43
Friends of Fido pays to treat pound dogs
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Caesar’s tail wags his whole body whenever anyone approaches him at the Mahoning County Dog Pound.
Despite his happy, friendly demeanor, the roughly 3-year-old pit bull suffers from a potentially deadly but entirely preventable condition. He’s heartworm-positive.
Friends of Fido, a nonprofit organization that walks and provides medical care to pound pups, will pay for Caesar’s treatment if he’s adopted.
“We feel like that’s a big burden for someone who just adopts a dog,” said Trish Collins, the organization’s president.
Caesar has been at the pound for a couple of months, one of several brindle pit bulls passed over by potential adopters.
The group conducts fundraisers to pay for heartworm and other treatments for the dogs. Members also buy toys, treats and beds for the homeless pets.
Rick Tunison, a veterinary technician and kennel manager, estimated that as many as five pound dogs are heartworm-positive.
Left untreated, it can kill a dog, but treatment is expensive.
It can cost more than $1,000 to treat a dog, but prevention methods such as Heartgard, a monthly tablet, or Revolution, which is administered topically, cost about $20 to $45 per six-month supply, Tunison estimates.
“If you can’t afford that, I don’t think you can afford a dog,” Collins said.
A dog gets heartworm when bitten by an infected mosquito. It’s diagnosed by a blood test, but early symptoms include a dry cough, fatigue and excessive panting.
Treatment involves a series of painful injections to kill the worms which invade the dog’s heart and lungs.
Friends of Fido also is covering the hip surgery and heartworm treatment for Leroy, another friendly pound pit bull that’s been at the pound for about three months. Leroy has been adopted and his new family is taking him home this week.
Covering such treatment gets expensive.
“That’s why we have all of these fundraisers,” Collins said.
The organization regularly sells candy bars, and a basket raffle with Paw Platoon Dog Rescue is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. March 26 at Davidson’s Restaurant and Tavern in Austintown. Merchandise, food and drinks are available.
Another fundraiser, Canines Comedy and Cocktails, is set for 6 to 11 p.m. April 23 at Dutch Village Inn in Columbiana. Tickets are $40 per person and $75 per couple and includes comedians, a disc jockey, basket raffle, buffet dinner, swag bags and a cash bar.
The April 23 fundraiser is a joint event with All Paws are Perfect Rescue of Columbiana County.
“We like to partner with rescues for fundraisers,” Collins said.
Rescues pull dogs from the pound, giving them sanctuary in foster homes or shelters until they can be adopted. That frees space in the pound for more dogs.
“We’re coming into the busy season,” Tunison said.
People interested in Friends of Fido events and activities may sign up for the organization’s newsletter by emailing fofShirley@aol.com.
Donations may be mailed to Friends of Fido, P.O. Box 14155, Poland, OH 44514. They can be sent via PayPal to friendsoffidomcdp@gmail.com.