Under new owners’ care, Gidget rebounds

Gidget lives with a
township couple and their two rescued greyhounds.

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

LIBERTY — Gidget, a roughly year-old dachshund mix, is battered, but she’s not broken.

Richard and Judith Rossell adopted the injured dog about two weeks ago from Trumbull County Animal Welfare League’s shelter.

Richard Rossell picks Gidget up in the back yard of the couple’s home, holds her close and gives her a peck on the head.

Gidget gazes up at her new owner, licks his cheek and tucks her head under his chin.

The small black, brown and white dog came into the shelter Aug. 6 with injured paws and legs.

Debbie Agostinelli, shelter director, said it appeared the dog had been dragged possibly while tied to a bicycle. Her front paws were mangled and she suffered nerve damage in her front legs.

“The bottoms of her paws were like hamburger,” Agostinelli said. “There were no pads left.”

The shelter named the dog and took her to Town and Country Veterinary Hospital, Howland, for care.

She was bandaged, and the shelter hoped for the best. Shelter workers even took the dog to the home of one of the volunteers for hydrotherapy in a hot tub.

Gidget improved, but it’s unclear if Gidget will ever regain full use of her front legs. Despite her trauma, Gidget’s spirits stayed high, her love of people undiminished.

“She’s such a friendly, sweet dog,” Agostinelli said.

Still, special needs pets are more difficult to adopt out, the shelter director said, so the dog’s prospects for a new home appeared bleak.

That is until the Rossells came along.

The owners of two rescued greyhounds, Mike Ditka and Carmella Soprano — the Rossells just call them Mike and Carmella — decided to add another four-legged member to their family.

“I’ve always wanted a dachshund,” Judith Rossell said.

Research first

Her neighbor has a relative who volunteers at the shelter and told her about Gidget.

“I said I’ll take her,” Judith said.

But she had to check with her husband first.

“I told her to do her homework first,” Richard said. “I wasn’t going to bring a dog home and then take her back. I wouldn’t do that.”

Judith mined the Internet, learning about equipment to assist handicapped pets. Companies manufacture several leg braces for dogs so Judith believes Gidget’s physical limitations are manageable.

The next step was to meet Gidget. It was love at first sight.

“She’s such a sweet dog,” Judith said.

The couple brought their other two dogs to meet Gidget to ensure they all got along. When the chemistry jelled, they brought Gidget home.

The Rossells’ vet, Dr. Rufus Sparks, fit Gidget with splints to try to straighten her legs and paws. Her improvement continues.

Aside from an occasional stumble, the little dog gets around pretty well.

She greets visitors at the door, wagging her tail and jumping up for attention, then flopping onto her back for a belly rub.

The energetic pup runs and plays with the two greyhounds and enjoys chewing on her Nylabones and plush squeaky toys.

The Rossells say she fits in well with the rest of the family.

“She’s almost housebroken,” Judith said.

The dogs have their own room at the Rossell house, and Gidget’s kennel sits between those of Carmella and Mike.

When Richard walks the two greyhounds — part of their daily routine — someone carries Gidget so that she gets to go, too.