Our First Feature “Rescue Pick of the Month”

Our New Monthly Feature – Rescue Pick of the Month

We are going to start a once a month feature for incredible rescues waiting for their “forever homes” –
that we will call “Rescue Pick of the Month.” We will be looking for those great dogs that just have not
had the opportunity to find that perfect home meant for them. As many of you already know that are
connected with rescue, there are dogs waiting in foster care that have gone through obedience training
and have completed different levels. Also there might be dogs waiting in foster care with other special
skills and training.

If you know an outstanding dog for our spotlight with special skills and training still waiting, please
contact me, tell me their story and include as many high resolution pictures as you can for me to chose
from. Hopefully their story will be chosen and spotted by just the right person and we can help.

And now here is our first pick for June and her name is Pearla. Pearla has become a certified therapy
dog while in foster care. She has been in the foster home of for 18 months sponsored by a wonderful
rescue group A Rotta Love Plus.

Here is her story:

Pearla’s story is a success story and is one in which a severely ill dog beat amazing odds to survive. Pearla was found discarded, emaciated, wounded and starving. But this little dog wanted nothing more than to survive. By sheer strength of will and the endearing fabric of her personality, Pearla forever changed the strangers she encountered. Together they joined in her fight to not only overcome her health issues but to enable her to become an ambassador for her breed.

Pearla’s Story – written by Paige Reyes her foster mom.

Before: Before Pic taken by staff member at Carver Lake Veterinary Clinic on arrival

Last October (2009) an unsuspecting man found a severely malnourished and banged up pit bull in St. Paul’s Frogtown, a part of town not known for its kindness to her breed. Heavy frost already blanketed the Twin Cities and the nightly temperatures were dipping into the high 20’s to low 40′s overnight. Her emaciated frame bore swollen and bleeding puncture wounds about her head and neck. Not able to walk on by, Pearla’s Good Samaritan brought her to an emergency veterinary clinic to have her wounds cleaned and stitched.

The person who found Pearla, while compelled to spend the money to stabilize and make her comfortable, was not in a position to keep her. However, he had a friend. As luck would have it the friend happened to be a veterinarian.

Pearla weighed a mere 32 pounds when she made it to Carver Lake Veterinary Center. That was a full 4 days after being found! Her first stool while in the care of the animal hospital contained a shoe lace-possible evidence that Pearla had been scavenging for anything she could eat to fend off starvation.

Pearla spent the next four months at CLVC, gaining weight, battling ringworm, fighting infections, and regenerating her coat. She also got to go home with Dr. Hunter for sleep overs. She really liked those a lot.

On Feb. 4, 2010, her first negative culture for ringworm came back, and the decision was made for Pearla to move out of the clinic, and into a home. A Rotta Love Plus (ARLP) was contacted and upon our meeting Pearla the decision was quickly made that she was an ideal candidate for our rescue program.

After: Walking with Lara Peterson of A Rotta Love Plus

With her body on the mend, she went into foster care on February 13^th. So loved was she by her veterinarian caregiver that accompanying her to her new foster home were three sweaters, two t-shirts, a fleece lined reflective coat, indoor bootie socks, and well-used outdoor booties (protection against MN winter snow and ice). She weighed 49lbs.

Pearla’s weight transition is the equivalent of a healthy 180lb human, weighing 117lbs.

In foster care, it was time for Pearla to explore the world as a pet, instead of a scavenger or clinic mascot. Daily walks were hard on her tender feet, but great stimulation for her active little mind. Pearla learned basic leash manners, and started Level One Obedience classes. She learned to potty outside.

It is with great pride that I share Pearla as both a Canine Good Citizen and a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International. All accomplished in just the 2.5 months she has been in foster care.

Pearla’s health is still a balancing act. We are all at a loss for her continuing skin problems and intense itching. But she has come so far, overcome some pretty meager odds, and taught us all at ARLP that life is to be cherished and enjoyed to the fullest.

We will do our best to send her out into the world just as physically healthy and vibrant as the impression she has left on all of our hearts.

If you are interested or know anyone that might be interested in Pearla,
please go to http://www.arottalove.org/.