by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know shelters often have “special needs” animals available for adoption? Special needs doesn’t always mean pets with physical challenges or dietary restrictions. The designation can also mean emotional or personality challenges which are often are more challenging to address requiring more time and patience. With the right training and behavior modification, most challenges can be overcome or at the very least, manageable.
Over the past year we have had fantastic adoptions of “special needs” pets. Salem was a senior cat with chronic stomatitis causing excessive drooling. Even removing all of her teeth, the drooling continued. With medication she has remained drool free and was adopted despite her age and her lifetime prescription needs.
Gwen was a young cat rescued from an abandoned outdoor colony along with over 60 cats. Her left eye was severely infected and nearly gone so she underwent an enucleation to remove it. One eyed cats are barely at a disadvantage, but it was Gwen’s shyness that held her back. Until one of our regular volunteers chose to adopt her!
Dior was a young abandoned Labrador/Mastiff mix who had learned not to trust easily due to his prior home. Staff gave him the exercise and attention he needed as he was already a good listener. He responded so well to direction and with time turned his distrust into total trust.
The young couple who adopted him made the effort to get to know him with several visits before taking him home which made all the difference. And they are working with a trainer on a regular basis so Dior can feel comfortable and safe the rest of his life.
Tinkerbell is a young Rottweiler who was an unclaimed stray. During her shelter stay her inherent guarding instincts kicked in causing concern for her safe placement. With the help of a Rottweiler rescuer, the staff learned about her breed and her dominant personality. Once a Rottie lover, always a Rottie lover so as luck would have it, a gentleman saw her photo and description on our website and came to meet her. It took him many trips from over an hour away for Tink and him to become companions and a home visit for us to know that he was the one. Updates have proven that those several visits made this a successful adoption.
Recently, one of our long term dogs found his match. Bruno is a Beagle/Bulldog mix, more Bulldog than Beagle. He was surrendered at 3 years old for lack of training the family failed to provide. Bruno knew what buttons to push when he wanted to. He was absolutely adorable until he humped your leg. And he didn’t like to be startled or picked up. Training, leash walks and patience got him to where he needed to be for adoption to the right person willing to follow through with several visits and tough love. His new Greek mom reports that he is doing well and well loved. All of our homeless pets are special but “special needs” pets need special people to choose them for who they are, challenges and all.
Pet of the Week
Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information
