Mira, our Rott/Shep mix came into our lives on Aug. 22, 2004. She simply appeared in the open garage, underweight, terrified and bleeding. As I tried to approach she hobbled away, but only as far as the front porch. By the time the shelter driver arrived I was completely taken with her, and I cried rivers as he put her in the van and took her away. I called my husband and stated “we’re getting another dog.” No pleading, no debate – I knew she was coming home to us. I think I called every 20 minutes to check her condition and to find if she’d been claimed.
On the third day, our ‘lucky day’, we went to see her and apply for adoption. One look and my husband was as smitten as I. We drove all the way back home to pick up our Husky, to prove they’d get along. We brought her home on Aug. 25th, which is now her ‘birthday’. She’d been diagnosed with an irreversible radial nerve paralysis to her right, front leg; we defied 3 vet’s recommendations to amputate and found a specialist to perform canine acupuncture, electro-stimulation and water therapy. Within 4 months she began to show movement in the limb and today has regained about 95% use of her leg!
We lost our beloved Husky in Jan. 2008 – he lived to 15 and will never leave our hearts. We all grieved for several months and decided it was time to find Mira a new brother. We looked at more than 10 dogs, but Greg insisted we spend some time with Frosty, a Collie/Husky mix. No one had paid much attention to him, thinking him ‘old’ at age 5 or 6. He was the only dog who ‘listened’ when Mira demanded respect. I was uncertain, but my husband insisted, “he’s the one”.
We’ve discovered that someone spent a great deal of time training him. He’s respectful, knows all his commands and even stays at my heel when I take him off leash. We recently had him evaluated as a Therapy Dog, and he passed with flying colors! We are forever grateful to Greg and the staff at the shelter – Mira may never have been adopted, and Greg sensed that Frost was the perfect match. Our ‘kids’ got their second chance, thanks to the devotion and dedication of the Cuyahoga Shelter staff.
Our family includes 3 wonderful shelter dogs. We had adopted Bart, our brown dog, from the Lake County dog shelter in ‘05 to keep our golden mix Zevon company in his old age. Zevon’s death in May ‘06 seriously shook our lives. We knew the time would come to get another dog and on Father’s day a trip with my family to the shelther introduced us to Greta, our black dog. The folks at the Cuyahoga Shelter did not even have time to give her a name. She had just come in that morning and was very quiet and timid. Since she was already spayed we were able to bring her home the next day after my husband and Bart had a chance to meet her. She immediately took charge and seemed to have left her timidness at the shelter. Greta helped to fill the void left by Zevon but in the winter I found myself back at the websites looking at homeless dogs. On St. Patrick’s day ‘07 we decided to take Bart and Greta out to the Cuyahoga Shelter to meet Murphy who was in cage #17. We saw his picture on the website but it didn’t really do him justice. He’s really tall but should have been at least 30 lbs heavier. We got to spend some time with Murhpy in a play room and we let Bart and Greta meet him. Bart seemed a little reluctant but Greg encouraged us to take him home. He was confident that they would get along. He had to be neutered first which resulted in a scary call about a mass in his abdomen. By then we were already committed, we decided to that it was meant to be whether he had health problems or not. We appreciated that the shelter staff and vet were straight with us. Greg was right, once home the dogs worked it out and get along great. A year later Murphy did have to have surgery to have the mass and his spleen removed but he bounced right back and is doing great. We will definitely return for another dog someday, for now three is the limit!
Hi !! I just wanted to say thank you for caring for this beautiful dog. I have had her since Jan/09. I watched your website for 2 months before I came to adopt her. She just kept tugging at my heart. We are both learning about each other. I know now she is NOT to be trusted being left in the kitchen with freshly baked muffins while I run upstairs!!! I do know she is smart and loves to learn new commands. She could sit when I got her, now she can stay, lay, give her paw, fetch and drop her ball. She is learning now how to walk nice on her leash. We are happy to have her be a part of our family and I do think she is happy to be with us. PS – we named her Greta … like Greta Garbo.
I adopted Leo in November of 2008. He is a doberman/spaniel mix and just about the happiest dog that I have ever come across. He is very excited about his new home and loves all the attention that he gets. I leave him with my sister during the day, so he gets to play all day long with her dog. This is the first time I’ve adopted a shelter dog, although I’ve had dogs my whole life. I would recommend adopting to anyone.
