News
Lefty's Good News: A Forever Home and a Bright Future
March 28, 2009, 12:34AM MT
By Lindsay Hocker
With a little help from Best Friends, a special dog finds the perfect family
With a little help from Best Friends, a special dog finds the perfect family
By Lindsay Hocker, Best Friends Network Volunteer
Last summer, Lefty was tied up in a Cedar Rapids apartment before his owner evacuated during flooding. When animal control officer Maria Ritchart rescued the puppy, he was emaciated.
Now, after receiving a lot of TLC and months of being a shelter and foster dog, the special needs Labrador-mix has finally found a home.
Jan Erceg, a Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter rescue volunteer, contacted the Best Friends Animal Society No More Homeless Pets department, after the young dog was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure, hoping that Best Friends could give him a spot at the sanctuary or help him find a home.
Within four hours of receiving an e-mail about Lefty's story being posted to Best Friends' Iowa network, Erceg began receiving inquiries from people in Iowa and Wisconsin who wanted to help or adopt Lefty.
"I was astounded to say the least. All of a sudden this beautiful young dog had people and families interested in adopting him, regardless of his chronic kidney disease," Erceg said. "Lefty's life that had been so discouraging was suddenly full of hope and opportunity. I was ecstatic when I referred all calls to Lora [Bopp], Lefty's foster mom from Camp Bow Wow."
Erceg described this as the most fulfilling experience either one of them has had while doing rescue work. "The thought that this wonderful boy Lefty would have his chance to be loved by wonderful people not intimidated by his health, but inspired by his spirit was the most incredible, rewarding event that either one of us have experienced in our years of rescue," she said.
Lefty's New Home
Lefty's foster mom, Bopp, said that his owners are probably the most compassionate couple she has met in almost 20 years of doing rescue work. "They were very willing to adopt him and love him regardless of his kidney disease," she said.
Bopp cared for Lefty for several months because the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter is operating out of a temporary location that has limited kennel space, due to losing their facilities to the flood last summer.
"It was with tears of joy that I watched Lefty and his family drive away," Bopp said.
Laura Murray, her husband Ken, and nine-year-old Sam, all of Oregon, Wisconsin, are Lefty's new human family members. He has a canine brother, Gus, who is a black Lab. Murray was the first to call Ecreg about the possibility of adopting Lefty.
On March 3, Murray found out about Lefty after a co-worker forwarded her an e-mail from Best Friends that had been sent to Best Friends members, which included a picture of Lefty.
"I saw his face in the e-mail and after reading his story, something inside me just needed to pick up the phone to call Jan about him," Murray said. "My intention was to find out more information and donate money, but the more I thought about it and looked at his picture, the more I wanted to meet him and give him a home."
As a volunteer at a humane society, Murray knows how difficult it came be for special needs dogs to find homes. She has also had dogs with special needs before, including one with kidney failure.
"We wanted to give him the best quality of life for the time he had left, where he would have a routine and a family," Murray said.
So, the Murrays packed up on March 14, and drove from Wisconsin to Hiawatha, Iowa, where Lefty was being fostered. Before the adoption could be completed, they had to see if Lefty would click with the family, and that he and Gus would get along.
"We immediately fell in love. Lefty is the sweetest boy. We could see that he was gentle so we sat on the floor to interact with him. He went right to Ken and laid down in his lap," Murray said. "I knew at that point, if Gus was ok with him, it was a done deal."
Gus accepted him, and the two immediately began playing, so Lefty joined them for the trip home.
More Good News
It turns out that Lefty isn't quite as special needs as originally thought. The Murrays' veterinarian has worked closely with Lefty's former vet, and they concluded that the clinical evidence and his blood work supported a diagnosis of Leptospirosis rather than kidney failure.
"'Lepto' is quite treatable with antibiotics, and potentially, Lefty could live a normal life," Murray said. "He is exuberant, gaining muscle and very active so we are hopeful that Lefty will be with us for a bit longer than we thought. What a gift!"
Before, Lefty had to be on a special diet and received daily medication for chronic kidney failure, and was expected to only live a few years.
Murray said Lefty is doing very well and that they believe the antibiotics to treat Leptospirosis are helping him. She said he is almost converted to regular dog food.
He enjoys playing with Sam, play fighting with Gus, morning snuggles with everyone, and keeping watch over the neighborhood by surveying it through a window while sitting on a plush chair.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
? Many other wonderful companion animals are still in need of homes at the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter. Click here for a list and descriptions of lovable cats and dogs who are just waiting for a loving home like Lefty’s.
Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter
2109 North Towne Lane NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(map to shelter)
Phone: 319-286-5993
• Click here for the original story about Lefty.
Photo credit: Photos show Lefty enjoying a his new home used with the permission of Laura Murray.