CJ was on the urgent list at Union County three times. Enough other dogs got out that he got a reprieve each time, but the deck was stacked against him and the clock was ticking.
With no prospects and a constant stream of dogs coming in, CJ was scheduled for euthanasia for tomorrow morning. The shelter can’t hold him indefinitely, and dogs are coming in as fast as we can get them out. We understood that answer, but we hated it.
We tried to network CJ with other rescues and shelters with no luck. It’s so hard getting dogs adopted these days, and every rescue and shelter is overwhelmed. It’s a very tough time in rescue, and it’s hard to even get people to take puppies, much less heartworm positive pit bulls.
To make matters worse, CJ also has an unknown medical problem. Something is wrong with his back legs, so he walks gingerly. The shelter took him to the vet for x-rays and we sent them to orthopedic surgeons, but they couldn’t really figure out what was going on without actually examining him. Add a possible orthopedic surgery, and he had no interest.
Despite it all, CJ has been very sweet every time we’ve gone to the shelter, patiently, waiting his turn to get let out for a few minutes in the play yard. He's done well with female dogs, but he's not a big fan of male dogs... maybe because he's not neutered, or because they're not. He's been fantastic with every human he meets.
CJ is the kind of dog that keeps us up at night. It’s tough to find someone willing to foster him, and he’s a very tough adoption. At FUR, we try to help the animals anywho need the most help. CJ certainly falls into this category.
We also knew we couldn’t give up on him. It’s not his fault that everything is stacked against him. It’s not his fault he's heartworm positive. It's not his fault he has some kind of injury. It's not his fault he lived outside and never got socialized. He didn’t ask for this.
After many desperate pleas by Nancye Frank and Susan Merrill, with help from supporters at FOUCA, we got a foster offer from Kerri and Ken Gustavson. They have another female dog from Putnam they adopted from another rescue in Nov 2015, the month we started FUR. They were willing to foster to save him, so Valerie did a home visit and we scrambled to put together a plan.
Today, after weeks on the Urgent List and hours remaining before his deadline, we busted CJ out of jail. Gavin Dunn made the trip out to Lake Butler to give him his freedom ride, and Valerie and Erin helped with the introduction.
They're keeping CJ separated with a gate and a crate initially, but CJ and Annie are already doing well together. This is probably the first time he's been inside a house, so he has a lot to catch up on. He's already scheduled to go to Palm Valley Veterinary Center to see Dr. Mack on Tuesday, and we'll follow up with orthopedic surgeons afterwards. In the meantime, we're so relieved that this poor, sweet boy is now safe, and our newest member of FUR.
Thank you to everyone who networked, shared, and volunteered to help save his life! Welcome to FUR, CJ!
To Foster: www.floridaurgentrescue.org/foster
To Adopt: www.floridaurgentrescue.org/adopt
To Donate:
— Credit Card: www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donate
— Venmo: @FloridaUrgentRescue
— PayPal: floridaurgentrescue@gmail.com
— CashApp: $FloridaUrgentRescue
— Mail: Florida Urgent Rescue
7643 Gate Parkway #104-27
Jacksonville, FL 32256
𝗙𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗬 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠 Sick and injured animals need help fast. Every donation helps, but Monthly donors give us flexibility to respond immediately when there is an emergency. When there is a hoarding case or a hurricane, a dog with a gunshot wound or a cruelty case, we have to act quickly. We don't have time to do a fundraiser, and wait for those funds to get to us. Your monthly donation can help us save lives again and again. To learn more, please visit: https://www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donatemonthly
Florida Urgent Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and FUR earned a Four-Star Rating on Charity Navigator with a score of 100%, the highest possible rating. FUR also received a 2023 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guidestar, and is a 2023 Top Rated Nonprofit on Great Nonprofits. Learn more about FUR at: www.floridaurgentrescue.org
Comments