After losing my canine best friend, Gibson, of 17 years, I never thought another dog would be as wonderful. I took a year and half off from owning a dog and let myself grieve. Fear controlled my thoughts. I was afraid of getting attached to another furry best friend and then having to say goodbye one day…..again. When I finally allowed myself to start looking, I stumbled upon your website. I had my eye on a couple male dogs that looked frisky in their photos. Gibson was a great male dog and I wanted another male. I wanted a dog that would travel with me, and be a day long companion at work. When I got to the shelter, I marked down the three cages of dogs I wished to visit with in the “get to know” room. All three didn’t feel right. I walked the isles and a little skinny, funny looking 8 month female caught my eye. She was shy and scrawny, but she had something in her eyes and facial expressions that made me pet her. The shelter was almost closed and I had them bring her in the room to visit with me. She captured my heart. I felt a connection with her, but didn’t want to make a rash decision, so I left. Another family was looking at her, and I thought maybe she’d get a good home with them. I called my fiance and told him to look at her on the internet at work. “That scrawny thing! Why would you want her? I thought you wanted a bigger male dog?” he said. I didn’t know how to explain what I felt about her. The next day I went back and she was still there. Again, I visited with her and played outside. She was so unique and had such character, but the big thing I noticed was she had heart, and would come out of her shell one-on-one away from her cage. She really loved to run and jump. She jumped really high like a gazelle or jackrabbit! She was comical and fun, but still a little shy at noises. My fiance came to see her, too. He had a frown on his face as he walked in the room. “Really? This one?” he said. She lightly jumped on his lap and snuggled her head right under his chin and looked up at him with her sweet kind eyes. “Okay, you set me up.” he said. “You two set me up. Executive decision, we’re taking her home today.” I had tears in my eyes at how she adored him. The two were so connected and today have the most loving relationship. It’s like she was waiting for him to find her. Of course, I love her as much, too. She needed to learn obedience and it took months of training to get her over a few quirks and fears, from whatever past life she had. It took patience and time, but she has blossomed into a great companion and friend. She goes everywhere with us. We even took her on our honeymoon when we got married!! She has already traveled to 7 states and stayed in a variety of hotels and bed and breakfasts. We discovered she loves the ocean and hiking. We had her DNA run to find out her breeds. She is part Alaskan Malamute and is learning to skijourn with an x-harness. She loves to pull in the snow and is pretty strong for such a little girl. She’s tough. So, I got my big dog attitude in a smaller frame. My (now) husband can’t wait to come home to her. I spend most of my days with her and we are seldom apart. We call her our little comedian and tomboy. We couldn’t be happier.
I fell in love with a photo of “forrest”, or otherwise known as “spiderman” by the kennel personnel, online at the end of November 2008. Finally, on December 31, 2008, I got to meet our newest family member. At the shelter he was very underweight because he CONSTANTLY was jumping and scaling the walls of his area, hence being called Spiderman. He’s now a very healthy weight. We can no longer see and feel his rib cage. Thank you for bringing us together with our wonderful dog, Berkeley. We love him very much and he loves us!
Click on the dog’s photo for more information.
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How does a dog get heartworms?
Heartworms are spread to dogs by mosquitoes. A mosquito carrying infective heartworm larvae bites your dog and within 6-8 months, if your dog is not on heartworm preventative, he or she is very likely to have adult heartworms.
Adult heartworms reproduce and release their offspring (microfilariae) into the dog’s bloodstream. A mosquito bites a heartworm positive dog and picks up some microfilariae in its blood meal. In the mosquito host, these microfilariae mature into infective larvae which can enter the bloodstream of the next dog bitten by this mosquito and the cycle continues.
The number of worms that develop after infection depends upon the number of larvae that enter the dogs bloodstream with the mosquito bite. Dogs may have one worm or in very severe cases up to 250. If untreated, most dogs will eventually suffer heart failure and death.
Administration of monthly heartworm preventative (obtained through a licensed veterinarian) prevents the maturation of larvae to adult heartworms and is very effective at preventing canine heartworm disease.
The most commonly used test is a blood test that measures the level of a specific antigen or worm protein (from female worms) in the dog’s bloodstream. The test takes about 15 minutes to perform and is very sensitive. Since it takes 6-8 months for adult heartworms to mature after a dog is infected through a mosquito bite, this test is performed on adoptable dogs over 8-9 months old at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter.
How is canine heartworm disease treated?
Heartworm-positive dogs can be successfully treated if they show minimal signs of cardiac damage at the time of diagnosis. Dogs with advanced heartworm disease as evidenced by pronounced coughing and congestive heart failure are not candidates for treatment.
