by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
After clinging to survival in drenched misery in Florida, Goliath, Lola, Peanut and Romeo are now safe, loved and happy in their new dry-and-warm homes in Minnesota.
All four are dogs adopted out by the Tri-County Humane Society. They were among a shipment of 10 abandoned dogs rescued and brought to the TCHS in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which devastated the entire state of Florida in mid-September. TCHS in east St. Cloud, like humane societies elsewhere in the nation, agreed to accept some dogs from Florida because that’s state’s animal shelters were completely filled with rescued dogs – and other pets.
Most Floridians went to great lengths to make sure their pets were protected from the storm’s windy, wet rage. Unfortunately, some pet owners simply abandoned them to fate, and some dogs were even left chained in yards, at the mercy of the storm. Many died. The good news is animal-rescue volunteers and others searched all through Florida to find abandoned dogs after the storm.
TCHS learned about the dogs through the Redland Rock Pit Abandoned Dogs Project, a non-profit organization for an area south of Miami, Fla. that had become notorious as a dumping ground for unwanted pets. TCHS agreed to take 10 dogs, and they were then transported by van to the TCHS shelter.
One of the rescued abandoned dogs TCHS dubbed Goliath, was nothing but skin and bones; she could barely walk and suffered from gashes on her body. The staff at TCHS is almost certain Goliath, a pit-bull mix, had been used cruelly as a “bait dog” for organized dog fights in the Miami area.
To Goliath’s rescue came a family to the TCHS shelter that took a liking to the dog and decided to adopt it. Goliath, once rescued, had to undergo lots of medical attention for his injuries and pitiful condition. And now, although Goliath still needs some work, including more socialization with people, his new owners are patient, working wonders with TLC and constant attention.
Goliath loves to fetch tennis balls and enjoys playing the clown, getting people to laugh at her antics, like jumping up and down when she wants to go outside or dragging every object in sight into her crate.
The other three Floridian dogs adopted out so far are Lola and two same-litter puppies named Peanut and Romeo, both the offspring of Juliette. Juliette has been placed in local volunteer foster care because she just might be pregnant again. The puppies are chihuahua-terrier mix. Juliette and her two puppies were also found in the Redland area of Miami, having been abandoned and wandering helplessly.
Lola, also a pit-bull mix like Goliath, was found wandering in a neighborhood of Homestead, Fla, not far from Miami.
The other dogs, not yet adopted, are Addison, Christopher, Colby, Juliette (mentioned above), Michelle and Obama.
For more information about the Floridian dogs and other adoptable pets, go to the TCHS website at tricountyhumanesociety.org or call 320-252-0896.
Goliath has a new lease on life after being found abandoned and abused in the wake of Hurricane Irma in Florida. The two top photos were taken after Goliath was rescued and placed in a Florida shelter. Note the gash on the dog’s leg in the upper right photo. Staff at the Tri-County Humane Society are almost certain Goliath had been used cruelly as a “bait dog” in dog fights. He is now happy with his new owners in central Minnesota.
Lola, abandoned after Hurricane Irma in Florida, now has a new home in central Minnesota, thanks to efforts by the Tri-County Humane Society.
Obama, a rescued pet from Florida, was abandoned along with his pal, Michelle. Owners left behind the dogs, and then new people on the property promised they’d take care of the dogs but abandoned them after three months. See Michelle in the other photo.
Michelle is a pal to Obama (see other photo). Both former pets were abandoned – twice – in the Miami, Fla. area and were rescued after Hurricane Irma swept through the state, wreaking its destruction. Both Michelle and Obama are up for adoption at the Tri-County Humane Society in east St. Cloud.
