In early October, Have A Heart Pet Shelter was notified by Fairview residents that five dogs had been dumped at the Fairview Access to Bull Shoals Lake. It was requested that we go and pick them up to bring them to the Shelter. This was a problem on two counts: First, we are not Animal Control and don’t typically go pick up dogs except for very unusual circumstances and, secondly, if you have ever been to the Shelter you know we are always full and taking in five dogs at one time is almost always out of the question, no matter how much we’d like to help.
Our inability to help at that level did not deter some local fishermen and the awesome people of that community to take it upon themselves to help the dogs. They posted photos on KTLO’s Pet Rescue page, the Trading Post, Facebook, and worked to secure food and shelter for the pups living on the shores of the lake. Several people, including Lucky Dawg Rescue, provided food for them. People donated doghouses and crates and a local vet provided flea & tick prevention meds to put on them.
In less than two weeks, things really started happening. Two of the younger pups were taken home to become family members of local residents, and a wonderful citizen came to the Shelter and offered to move the remaining three dogs to his residence if we could help him catch them. We enthusiastically agreed to help. We pulled out the large dog trap and he caught the male and one female the first day, transferring them to his fenced-in backyard. The large female dog, which we believe to be the mother of the pups, was trapped by the following day.
We also agreed to have all three of the dogs sterilized and given all their vaccines. The young male dog, which everyone was calling Daddy, decided he did not want to be confined and freed himself by jumping the fence. We posted photos of him on the Shelter Facebook page and on KTLO and gradually started getting feedback that people had been seeing him, first at the Lakeview City Park and later moving to Bull Shoals State Park. The park ranger there was able to use the trap again and, this time, he was transported to Have A Heart on October 20, where we could confine him.
During the time he had been missing, we were able to spay and fully vaccinate the momma dog. The other young female is scheduled within the next couple of weeks. Daddy dog was sterilized, heartworm tested and vaccinated on October 22nd, so we could get him ready for adoption. The most disturbing find upon his pre-surgical exam was that sometime in his short 1 or 2-year-old life, he sustained a severe jaw fracture. The right side teeth behind the canine are missing and the left side looks like they were smashed into a smooth plate. The jaw fracture has healed and the bony bridge that was created by the body is holding his jaw together. The veterinarian felt this should allow him to live a relatively normal life. Our concern is how did this happen and is this the reason he is so frightened of people.
Even after going through all this, he is an awesome young boy. When you approach him, he initially cowers but will let you pet him and will take treats from your hand. Was this injury caused by a motor vehicle accident or did someone or something kick him? Regardless, Daddy (now named Daddy-O) is now ready for adoption. We recommend he go to a home with good fencing for containment and lots of love. He so deserves it!
Special thanks to Joe and JoAnne Ince, Sandi Zimmerman, Pat and Phil Dagenais, Lucky Dawg Rescue, Linda Liddle, Jessica Scarborough (the park ranger), KTLO (Sammy and Rebecca), Dr. Heather Hilvert and the many volunteers at Have A Heart Pet Shelter who are currently caring for him. We’re certain there are many more people we have failed to mention. Don’t let it be said that we are a community that does not care about its animals.
So now, Daddy-O is our featured pet of the week. He is a 1 to 2-year-old medium-sized mixed breed male who has now been neutered, fully-vaccinated, heartworm tested, micro-chipped, and put on flea & tick and heartworm preventatives. He is a gentle, sweet boy that is quite shy, but we feel confident he will warm up to his own person very quickly and will be grateful to become a loving companion.
If you’d like to meet Daddy-O or our other adoptables, give us a call at 870/449-7387 or stop by the Shelter located at 657 Highway 202 West in Yellville during our normal business hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm.