Welcome to the Scarlett Room

NEW TO PROGRAM! Rex is a great example of strength from within. Rescued at only 7 months old in late 2011 by North Shore Animal League America from Tennessee, Rex is safe and in good hands. No longer a burden to anyone, this gentle, black Mutt-i-gree® (mixed-breed dog) and full of life angel will have a home in the Animal League for as long as he needs to.

Upon careful evaluation from the Animal League’s veterinary staff, it has been determined that Rex has a life-long medical condition. Most importantly, there is no treatment for this condition.

Sweet Rex arrived with an infection with Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). This virus initially causes gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea), respiratory infection and neurological signs (twitching and seizures). Rex has a residual neurologic effect called Myoclonus. Myoclonus is an involuntary twitching of the muscles. This twitching is most pronounced in Rex’s hind legs.

Sadly, he is very weak in the hind end which affects his walking. Rex needs to be carried outside to use the bathroom. His legs need to be monitored so that he doesn’t develop sores. The possibility is present that Rex’s involuntary twitching may lead to seizure activity which may develop at any age.

Exercise is an important part of Rex’s life. In order to strengthen Rex’s muscles, Passive Range of Motion is followed. In these exercises, you move Rex’s legs through their normal range of motion (extending and flexing the joints) to encourage the muscle to build. Rex is allowed to move as he can tolerate. The Animal League fashioned a custom made wheel cart for Rex’s hind legs which he is learning to perfect.

What turns all this sadness around is Rex’s attitude. He is a happy spirit, young and aware, and ready for petting and pleasing. He shows a strong desire to be like any other healthy dog and looks to anyone who will give him a chance to prove it.

Because Rex’s condition requires a commitment to his lifetime care, most small shelters would not be able to accommodate his needs. Instead, it is likely that in a small shelter Rex would be put down. The Animal League is dedicated to helping him have the best quality of life possible. Therefore, Rex was a natural choice for enrollment in the Animal League’s life-saving Sponsor Program which caters to dogs, cats, puppies and kittens with special needs. Through a small, but dependable contribution each month, you can support Rex and all the animals in our care.

The Animal League’s programs, like the Sponsor Program, help to ensure that the thousands of dogs and cats that come through our doors each year receive the something they need. We can learn from Rex and you can make a difference in his life. Your strength from within can come from your support of the animals that need you most. Please join us in continuing our mission, founded in 1944, of Rescue, Nurture, Adopt.

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Update on Toby: Toby gets three meals a day in his feeding chair and has a voracious appetite. Unfortunately, he’s also figured out how to sneak out of the feeding chair when his mother is not looking. Suddenly, she’ll find him in the kitchen instead of in the chair where he’s supposed to be. He also makes her chase him to put him in the chair or to put on his sweater when they’re going out. Toby is no longer the aloof loner he was when he first came to his new home. He expects a lot of petting. He scratches at his mother until she does his bidding. If she doesn’t invite him under the covers at bedtime, he scratches at her blanket until she puts it over him. If he finds a pile of laundry, he’s happy to catch a few winks on top of it.

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A Few Words from Carolyn, Toby’s Mother and Guardian Angel….

If you are looking to adopt a dog but are afraid a special needs dog will be too much work, please think again. I fell in love with a picture on the North Shore Animal League America website and only after inquiring about her did I find out that she was special needs. I was too much in love with her face to give up so I asked to find out more about her.

First the scary part:

Her name was Nelle then (Zoe now) and she has megaesophagus. That means her esophagus muscles don’t do their job of pushing food into the stomach. In a “mega,” the food just sits in the esophagus until the dog regurgitates it or, worst case scenario, inhales it into the lungs. This can lead to what is called aspiration pneumonia so it needs to be avoided at all costs. Megaesophagus can also make it hard for a dog to get enough nourishment and maintain a healthy weight. Zoe weighed 14 pounds when she first came to the Animal League and 27 pounds when I met her.

Now the not-scary stuff:

She sits in a special chair to eat (canned dog food with water added), which holds her upright on her hind legs and allows gravity to move the food and water into her stomach. She stays in the chair for about 15 to 20 minutes after she finishes eating. And that’s it! Otherwise she is completely normal.

She jumps up on her chair to let me know she’s hungry or thirsty and now that she’s an old hand at it, just naps while she waits for the time to pass. She doesn’t need supervision so I use that time to get my own stuff done. Zoe currently weighs 38 pounds (down from a too-chubby 41) and wants nothing more than constant love and a good bully stick.

