A puppy came to our attention recently. She was found wandering within the city limits and not claimed by her owners. No tag or microchip identifications, so after three days she was in Valley Center Animal League’s arms.
If I could imagine her start in life, it might go like this: She is the result of an accidental breeding of two pets, given to her new home too early in her life. Christmas morning arrives and she is the center of attention — until the next present is opened. There are other toys to play with, meals to prepare and guests to get ready for.
Since there was minimal preparation or thought to her life after the “Ahhhh” moment, nobody thought to let her outside and she pees on the carpet. She gets yelled at and brusquely hustled outside, having no idea what is expected of her.
Our puppy gets cold and lonely outside. She cries and barks to return to the house. When she is let back in the house, there is no place prepared where she can sleep and relax.
With no schedule or training she doesn’t learn house manners. So one day after the family is unable to cope, someone takes her for a ride and comes home alone. She hasn’t been trained, socialized or understood.
That is where we meet Bella. About 4 months old, wandering around Valley Center, the “Orphaned Gift.”
We don’t know her story for sure, but we are positive of the ending. Luckily for her, Frank Miller, city animal control officer, found her and VCAL pays to get her veterinary care and foster her in a home, teaching her basic manners. So her next home will be her last home.
Bella got sick after being in foster care less than 24 hours. She was rushed on an emergency trip to the veterinarian, where she was diagnosed with parvovirus. The virus is preventable with vaccinations as discussed previously. She was back in vet care, hooked up to IVs, fighting for her life. Since Bella obviously didn’t get the necessary medical care and vaccinations in her short and stressful puppyhood and she was exposed to the virus somewhere in her journey.
The care for parvovirus can be up to 12 times more expensive than routine vaccinations and immeasurably more stressful for Bella.
Thankfully, Bella has survived parvovirus and is now in a permanent loving home of her own.
There are even more happy endings for stray and abandoned animals in our town. These are pictures of two of the eight young kittens trapped in our initial trial of feral cat control last year. They are now living the good life as treasured house pets, not wild cats outdoors. Contact VCAL feral cat program coordinator Ed Varner (616-7487) with any feral cat concerns.
Vera Boyle is a member of the Valley Center Animal League.