Kind Teens Rescue Puppies in Desperate Need of Help
Deep in the Alabama woods, teenagers on 4-wheelers unexpectedly came upon a group of seven puppies carelessly left to fend for themselves.
With no momma dog in sight, the teens knew the tiny pups needed immediate assistance. Thanks to a kind rescuer in Georgia, the sweet young dogs were placed in an experienced foster home. While one of the puppies sadly passed away, the foster shares that the entire litter likely would’ve perished within two days if the conscientious young adults hadn’t found them.
At the young age of just four weeks, the six surviving puppies looked beyond hope. All were malnourished and suffering from mange, a condition caused by illness and/or poor diet and common in dogs with weakened or immature immune systems. The puppies had the classic signs – skin covered in thick, hard, crusty patches, often described as appearing to have turned to stone. The two most common types of mange are treated with oral and topical medications prescribed by a veterinarian. Depending on the severity, mange can take several weeks to several months to resolve, during which time the skin heals and the fur grows back.
A New Lease On Life
This past January, Baypath’s Shelter Manager Nikki Baltas received a plea from SOS Rescue in Macon, GA to help these six resilient (and adorable!) puppies. Brande, Zena, Roper, Ace, Jax Sparrow and Filo made the long journey north to begin the new year with a fresh start.
During their initial veterinary examination, it was discovered that some of the puppies’ eyes were affected by either early trauma or anterior segment dysgenesis. Anterior segment dysgenesis is a rare congenital disorder that increases the chance of developing glaucoma. After further consultation with a Tufts Ophthalmologist, Roper, Jax Sparrow and Filo were scheduled for enucleation (eye removal) surgery One-Year ‘Pup-date’
As each of these precious pups recently celebrated their first birthdays Baypath reached out to check in with each of their adoptive families. Find out below how fantastic Brande, Zena, Roper, Ace, Jax Sparrow and Filo are doing today!
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Brande
According to the Wadley family, “the vision loss in one of Brande’s eyes doesn’t affect her very much, and most people don’t even realize she doesn’t have full vision.” Gushing about their new addition (now called Lady), the Wadley’s share, “We couldn’t have found a sweeter, smarter, funnier pup for our family and our grandchildren (who adopted littermate Zena)! She rolls on her back for belly rubs and loves to play fetch…and then keep away.”
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Zena
Zena was adopted by the Hurst Family and renamed Zero after the pup in Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, her son’s favorite movie.
The Hurst family – relatives of Brande’s adopters – explains the two siblings see each other often and have regular playdates. They share, “Zero fits perfectly into our family and treats our two young boys as her kids.” Her favorite thing in the world is doggy daycare, and when she isn’t there, she can be found doing her second favorite thing – giving love and cuddles to her forever family.
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Roper
The Casady Family describes Roper as a “sweet, silly, mischievous guy who loves playing with our three children, going for car rides with his nose out the window and cuddling up in bed with us after a fun day.” As one of the puppies requiring enucleation surgery, his family renamed him ‘Fury’ after Nick Fury, the Marvel Comics character played by actor Samuel Jackson who dons an eye patch. The Casady’s say that although “he has one eye, it hasn’t stopped him from running around the backyard chasing squirrels and playing with his neighborhood puppy friends.”
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Ace
The Cashmon family felt the name ‘Jax’ was a better fit after adopting handsome Ace. They share, “he is such a love bug, the biggest marshmallow, and even at 85 pounds, thinks he is a lap dog!” When Jax isn’t palling around with his new best friend, his three-year-old human sister, he can be found chasing squirrels or birds that come into the yard or curled up on the couch with his family.
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Jax Sparrow
The name ‘Jax Sparrow’ may have you envisioning the roguish pirate of a similar name (Jack Sparrow), but this pup does not share any of the Pirates of the Caribbean character’s unscrupulous qualities. He has a contagious smile, a sweet disposition, loves people, and enjoys attending daycare where he can play with his dog friends.
His adopter, Mycala, says Jax “loves to watch Bluey!” According to Kidspot, this animated children’s show is very popular among dogs, as it uses canine-friendly colors. Once thought that dogs only see in black and white, it is now believed that dogs can see a limited spectrum of blue and yellow wavelengths, therefore making the show’s colors of particular interest to media-loving pups!
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Filo
When the Labbe family brought Filo home, they hoped she would bond with their two current pups. It turns out there was no need to worry! Filo, renamed Whiskey, loves sharing her new digs with her beloved dog siblings, with whom she enjoys daily play and hikes.
Often, the Labbe’s bring all three dogs to a field where they can run and play with other dogs. The field has become a place where ‘everybody knows Whiskey’s name,’ so the family often compares her to Norm on the TV show Cheers! Fondly referred to as ‘One-eyed Whiskey,’ this special girl enjoys car rides and snuggling in bed with her adoring family.
Behind Every #BaypathHappyTail: A Team of Compassionate Hearts
This heartwarming story came to life thanks to the compassion shown by various humane heroes, including the caring teenagers who recognized these precious pups needed help and the doting foster who welcomed them into her care. At Baypath, we are beyond grateful to our humane heroes and supporters of our Lilly & Orchid Extraordinary Medical Fund, whose generosity and kindness truly make happy endings like these possible!