends all the meet and greets with me.
It’s our special project and we get to spend more time together because of it.
From a dog aspect there is not one instant that sticks out in my mind. Each pup has brought a wonderful experience into our home, some quite hilarious!
It’s amazing how they open up to you when you show them love and affection (also a couch and a bed to share!)
Want to volunteer for PAWS? Learn more!