Zoe can’t have treats so food can’t be used for training and when she’s out for a walk, you have to be careful she doesn’t eat anything off the ground. But if she sneaks something, I just put her back in her chair when we get back home. I let her drink water at the dog park on a hot day and just take her home to her chair shortly after. I can’t leave food and water out for her but I make sure she’s well-hydrated before I leave and I keep an air conditioner on in the summer.

Dealing with a “mega” takes a little more vigilance but other than that it’s not a big deal. In fact, I recently adopted my second “mega” from North Shore Animal League America. Toby, a Chihuahua Mutt-i-gree™ (mixed-breed dog), had been there for several years off and on and been through a few major health crises, including pneumonia, hepatitis and tooth decay. Every time I brought Zoe for a checkup I would ask about Toby, hoping that he had been adopted. Finally, after two years I decided I had to give him a real home (even though he was showered with love at North Shore Animal League America).

Zoe and Toby met and a month or so later two staff members drove him to my house, with his toys, his bedding, his medicine and plenty of his special food. Toby is still on medicine to help move the food down and he has skin allergies (therefore the special food), but otherwise he is an energetic, feisty, typical Chihuahua. He has an identical chair to Zoe’s except smaller and he gets his pills with his food but otherwise the routine is the same.

Keeping a “mega” healthy is the key, but once you get the hang of it, it’ll seem as normal as playing fetch.

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Once abandoned, now safe.

Alfredo, rescued by North Shore Animal League America from a local kill shelter, is now out of harm’s way. No longer a stray, this beautiful Pekingese and full of life angel will have a home in the Animal League for as long as he needs to.

Upon careful evaluation from the Animal League’s dedicated veterinary staff, it has been determined that Alfredo has a complex, life-long medical condition.

Little Alfredo arrived with an upper respiratory infection. Chronic conditions include luxating patellas (dislocated knees), hip dysplasia, corneal ulcers and most importantly a history of seizures that we do not know the cause of. He is being treated as an epileptic with Phenobarbital medication and his seizures are well controlled. Thankfully, both his luxating patellas and his hip dysplasia do not require surgery at this time. At an estimated 7 years of age upon arrival, orthopedic problems are of concern, and could result in pain or lameness. He will be monitored closely throughout his time in our care.

Because Alfredo’s ailments are extensive and ongoing, most small municipal shelters would not be able to accommodate his needs. His care would be too costly and comprehensive. Instead, it is likely that Alfredo would be put down. The Animal League is dedicated to helping him have the best quality of life possible. Therefore, Alfredo was a natural choice for enrollment in the Animal League’s life-saving Sponsor Program which caters to dogs, cats, puppies and kittens with special needs.

Your support of the Animal League’s Sponsor Program is helping to ensure that Alfredo and many other animals in our care receive the love they need to be as happy and healthy as possible. At the Animal League, they are safe, and loving care is guaranteed. Please help us continue to provide so many animals in need with this unprecedented care.

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July 2011 Update:
We are happy to report Ranger is doing well and is living in a very loving home. His new family couldn’t say enough wonderful things about him, “our gentle giant, Ranger, is a perfect fit for our family”. James, his adopted father said, you would never believe he is sick with melanoma. Ranger will need to be monitored closely for the rest of his life. He has an appointment for a chest X-ray in that will be read by his Oncologist. Then he will need to have regular visits every six months. Ranger is a 2-year old Black Labrador Retriever Mutt-i-gree®, very strong, loyal and cares a great deal about his new family. James said Ranger is an incredibly loving dog. His gentle nature and sweet disposition make him very charming. Ranger spends most of his time playing with the family’s young daughter. He takes extra care not to be rough with her when they play. He is also very energetic when at the dog park, but at home he is very calm and quiet.

August 2011 Update:
We are happy to report that Ranger is doing well in his new home. Ranger has become very attached to the young daughter and she is just as much attached to Ranger. They both come running when called for dinner. He sleeps in the daughter’s room and each night they go off to sleep at the same time. The family loves to run and be playful with Ranger each day. They live near an open field where many other families go with their dogs to socialize and play. He is very trustworthy and listens well to all the commands they taught him. He knows never to stray too far and is very good with other dogs and children. They learned that Ranger is terrified of fireworks and wouldn’t join the family barbeque in the yard because of all the noise. His health is good and appetite better. They have mentioned again how happy they are to have been blessed with such a loving wonderful family dog.

