NY/NJ Scottie Rescue doesn’t get a lot of mixes and when they do, these dogs can be difficult to place. “People come to us because they want to adopt a Scottie,” said Erica, “so often a mix is overlooked.”
Dougal came into Greater New York/New Jersey Scottie Rescue at about seven years old.
His luck with finding a forever home had not been good. Dougal was turned into a shelter by his first owner but then adopted by a couple who owned a farm; not a working farm but a kind of a gentlemen’s farm. There were a number of various animals on the farm and sometimes Dougal was attacked or bullied.
Riley, a black Scottie, came into rescue as an owner turn-in but with a worrisome background.
Riley’s owners were an older couple in their mid sixties who both had some health issues. The wife was in a wheelchair and dependent on her husband for care. When the husband went into the hospital, he left Riley at a boarding kennel the couple had used many times. Sadly, the husband died unexpectedly and the wife had to go into a nursing home, leaving Riley’s future uncertain.
An owner turn-in from a family who had gotten him as a puppy, Bentley had no big health issues when he came into NY/NJ Scottie Rescue. However, he was not up to date on his vaccines and he had several bad teeth that gave his mouth an unpleasant odor. Erica from the rescue took him into the group’s vet. They did a full work-up on Bentley including X-rays to see if there were signs of any hidden masses or problems, and a full blood panel. Bentley passed with flying colors.
Three names and a frightening hoarding situation had made a little Scottie withdrawn and often terrified, and this sad boy proved to be an especially challenging case for Greater NY/NJ Scottie Rescue.
For ten long years, Annie lived a lonely and bleak existence exposed to the extremes of Wyoming weather in an outdoor kennel with a cement floor. Her owner was a bigwig in town with a home on the golf course befitting his money and status. Annie enjoyed none of that.
Phyllis, a brindle Scottie, had a rough start in life. Used as a breeder in a puppy mill, all her front teeth had been removed so she couldn’t bite or chew her way to freedom. Apparently this is a common tactic by puppy mills.
Daisy, a black Scottie girl, came to an elderly couple as a puppy and was living a calm, secure life with her humans until one of them passed away. Then, within four months the second one died. Since no provisions had been made for Daisy’s care, she was left alone in the house. A son, who already had a German Shepherd, did not want to give Daisy a home and a daughter wanted nothing to do with the situation. Eventually, Scottie Rescue was called and Erica, together with her partner Judy, who had agreed to foster Daisy, made plans to get her.
Muffie’s road to rescue was a familiar one. Owned by an older lady with no children, Muffie was left alone when her owner died. What family there was, didn’t want Muffie, so she was turned into Scottie Rescue.
As a certified therapy dog, I visit Sterling House of New Bern every Tuesday morning throughout the year, and every December I host my annual holiday party. This year will be my eighth party. Now, it’s not polite to ask a lady her age, but let’s just say I’m a mature girl and you do the math.
