Patriot Story: Charles + Nina
ClosedDeadline: 04/15/2017
Story Details
Background:
Charles, an Army veteran, lives in Red Bank, NJ. In September of 2015, he adopted a 4 1/2 year old Chihuahua mix named Nina from Monmouth County SPCA - Eatontown. She is special needs with Addison's Disease. She is also dog reactive and, were it not for Charles and his wife, would have likely been euthanized. This story is a wonderful testament to human beings stepping up to save a dog deemed unadoptable. Not only is she special needs but she has behavioral issues that they've accepted, worked with, and adapted to. Please work in more details on Addison's Disease and more information about what 'dog reactive' means and some details on how to work with and live with a dog reactive dog.
Quotes:
| A little about me | |
| My wife Karen and I are both retired and home owners living in Middletown New Jersey where we have lived for about 25 years. | |
| My military experiences | |
| I was drafted into the U.S. Army in September of 1967. My MOS was O5C and left the Army with an honorable discharge in September of 1969 holding the rank of Sgt. E5 | |
| My most memorable experience from my time in service | |
| The ability to meet many different types of people with different races cultures and religions from all over the country. | |
| Why I chose to adopt a pet | |
| The loss of our Black Lab "Buddy" of 15 years. | |
| Why I chose to adopt through Pets for Patriots | |
| Found your program in the internet and thought Nina would greatly benefit from it. | |
| How my honorably adopted pet has changed my life | |
| Nina has filled the void and pain left from the loss of our Black Lab "Buddy". | |
| What I love most about my new pet friend | |
| After losing our beloved black lab Buddy, my wife and I began walking and socializing dogs at the local SPCA to help fill the void. When we got to one of the “advanced” classes in dog behavior/walking, we met a four- year-old dog named Nina. Although smaller than the majority of the dogs at the shelter, Nina’s reputation preceded her. Both in-house animal behaviorists had declared Nina as being the most dog reactive dog either of them had ever encountered. Nina’s fear of dogs (likely caused by some prior trauma) is so intense, it causes her to always be on the defense and to act aggressively when she sees other animals. The SPCA had originally rescued Nina from Puerto Rico and brought her to the shelter in New Jersey. She was adopted and lived with a woman for two years. Due to her dog aggression, the landlord of the complex where she was living no longer allowed her to stay, so she was returned to the shelter. It was also discovered that Nina had a life threatening illness – Addison’s disease. After being returned to the shelter, Nina was in such poor health, she spent seven months under the doctor’s close care before being put back up for adoption. We came to know Nina and realized how really sweet she is. Her outward display of aggression towards other dogs was definitely due to her intense fear. But, after several months of walking Nina at the shelter, due to this ongoing aggression and her illness, the shelter had deemed her as being un-adoptable. Discussions began about euthanizing her. And that’s when I said, “Not on my watch!” My wife and I began fostering Nina as the shelter agreed to look for a rescue. As they struggled, with no luck in finding a rescue, we fell totally in love with Nina and adopted her! A few months after we took her home, Nina had what they called an Addisonian crisis– she ate very little, had gastro problems and actually collapsed. It turned out that her meds had just stopped working. But thanks to a change in treatment, she now seems nearly as if she does not even have this terrible disease. Her current prognosis is -- with ongoing treatment --she can lead a normal and healthy life. Nina is now six-years old, extremely happy, healthy, content, and eating like a horse. A recent DNA test showed she is mostly Chihuahua, with mixtures of Chow, Hound and Spaniel. My wife and I have accepted the fact that Nina’s intense fear of other dogs will always be a part of her. Because of this, whenever we’re outside, we make certain to always keep her on “a very tight leash.” Also due to this fear, Nina does not particularly take pleasure in going out. But she absolutely adores her backyard, she enjoys visiting relatives, and she even tolerates the occasional excursion to the park. Inside the safety of her forever home, the place that Nina loves the most, she is the sweetest and calmest and most loving dog there ever was. She thoroughly enjoys her daily games of fetch, having her belly rubbed and just being a lap dog. Mostly, she loves watching the world go by from her window seat, where she sits every day, happily and peacefully sunning herself. | |
| What I would tell other veterans or service members who might be thinking about adopting through Pets for Patriots | |
| Yes i would recommend this program to others. Just ask Nina. | |