10.19.07

Texas Shih Tzu Rescuers work to save 80+ neglected shih tzu dogs

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:11 pm by Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue

Dallas, Texas – October 19, 2007.  While the rest of the world has been entranced by Ellen Degeneres and “Iggy-gate,” several dog rescue organizations in Texas were working hard in their “spare” volunteer time this week to ensure that  shih tzu dogs rescued from horrible conditions of neglect were whisked away to foster homes and forever homes  in California.
Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue, working with the Humane Society of North Texas in Ft Worth, the American Shih Tzu Club Rescue of San Jose, CA, STARS of Texas  and other groups in the DFW area, helped ensure that the majority of the shih tzu dogs confiscated by the HSNT on early in October are looking at a bright future.
When the Humane Society of North Texas confiscated over 90 shih tzu dogs from a horrible breeding situation in Ellis county, the local rescue groups became extremely concerned.  Having been overwhelmed with an extremely high number of dogs this year being left at animal control shelters and turned in by owners no longer wanting them, it was not looking good that there would be enough local foster and forever homes to save a huge number of dogs.
We were about to have an anxiety attack.  Just in the past few months, since May, we’ve taken in close to 130 dogs and that, alone, was taxing our volunteer system.  Trying to absorb more than 8-10 of the confiscated dogs would have been impossible.  Many dogs that come from an over-breeding situation like this are very, very unsocialized.  It often takes weeks and even months to get them to the point at which we can put them into a regular family environment.
After the HSNT was awarded custody, everyone got to work to find alternative out-of-area groups that could absorb the ones that the local rescues could not handle. 
The Humane Society adopted out close to 60 to citizens of the area, Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue, STARS and other local volunteer breed specific groups were able to take in 21, but another ten had no committed rescue in sight.  Thankfully, the American Shih Tzu Club Rescue of San Jose, CA stepped up for any and all that the local groups could not handle. 
Lone Star ended up with ten.  They are all unbelievably sweet, but extremely shy – like most dogs that come from such a situation – they are not socialized to just common living situations.  Many have ulcers on their eyes, most have horrible skin and coat.  After a quarantine period at our veterinary clinic, they will go into foster homes for rehabilitation.

Thursday night, excited Lone Star volunteers gathered at the HSNT to load up the remaining dogs to start what will be a 1750 mile trek west for these little dogs.  Many of these dogs had skin issues, eye problems and upper respiratory conditions.  Congregating at the home of one Lone Star volunteer in a Dallas suburb, the volunteers began the arduous task of grooming and bathing these ten tiny travelers. 

Carmen, who worked unbelievably hard to get these guys safe.

Let’s get this party started

Ahhh.  That feels good!

Before dawn on Friday, Lone Star volunteers  started out on this trek of love to save these dogs.  Late Friday night, they arrived in Phoenix, AZ where the ten shih tzu will be turned over to Loree Levy-Schwartz, the chairman of the American Shih Tzu Club Rescue. 

Loree and her veterinarian husband, Monte Schwartz, working with friends in Phoenix, have set up a temporary “hospital” for these little dogs and Monte will treat all of the major problems before they set off for the final drive to his clinic in San Jose.  There, the lucky little dogs, who started this journey matted, flea infested, dirty and ill, will be put into temporary foster homes while the ASTC Rescue searches for loving, approved forever homes.
“It is amazing that through the many miles between us, we are able to network and save lives,” commented Levy-Schwartz.  “Networking is what it is all about. I want to thank everyone involved for all they do and are doing. I have to put in a special thank you to Monte, my husband, who dropped everything to come with me to Phoenix and donate his time, money and a ward in our hospital, for these little ones. Let their new lives begin!”
And we agree.  This is an amazing cooperative effort among several groups, whose only thought was to ensure that the little dogs that had such a horrible start in life would live the remainder of their lives in the very best approved permanent homes.  It’s so sad that there has been so much negative energy against rescue organizations caused by Iggy-gate or Ellen-gate, or whatever you want to call it – energy that should be focused on trying to save the lives of shelter dogs on death row.  Preparation for this trip from Dallas, TX to San Jose, CA has consumed most of our DFW volunteers for the past week; and it just shows how dedicated volunteer rescuers are and the lengths they will go to save a few dogs.

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