Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
July 3, 2008 issue
Dogs From Cruelty Case Turned Over to Humane Society
Story by Celeste von Mangan
Rachel Jolly knew in her heart that the tiny puppy would not live without special care. The blue and white Chihuahua had been temporarily turned over to the Watauga Humane Society, along with dozens of other puppies and dogs confiscated from a Todd residence this past March. Naming the puppy Angelita, “little angel,” Jolly obtained permission from Steve Norris, head officer of Watauga County Animal Care and Control, to take the puppy with her as the Anna Mae Warner/Richard Hurt dog cruelty case went to trial. Many weeks later, Angelita is healthy, and Jolly and her husband Bill have officially adopted her and nicknamed her Angie. Following the trial, the dogs were turned over to the Humane Society for adoption.
“When Angie came in after the animals were seized, she was one of a litter of three puppies that were 12 weeks old,” said Jolly. “She was tinier than the others and she had a really bad respiratory infection. She did not respond to the antibiotics she was given. I love Chihuahuas; I have fostered others and I have two of my own. Lynn Northup [Humane Society shelter manager] talked to Steve Norris and he said, ‘Let her foster,’ so I took her home and brought her to work with me.”
More antibiotics finally cleared up the infection wreaking havoc with Angie’s tiny body, but only after three rounds of treatment and Jolly’s constant care.
“It was two weeks before she was feeling better,” said Jolly. “I set up her bed and blanket at work and brought her with me each day and she just slept all day.”
Jolly, a Watauga Humane Society board member and an active volunteer, works at Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation in Boone.
“I have volunteered at the Humane Society for years,” said Jolly. “I got involved with them when someone asked me to participate on the dog jog committee.”
Angelita is now running around and loves the Jollys’ other dogs.
“We just returned from a trip to the beach and Angie loved to play on the beach and ride on the boat,” Jolly said. “She really fit in with our family.”
While Jolly can take credit for nursing Angie and for probably saving her life, many other people helped with the care of the other puppies and dogs.
“What a great job the staff at the shelter has done,” said Jolly. “It was a lot of extra work and they have just done a great job. Everyone there began to just love all the dogs. Lynn [Northup] did a great job. I know she took care of the dogs on her own time as well as during work hours.”
Dogs and Puppies Will Soon Be Available for Adoption
“I guess the biggest thing is we’ve been taking names on the wish list,” said Lynn Northup, shelter manager for the Watauga Humane Society.
The wish list consists of approximately 200 names of people waiting to adopt dogs specifically from the cruelty case seizure. Approximately 100 dogs will be available for adoption, and twice as many people have applied.
“We’re asking that people just bear with us,” said Northup. “Right now we’re spaying by breed—we did eight cockers yesterday. We’re going down the list; we may get to people; we may not.”
Northup expressed concern about the geriatric and special-needs animals.
“The thing I am a little concerned about is that people may not be able to adopt some of them,” said Northup. “We have a blind Pomeranian named Perry who is eight years old. He is 100 percent blind, but very friendly and he adapts easily.
Perry gets along real well with other dogs and if someone has a dog with vision, they could become his seeing eye dog. We also have some older dogs—10 years or more. Some have no teeth or they have bad teeth.”
Many toy breeds of the type seized in the cruelty case, including toy poodles, pugs, Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, have a genetic tendency for eye and teeth problems.
Northup has requested that anyone interested in adopting Perry or any other dog, especially the older ones or a special-needs animal, call the Humane Society at 828-264-7865. The Watauga Humane Society shelter is located at 200 Casey Lane in Boone.