by Lee Juslin

Fast Eddie was adopted from a Cairn breeder as a puppy by a couple who really wanted him. However, his vet bills eventually became too much for his family, so, sadly, they surrendered him to Col. Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue Network (CP).

Fast Eddie’s previous family had no diagnosis to explain his continuing health problems, just big vet bills for tests and medications. Col. Potter took him to their vet where the most likely diagnosis was that this little eight-months-old cutie had a liver shunt. This meant that damaging toxins, mostly ammonia, were getting into his blood stream.

A liver shunt is difficult to diagnose as it doesn’t show up in an X-ray. However, after an examination and a number of tests, the vet determined the problem was either a liver shunt or another liver problem. Surgery to find the problem and either clamp off the shunt or take a biopsy of the liver, was the only answer. Fast Eddie’s surgery is scheduled for later in March with a specialty vet located conveniently near his foster mom Suzanne’s home.

Eddie

Fast Eddie can be feisty with other dogs, especially terriers. However, Suzanne who also serves as a foster mom for a local rescue, has some non-terrier rescue dogs in residence and has had no real problems taking on Fast Eddie. Suzanne says that he actually loves people more than other dogs. He is wonderful at the vet clinic flopping over on his side to ask for tummy rubs.

Unlike most puppies, Fast Eddie is not super active and does not seem to have a super strong prey drive. He follows Suzanne everywhere and loves to greet people on his walks.

Fast Eddie will be ready to find his forever home soon once his health problems are solved, and he has recovered from surgery.

A good home for Fast Eddie would be one where he is an only dog. While some of his feisty behavior towards other dogs may disappear after his liver shunt is corrected, he wants to be with his own human(s) where he will not have to share attention.

A family with older children would work for this sweet Cairn boy because he does not startle easily, but he is possessive of toys and treats. He needs someone who can spend time with him. He loves car rides, walks, and treats. He does bark so an apartment may not be suitable. However, he doesn’t need a fenced-in yard if supervised.

Dogs like Fast Eddie would face a much different, probably shorter future especially had he been turned into a shelter rather than CP, where dedicated volunteers of Col. Potter were determined to help him.

With three hundred volunteers, Col. Potter is the largest breed rescue in the USA. They have rescued approximately 4,830 dogs. All have found forever homes except those that crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Suzanne herself has been a CP volunteer for ten years. In that time, she has fostered a number of dogs, some with health problems that sometimes needed specialized treatment like Fast Eddie.

Given its size and the number of volunteers, CP is known for taking in dogs, even non Cairns, in situations where there is no other viable help available. They rarely turn down a dog in need, and they often take dogs with behavior or health problems that have been rejected by other adopters. CP volunteers have established good relationships with shelters around the country, and CP is recognized as a very reliable partner.

CP maintains a Mix-It-Up program for Cairn mixes or non Cairn rescues. These dogs receive the same vet care as full-bred Cairns but are offered at a reduced adoption fee.

Due to the Covid-19 virus, CP is not taking new adoption applications at this time. They currently have 140 approved applications on hand from people eagerly waiting to adopt a dog. However, this situation may change in April. Interested adopters who have not applied should keep an eye on the CP web site and FB page to see when the group opens up for adoption applications.

If you would like to learn more about CP, volunteer, or make a very welcome financial donation to help dogs like Fast Eddie with health problems, go to their web site or FB page. Remember, breed rescues like CP with an all-volunteer staff, depend on financial, tax-free donations from individuals as well as support for their fund raising activities.

Col. Potter will be celebrating their 20th anniversary later this year, so this is an excellent time to make a donation.

FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/268408650369513
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CPCairnRescue
Website: www.cairnrescue.com

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section & watch for more stories. You can also keep up with our pet articles by joining our KRL Facebook group.

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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.

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