Mistreated shih tzu gets new home, name

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The little black shih tzu who had a box glued on his head last week has been adopted.

“He’s working out fine,” said Marcia Chambers of Lowellville.

The shih tzu, now called Zen, had most of his hair cut off because of the glue, Chambers said. She picked him up Wednesday at the dog pound.

Dave Nelson, assistant Mahoning County dog warden, said more than 40 people showed an interest in adopting the dog after seeing news reports of what happened to him. The dog, with the box on his head, had been thrown into an enclosure with pit bulls in the 400 block of Clearmont Avenue on Dec. 30. Nelson rescued the animal after neighbors called the pound.

Chambers said Zen will have his teeth checked by a vet, a good way to determine his age, and he’ll be neutered.

She intends to get Zen a sweater for his excursions outside. He needs the added warmth until his hair grows back.

Why name him Zen? Chambers said her husband came up with it, and she liked it. They wanted a short name for the small dog.