September 2011 Update:
Bonnie, Ranger’s adopted mother, reports that Ranger has been very busy. They have been trying to get him outside as much as possible, however, with the heat wave, it has made it difficult during the daytime hours. Ranger is walked very early in the morning and after the sun goes down at night. The family recently dog sat for a friend whose dog happened to be a black labrador – whippet Mutt-i-gree® . They were so happy that the dogs got along well that they decided to make regular “doggie play dates’. Ranger continues to run into his regular dog buddies down at the dog park and he continues to show how social he can be with other dogs as well as humans. Ranger has been eating well and maintaining a healthy weight. He continues to enjoy his daily runs in the field near their home. Ranger’s latest trick is dancing with their young daughter. When she puts on the music, Ranger stands on his hind legs and the two of them dance together. They will be taking Ranger on vacation with them soon.

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Christina, Charley’s adopted mother, is happy to report that Charley’s acupuncture treatments seem to be helping him; she sees an improvement in his personality. He goes once a week for a half hour treatment, then its home for his physical therapy. Let’s hope all this hard work with Charley will make him pain free and able to move around easier. The veterinarian that is treating him found a sore on the inside of his leg. Christina puts a special salve on his wound daily then he has to wear a cone when she leaves for work so he won’t lick it off. Good news, Charley just turned 7 and Christina threw him a birthday party! Five of his best doggy friends were all present. She had a special doggy cake made for him. Christina said “I love him so much”. With all the time she needs to care for him, we know she loves him very much. Thank you for your support of Charley. Thank you Christina for your love of Charley.

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Marty’s foster mother reports that he is “doing just wonderfully”! Marty and his foster mother have been enjoying the warm and sunny weather. They like to sit outside in the backyard to relax. Marty loves to lie down in the sun. They have also enjoyed a few trips to the park this summer. People often stop by to comment on what a beautiful dog Marty is. When they do, his foster mother smiles and says thank you while in her head agreeing that Marty is so handsome. She thinks that Marty is a pleasure to foster and hopes that he will find a loving and permanent home soon.

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Toby is settling in to his new home nicely. He and the other megaesophagus dog, Zoe, are getting used to each other and have agreed to swap beds and toys whenever it suits them. Mostly Zoe steals from Toby (he has the best toys) but Toby steals Zoe’s precious bully sticks when she’s not looking, so they’re even. They’re not “best buds” yet, but we hope that will come. Toby is still on medication, but has not vomited as he was when he was still dealing with the stress of his move. Toby loves to go on walks. He struts around the neighborhood like he’s the king. 40 pound Zoe is afraid of toddlers, trucks and skateboarders but 9 pound Toby fears nothing. He gives all dogs fair warning that he will take no nonsense from any of them.

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NEW TO PROGRAM! Xena is a lovely and affectionate hound mix. The Animal League rescued Xena and placed her in the life-saving Sponsor Program so that she can get the extensive care she needs to be well.

Xena has a very complex and life-threatening congenital condition. In Xena’s body, an abnormal vessel is allowing blood to bypass her liver. The liver has several functions, one of which is detoxification. When the liver is bypassed, toxins build up in the body. This malformation is called a portosystemic shunt (PSS) or a liver shunt. Among many severe symptoms, this liver shunt can also cause weight loss and seizures, both of which Xena is experiencing.

To help Xena, The Animal League has already provided her with two corrective surgeries. It is very likely, however, that Xena will need a third. Xena is still in the early recovery stages from her second operation and is being monitored very closely. She will need three to four months of attentive aftercare during this difficult healing process and will soon be reevaluated for an additional surgical procedure. In addition to these surgeries, Xena will also need lifetime medications to manage this challenging condition.

Because Xena’s ailment is extensive and ongoing, most small municipal shelters would not be able to accommodate her needs. Her care would be too costly and comprehensive. Instead, it is very likely that Xena would be put down. But the Animal League is dedicated to helping her have the best life possible, and “quit” is never an option.

Your support of the Animal League’s Sponsor Program is helping to ensure that Xena and many other animals get the love and care they need to be as happy and healthy as possible. At the Animal League, they are safe, and loving care is guaranteed. Please help us continue to provide so many animals in need with this unprecedented care.

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Good news – Toby has been adopted! His new home is with a former adopter who adopted another dog with megaesopagus from us a few years ago. Toby was driven to his new home, along with all his baggage which included his highchair, bed, toys and extensive wardrobe, by two of our trainers. Toby’s new sister, Zoey, was a little territorial at first; and Toby did not like Zoey checking out his bed, but they soon settled in together. Our Training Department will always be available for any help or advice that is needed. There were tearful goodbyes as Toby left, but everyone at NSALA wishes him the best.

Before he was adopted. our little man had quite a bit of dental work done. Unfortunately, his soft diet contributed to his dental problems and he had to have several teeth pulled. After a day or two of discomfort, Toby was his old self again. Even though he is adopted, Toby will always be in the Sponsor Program. His megaespogagus is a lifelong condition, and all his medical needs will be covered by NSALA.

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