by Lee Juslin

Updates to some past rescue stories at the end of this post.

Dachshund Rescue of North America (DRNA) didn’t know much about Paisley’s background when they took her in. A blind, long-haired Doxie, Paisley had been shifted from her original owner to relatives who tried to have her euthanized. They told a vet that she had a heart condition and that they couldn’t deal with her.

Paisley

After an examination, the vet found Paisley’s heart to be fine and persuaded the owners to sign the little Doxie over to her. Paisley spent a number of months in the vet’s care. She has been spayed, she’s up to date on her shots, and she is heartworm negative. However, she does have a thyroid condition for which she takes medicine that she will be on the rest of her life. She also has some skin issues.

When Susie, a foster mom and the Eastern Regional Coordinator for DRNA, took Paisley, she felt the skin issues were due mostly to anxiety and stress. She began using a diffuser, a pheromone collar and a thunder shirt to counteract Paisley’s anxiety.

Paisley & Kopper (another rescued Dachshund we have featured)

Another problem was that Paisley did not seem to be house trained. Plus, being blind, she took more time in the yard to do her business. Susie made sure Paisley got outside often. During the night and when she had to be away from home, Paisley was crated.

Since coming to Susie, Paisley has made great strides in conquering her anxiety issues. She is also no longer having accidents in the house, her skin problems have subsided and she is becoming more social, both with Susie’s pack and on trips to Petsense and Petsmart. At home in the evenings, Paisley likes to cuddle in Susie’s lap. As Susie describes it: “She does melt into me.” But when she’s out and about she wants to walk around and greet people. She also loves having visitors come and gets all wiggly when she greets people.

Paisley in a thunder shirt

Paisley is a sweet, gentle girl. She’s not a barker, but Susie’s other dogs have taught her to bark at meal time. Despite her blindness, she has learned her way around both inside and outside. When in the yard, she follows the other dogs by scent. She enjoys a good “chewie” but doesn’t seem to know what to do with toys.

Susie feels the right home is out there for this little six and a half year-old but it would take someone with a lot of patience who is home most of the time to take her outside often and give her attention and the cuddles she enjoys. Little children would not be good for Paisley as she needs a calm environment. Routine is important to her, as it is with blind humans, and, while her thyroid medicine is inexpensive, she needs to maintain the twice a day schedule. Susie has not listed Paisley as available for adoption yet, but is convinced she will be ready in the not too distant future. “Even if she isn’t adopted,” said Susie, “she always has a home here.”

If you would like to learn more about Dachshund Rescue of North America, Dachshunds ready for their forever homes, donate or volunteer for the organization visit their website: Dachshund Rescue of North America.

Past story updates:

Chloe is working very hard to get well. Her doctors are trying to get her to use her left back leg, build some muscle and control in the leg, and get her to stop crossing her back legs. They have advised us that it will be a long, slow process and they are not sure how much nerve damage has been done.

Chloe’s foster mom Corinne, and the doctors and therapists are caring for her. She is currently getting acupuncture treatments and hydrotherapy. She relies on her front legs for all her strength so they are working to “wake up” the nerves in her back end and legs.

Although she is on a lot of medication, Chloe still loves to play with her fur sister Ginger and she is having a great time in her large back yard roaming around and smelling all the smells of Spring. She has gained 4 pounds since arriving in her new foster home so her disabilities haven’t affected her appetite. That is quite healthy!!

Chloe will continue therapy through April and she will then be reassessed. Paws crossed and prayers to St. Francis that they will see a lot of improvement.

Update on Kopper: Kopper the cart Doxie has been adopted by the same MA adopter who took Joy-Ci another special needs Doxie.

You can find more animal rescue, therapy animal, and other pet related articles in our pet section.

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Lee Juslin is a free lance copywriter living in North Carolina with her husband, Scott, and her band of misfits: Tarquin, a Wheaten Scottish Terrier, and three handicapped cats. They can be seen on their website: Hampshire Hooligans. She owns I B Dog Gone, a small embroidery business and is the author of the Nurse Frosty books for children and Frosty’s Story: Tales of a Therapy Dog. She supports a number of national and regional terrier rescue organizations.