By Jane Weatherford and Jane Rose
Twenty-five percent of all dogs entering shelters nationwide are purebreds. That statistic seems to hold true at Brown County Humane Society animal shelter, too. As you walk through the kennels at our shelter you will almost always find a purebred Walker Coonhound, Beagle, Rottweiler, Labrador retriever, Bluetick Coonhound, German shepherd or Australian Cattle Dog.
It’s really pretty amazing that these dogs were purposely bred, probably paid for with a substantial amount of money and then end up as throwaways in the shelter. Many are young dogs
with lots of life yet to live.
Why do people who have paid good money for a purebred dog later give it up?
The reasons are many – moving and can’t take the dog, family member is allergic to dogs, the dog tears up the yard, the dog won’t stay home, etc., etc. We hear it all.
The good news about homeless purebred dogs is that we can often work with other not-for-profit organizations that specialize in rescuing and finding homes for specific breeds of dogs. Over the last 10 years many breed rescue groups have been organized. The mission of these groups is to focus their rescue efforts on a specific dog breed and to find loving homes for them.
The Brown County Humane Society works with many of these breed rescue groups to ensure that purebred dogs that come to our shelter have the best chance of finding a happy home. These organizations have been a tremendous help to the shelter as we can rapidly move the purebreds out and concentrate our efforts on other at risk dogs.
Breed rescue groups typically place dogs in foster homes where the foster family can spend lots of time getting to know a dog. These groups also spend a good amount of energy working with adopters to ensure a successful match.
One breed rescue group that we have been fortunate to work with is Indy Great Pyrenees
Rescue. They rescued Brown County dog Sparky, a beautiful purebred Great Pyrenees, who has a severely injured back leg from our shelter.
This wonderful group of dedicated volunteers is committed to giving Sparky the best life possible. They have taken him to an orthopedic specialist who can fix Sparky’s leg, but they need help raising money for his surgery. Below is a request from Jane Rose, a volunteer with Indy Great Pyrenees rescue, asking for Brown County’s help with Sparky.
-By Jane Weatherford
Sparky
Many of you may have seen the big, friendly, white dog, with his injured back leg stretched out behind him around Bean Blossom. He frequently hung out around the grocery store. He ended up at the Brown County Humane Society in April, and was taken into rescue by Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue in May.
His name is Sparky and he is a 3- to 4-year-old purebred male Great Pyrenees. The shelter was able to determine from those who were familiar with Sparky that his leg was run over by a motorcycle when he was a pup and not properly set.
Upon arrival at the shelter his matted coat was shaved. He was bathed, vaccinated, neutered and treated for a raging urinary tract infection. Sparky is a really great dog, and Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue would like to be able to give him a better quality of life allowing him to run and play like other dogs.
We have had x-rays done, and have taken him to an orthopedic specialist, who can correct the damaged leg with a surgery that will allow his leg to turn down properly and become weight bearing again. The cost of the surgery and physical therapy that will follow is $1,800.
If you’d like to help make Sparky’s surgery possible, you can make a donation by credit card to Northwood Veterinary Clinic in Anderson. Their toll-free phone number is 1-800-341-6111. Please reference Client ID# 27579. Let them know your donation is for Sparky, under Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue/Jane Rose.
Or, you can send a check to Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue, 1102 W. 78th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization therefore your donation is tax deductible.
For additional information call 317-251-3179, or go to Indy Great Pyrenees Rescue’s Web site: www.igpr.org. Any amount of donation is appreciated, to help give this wonderful boy the life he deserves!
– By Jane Rose