Age: 3 Years
Weight: 35 lbs (underweight)

Location: RI
  
This dog has been spayed/neutered, is up to date on shots, on heartworm preventative and is microchipped.

Independence Day! 

The rescue: It was July 4th weekend and while most people were off celebrating the independence of our country with family and friends, two volunteers were off saving two mother dogs and their nine precious puppies. That morning one of the volunteers spotted puppies for sale on Facebook that were less then 4 weeks of age. She knew that if these puppies weren't taken in by a rescue their chance of survival was slim. Both volunteers drove to a very rural area, no cell phone service or anything. The first dog to catch their eye was an Aussie mix that was black and white and so thin that her ribs and hip bones were showing. Then they saw another Aussie mix with longer, white hair and in the same poor condition. The owners then brought out four of the puppies to them in a box, three others were living under a shed surrounded by mud, broken glass and debris. They found two more under an old hood of a car that was laying on the ground. The owners weren't sure how many more there were but they thought there might be four more. The volunteers were not about to give up, they were determined to find all of them. They loaded up the two moms and the nine puppies and went in search of the missing four. They crawled under the house, and they searched the surrounding wooded area, they covered every inch of the property but sadly they couldn't find the missing puppies. They would have stayed all day but the two mothers and the nine puppies were in tough shape and they needed to get them help before it was too late. They got back in the car and began to drive back and when one the volunteers looked in the back seat, she swears that both mamma dogs had smiles on their faces.

The Arrival: When they all reached the shelter, they were relieved to see more volunteers waiting with open arms to help begin the intake process. It took over an hour just to remove all the ticks from the mothers. Both mothers had ceased to produce milk due to extreme malnourishment, but thankfully most of the puppies were able to eat a bit on their own. The moms and their babies were cleaned and fed and received the care they all needed to survive. They wanted to give proper names to the two courageous moms, so being the July 4th weekend, they thought America (Amy) and Nation (Nattie) fit them well.

New Beginnings: Through many tears and a lot of hard work, these 11 precious lives are safe and will never, never see that type of life again. After good nutrition, the two moms were able to get their milk back and were able to properly feed their pups. They are all being well cared for in foster homes until their rescue journey ends and their new lives begin with loving families who will love them and never give up on them for rest of their lives. 

It may not have been officially Independence Day, but it was truly Independence Day for Amy (America) and Nattie (Nation).

 

Nattie (Nation): Nattie appears to be an Aussie mix that is approximately 3 years old. She currently weighs around 35 pounds but she is still underweight and needs to gain a few more pounds. She is very sweet but understandingly very shy. She gets overwhelmed with new people and situations, and until she settles in her new home, she is at great risk of escaping. Nattie is house trained and crate trained, but she is not leash trained and because of this she needs a home with a secure, fenced-in yard. She needs a family who will be patient and understanding of her needs, and she must go to a home with another well-balanced dog, already in the household, who can help as a "mentor" and help build her confidence and trust. Working with an experienced trainer will not only help Nattie, but it will also help her new family with the guidance and patience they will need to help her blossom into a well-balanced, happy dog. Nattie loves kids and expresses interest in cats, but she has not been loose around them. Everyday she is making progress, as she loves to cuddle up in bed with her foster mom and she absolutely loves belly rubs. She and Amy are even starting to play more, but Nattie is a more laid back, sleep on the couch and belly rubs kind of girl. She is a quick learner and already knows "sit." The only bad habits that have been noted so far are an occasional pawing for attention and chewing on inappropriate things, but she is easily redirected. There is no doubt that she will take a bit more work, but just think how wonderful the day will be when shy Nattie blossoms into the confident, well adjusted, happy dog that you were waiting for. We guarantee that every second you put into Nattie will be worth it!

 

Update: Nattie has blossomed! (8/26/16)  In such a short time Nattie has made such great progress! She is absolutely AMAZING! She is one of her foster mom's best fosters (and she has had many)! She is not really shy anymore, she will approach just about anyone who shows interest in her. It's like she was starved for attention so long that she is obsessed with it now. Even though she is fine with sleeping in her crate, her foster mom lets her sleep with her. (Why not, right?) Nattie loves food and she is a bit of a food hound - she will steal any food you leave around so you will have to watch her with that! She will sit on command about 90% of the time, and will walk on a leash if you go slow and let her find her way. She likes to wrestle and play with the other foster dogs, and she shows interest in cats but doesn't chase or anything like that. Whoever adopts Nattie is going to get one of the best dogs on the face of the earth!

 

Medical Note:  This dog tested positive for exposure to Lyme disease on 8/10/2016. This does not mean that this dog had Lyme disease. This dog is/has been asymptomatic while in SOS care and is being preventatively treated with a 30-day course of doxycycline. Please see here for more information on Lyme disease: http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/lyme-disease-in-dogs/837. Please check with your vet if you should have any questions or concerns about this condition, and discuss any concerns you may have with your SOS Adoption Counselor. 

 

Adoption Fee: $370 

To apply for this dog, fill out an adoption application on our website:  www.sosarl.org/aa/

**Additional info you should know -  For most of our dogs, we are only guessing at predominant breed or breed mix.  We get to know each of our dogs as an individual and do our best to describe and place them based on personality not breed label.   Some dogs may not yet be in New England, nor ready for immediate adoption.  There may be additional vetting, quarantine, waiting periods and/or fees depending upon your state of residence. If you have questions or concerns on any of this, you can discuss this with your Adoption Counselor.