Heartworm treatment is a two-step process: (1) an adulticide is administered to kill the adult heartworms and (2) a microfilaricide is administered to kill the immature heartworms. The adult worms are killed by injection of an arsenical compound directly into the back muscle. The only drug approved by the FDA to kill adult heartworms is Immiticide (Merial). Depending upon the perceived severity of the infection, a dog may receive one Immiticide injection and then after a 30-day waiting period, receive two more Immiticide injections 24 hours apart. Less severe infections may be treated with the two injection protocol. It is crucial that the dog be kept as quiet as possible during the 30-days after the Immiticide injection to minimize the risk of pulmonary embolism from the dislodged and dying worms. A microfilaricide such as Heartguard (ivermectin) or Interceptor (milbemycin) is administered to kill the immature heartworms. It takes about 6 months for the worm proteins to clear the bloodstream so a retest 6 months after the last Immiticide injection should be done to confirm eradication of adult heartworms. Once the heartworms have been eliminated, treated dogs MUST remain on heartworm preventative their entire lives. These dogs go on to live normal, active lives.
Our experience at the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter
The incidence of heartworm positive dogs has increased dramatically in the last several years. In 2007, about one dog per month tested positive for heartworms. This increased to about one dog every week or two in 2008 and already in 2009, there have been two or more dogs testing positive per week. It is imperative that all dogs in the community be on heartworm preventative to help stop the spread of infection.
Treating dogs for heartworm is a very expensive and lengthy process. Given the increase in heartworm positive dogs, this has become a major focus of the shelter’s Best Friends’ Medical Relief Fund. Please look for the dogs on the Adopt Me page with a pink pawprint by their photos. These are dogs who are being treated with the fund–many of them are going through heartworm treatment. You can help by making a donation to the fund or providing a foster home for a dog going through heartworm treatment.
If you’d like to learn more about canine heartworm disease, please visit the website of the American Heartworm Society at www.heartwormsociety.org.
In November of last year I began looking at your website, and in mid December I feel in love with the picture of a very sad looking dog. Something about that picture drew me to the dog each time I visited the website. I spent the next several weeks attempting to convince my boyfriend that the dog was the right dog for us and our new house. In early January, I came to the shelter with my mother to “look” at that dog and several others that I had noticed on the website. As we walked around, the dog I was most drawn to was still the sad looking one in the picture. While my mom tried to convince me to take home a puppy, I just wanted to spend time with the shy dog in cage 17 that would begin to walk up to the front of the cage to see who was there, but got too scared and backed away. He was big. He was sad. And he just needed someone to love him.
My mom and I spent a few minutes “visiting” and “playing” with him in one of the rooms. It was obvious to both of us that the dog didn’t have the greatest life before he arrived at the shelter. He was extremely timid and cowered each time we moved towards him or raised a hand to pet him. He was very skinny for a dog of his size and build. His ear had a split in it about 1½ to 2 inches long. It was obvious to us that he’d been abused. Through all that he was a good dog and I couldn’t figure out why no one else had adopted him, especially after a family stopped by the visiting room and said how great a dog he seemed the many times they’d been in. I told my mom that there was no question in my mind that he was the dog I wanted, and after a few minutes on the phone with my boyfriend he was the dog that was going to come to our home.
I signed all the adoption paperwork that Sunday and was set to pick him up after his surgery on Friday. I was so excited. The very next day I took full advantage of the Petsmart coupon savings. I even got a name plate for his collar, keeping the name the shelter volunteers had given him, Bruno. I was very impatient during the week. I even brought the leash and collar with me to work so I was sure not to forget it at home on Friday. But Friday morning I got what seemed to be devastating news when the shelter vet called to tell me that a heartworm test came back with a high positive result. I didn’t know what to do. My family never had dogs that had major health problems. I tearfully made phone call after phone call looking for advice from my family and our trusted vet. I knew I couldn’t say no to this dog. After all, I’d been looking at him for weeks online. He was the dog. My excitement had turned to nervousness over the cost of the impending healthcare expenses and unsure prognosis for the dog.
I picked Bruno up on Saturday, because he was still a little too groggy from the surgery Friday evening. Bruno had weighed in at 76 pounds. He was afraid of everything. He jumped when we walked out to the car and heard the unlock “beep.” It took about five minutes and some help from some nice ladies who were on their way into the shelter for a visit to get him into the car. Once in the car he curled up on the floor behind the passenger seat and sat there very quietly as we rode to his new home. Upon arrival at the house he found a spot between our sofa and chair that he could hide away. He came out every now and then to check on what I was doing. He and I bonded during the day thanks in part to a few tasty treats. Later in the day when my boyfriend arrived home Bruno came out from his hiding spot and stood right in front of where I sat as if he were protecting his new owner from whatever may be coming into the house. It was clear that he was learning that he was safe. Bruno quickly bonded with both of us as we took turns feeding him, taking him on “walks” while he learned his boundaries in our nearly one acre yard, and playing with him and his toys.
