Thank you for your encouraging words for this poor pup!
This beautiful girl has been named Peppermint Patty (aka Pepper) because she is so incredibly sweet!
Though in great pain and very hungry, Pepper waited patiently at a bus stop in San Antonio, Texas for a human to save her from most certain death on the street. Hundreds of people bypassed this skinny and scab-covered dog and ignored her suffering until an angel named Shary encountered the sad dog on Sunday, April 11, 2010.
Shary took Pepper to the veterinarian who said the pup was malnourished and had severe demodex mange.
Though Shary lives in a no-pets apartment complex and could not permanently keep Pepper, she did not want to Pepper to die alone at the city animal control services, so she hid Pepper for the night until she could find a rescue group to take Pepper.
Unfortunately for Pepper and the hundreds of dogs just like her, San Antonio is not a good place to be a Pit - or any stray pet for that matter. The majority of the dogs and cats who end up at the city's animal care services are killed and since Pepper is a Pit with medical issues, she most likely would have been killed within 72 hours of entering the system.
Shary emailed requests for someone to help Pepper, but sadly, rescues and no-kill shelters in San Antonio are overflowing. Our rescue group is no different but when we learned of Pepper's plight, we could not say no.
Thanks to the networking efforts of Dr. Renee Nank from UTSA and others, Pepper is now safe in a temporary foster home and receiving love, good nutrition, and medical care. In her foster home, Pepper will regain her health and never suffer alone on the streets again.
Pepper is a white and very light tan Pit. She has loving, gorgeous blue starburst eyes and really big paws. The vet believes she may be about 6 months old.
She is very docile and handled her vet exam like a champ! She allowed herself to be poked and prodded without an inkling of distrust.
Presently, Pepper appears to be uncertain about where she is or needs to be but does come when called. She most likely was deprived of affection but just absolutely adores physical touch. She does not react to the usual noisy activities of small children and seeks out human contact. She is very trusting. Although she is experiencing a great deal of pain, she still seeks out affection.
Once Pepper recovers from her health issues, she will need a forever home. Though we prefer to place Pepper locally, we will consider any good home that will love her unconditionally and make her a part of their family.
Our rescue group, Homebound Rescue/San Antonio Great Dane Rescue (aka SASPCA), is a registered 501(C)(3) no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization based in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 2005, our primary mission is rescuing mixed breed dogs from kill shelters. Our rescue efforts also save dogs that are critically injured or suffer medical conditions such as heartworms and mange. In a shelter environment, an injury or illness is almost automatically a death sentence. We also have a special place in our hearts for the non-descript big, black mutts most other rescue groups leave to languish on death row. When these special dogs are rescued from euthanasia, they are placed into experienced foster homes and prepared for adoption to responsible families.
As a grassroots rescue organization with minimum funding, Homeward Bound still manages to save more dogs from death at Animal Care Services and other rural kill shelters than other humane societies with multi-million dollar budgets. Our organization also works closely with county and municipal shelters in seizure and cruelty cases to ensure these deserving dogs receive a second chance at life. Amazingly, all our rescues and adoption placements are accomplished with the efforts of 5 dedicated volunteers. As a result of their unselfish efforts, over 300 dogs were saved from euthanasia during the last year alone.
In memory of the other Pits and mixed breed dogs that died in San Antonio, Texas and other cities in our nation, take a moment to reflect upon what you can do to help homeless pets in your own community.
Though we welcome donations for Peppermint Patty's care, as well as the other hundreds of dogs in our care, we understand not everyone can afford a financial contribution. Many small rescues work quietly in this country - saving the discarded and forgotten pets. Volunteer at your local shelter, offer to foster or transport pets, coordinate spay/neuter programs. Every hour you devote to animal rescue is important to so many loving pets.
Donations may be made via PayPal:
Sincerely,
Kelly Walls
Homeward Bound/San Antonio Great Dane Rescue