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Community, For the Dogs come to the rescue
The Vindicator
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Shannon Troy embraces "Duke" her family's rescued 3-month-old puppy. Shannon and her brother Jordan and mom Shari have fostered many canines over the years and will now make "Duke" an addition to the family. The Troy's were at the Mahoning County Dog Pound on Saturday where they were volunteering to walk many of the dogs that were currently at the pound.
Special to the Vindicator
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Jordan Troy and his sister Shannon show their affection for their rescued 3-month-old puppy "Duke". With help from their mom and the rescue group 'For the Dogs', Duke was able to receive the care he needed. The Troy's have now welcomed Duke into their family. The Troy's were at the Mahoning County Dog Pound on Saturday where they were volunteering to walk many of the dogs that were currently at the pound.
By Elise Franco
YOUNGSTOWN
Duke was near death when he was rescued from the Mahoning County Dog Pound nearly two weeks ago.
Donations totaling $3,000 poured in for four days afterward, allowing For the Dogs rescue group to get the 3-month-old Labrador the care he needed to survive, said Blase Brush, co-founder of the rescue group.
The group, formed about five years ago by several Canine Crusaders volunteers, walks dogs housed at the pound and focuses mainly on pulling dogs from the pound and placing them in foster homes until they find someone to adopt them.
Brush said that when Duke was rescued from the pound, he was checked by a local vet and diagnosed with pneumonia and parvo, which affects the gastrointestinal system; both can be fatal, especially to puppies if left untreated.
“He was in bad shape,” Brush said. “One more day without intervention, and he would have died.”
He said after Duke’s diagnosis, two other For the Dogs members, Shari Troy and Erica Kotheimer, took the dog to Akron Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital.
SDLqWith puppies that have parvo, it’s usually a 50/50 chance,” Brush said. “I expected Duke to recover, though, because he’s a strong-willed dog, and Metro has specialists there that deal only with that sickness.”
Duke was released from the hospital Thursday and is recovering at home with Troy, who said she plans to adopt him once he’s vaccinated and neutered.
“He is with me now, and he’s doing much better. He’s getting stronger,” she said. “He is a very strong dog. Most puppies wouldn’t have made it through what he went through. He’s a fighter, that’s for sure.”
Both Troy and Brush said For the Dogs wouldn’t have been able to afford Duke’s medical bills if it hadn’t been for generous donations from community members.
“He wouldn’t be alive,” Troy said. “Everybody from everywhere were kind and gener- ous to donate the money.”
Brush said he expected to raise the full $3,000 but was shocked at exceeding the amount in just four days.
“It was outstanding effort. I was very surprised by everyone’s generosity,” he said. “We treat all the dogs we rescue, but we only have so much money.”