We’ve worked out most of the housetraining, he’s learning commands such as “sit,” and “lay down,” he knows what the word “no,” and “good dog” mean, and is now playing in the big yard without a leash right behind him. He loved playing in all the snow that fell this winter, especially during February’s massive snowstorm when snow drifts were as high as his belly.
Now that the weather has broken Bruno loves to just lounge around in the yard. He can often be found resting in the sun while we are out in the yard working. He loves to run around and play with sticks and chase his ball across the yard.
Bruno’s health is doing well too after some minor road bumps. Shortly after bringing him home, we learned Bruno also had tapeworms. A quick trip to the vet cured that problem. We also learned that the small hairless area that was on his head was infected with skin mites. We treated the mites for several weeks and soon the hair began to grow back to the area. As for the heartworm, Bruno underwent treatment about two weeks after bringing him home. He spent two days away from us, and several visits back to the vet, but it was well worth it when we received the results of the final re-check on May 15: HEARTWORM FREE!! He also put on plenty of weight and is tipping the scales just over a healthy 100 lbs.
Bruno is still a bit shy and scared, but slowly beginning to adjust to people. Recently he’s been visiting the neighbors (and their dogs) and has made his first trip to the park. Bruno is a very happy and very loved dog. We want to thank all of you at the shelter for keeping him safe at your facility for as long as you did. I’m so glad that I came to visit when I did, because I know he didn’t have much time left there. Bruno is truly one of our best friends and a member of our family.
Thank you!
Nikki, Antonio & Bruno
P.S. We’ll be sure to bring Bruno for a visit soon.
Hello… I wanted to send you a note and let you know how well Cady and Zack are getting along. I have attached a picture of them romping in the snow – they just love it! My girlfriend calls them the “Ginger Twins”. Cady and Zack act like they are long lost siblings – they love being together! Where Cady is a reserved and shy girl, Zack is a big goofy doofus! He’s learning his manners and is doing well with dog obedience classes. Cady and Zack went to the vet together, and the doctor pronounced them happy and healthy! I feel like the luckiest person in the world! Thank you to everyone at the shelter who helped me with this decision!
The Great Escape Artist
Story originally posted July 2008
The first time I saw Cady, she was sitting at the door to the kennel. She was dirty, matted and had an undercoat that needed to be combed out. She was a sad looking mess! After multiple visits and spending time with Cady just grooming her and getting to know her, I decided to adopt her! I had her about 30 minutes and she slipped her leash and took off running north. She ran north, south, east and west for the next 3 weeks. The Brecksville and Richfield Police were on the lookout. Animal Wardens from both counties were looking. The Brecksville Animal Warden borrowed a large Havahart trap from Independence. She was spotted at Lubrizol, so for the first 2 weeks, the trap was in the woods on the Lubrizol property. I traveled from Fairlawn to Brecksville 2-3 times a day to open the trap, check it and close the trap at night so I didn’t accidentally trap a racoon or a skunk! The trap was baited with steak, pork chops, spare ribs, sausage, Alpo, dog gravy, biscuits and treats. Nothing. However the trap was stripped of food overnight with the cage closed! Racoons, nature’s little maid service, I supposed. I passed out flyers with all the information and her picture on it to the businesses along Brecksville Road. The 3rd week she was spotted twice, and the Havahart trap was moved about a mile south. Same routine, only this time she was spotted near a fast food restaurant so I baited the trap with cheeseburgers. Still nothing.
On the 20th day, I decided that she was never coming home. I called the Brecksville Animal Warden and told her I was closing the trap and giving up. I figured if she got into an enclosure that someone would call the police, but I felt she was trap savvy and didn’t want to be caught. I went to the trap one last time and closed the trap for the night. I went home. At 7:15 the next morning, a man called and said “Your dog is in the trap”. I said… “What?” He repeated, “Your dog is in the trap”. I said, “IN the trap?” and he said “Yep”. I couldn’t imagine how that happened. If you have seen a Havahart trap, you know they are not “accidentally” opened. Accidentally closed, yes, but it almost takes 2 people to open and set it! So I said, “I’ll be there in 30 minutes”. When I arrived, there she was… just sitting in the cage. Not panicked, no growling, no barking. Just sitting there. It was a miracle. To this day, I have not been able to find out how the trap was opened on that night. Maybe it was St. Francis of Assisi? Since Cady has come home, she and the cats get along really well… she has gone to the office with me… and she goes in the car with me every time I go anywhere! She’s quiet, calm and happy. She’s been declared “no worse for the wear” by the vet, and she was fabulous for the groomer. She wears her St. Francis medal everyday! She follows me from room to room, and we’re still working on her trust; she must have had a tough start to her life. But she rounds out our family, and I already can’t imagine life without her. She’s just beautiful. – Jeni
