TAF spent last night at the ER vet after being called about a puppy that needed emergency medical attention. Before Ivy was caught, a man was seen running after her with a 2×4. One can only imagine what her life has been like in the short 8 months that she has been alive.

Once at the ER, it was determined that Ivy once had a collar/electrical cord wrapped so tightly around her neck that it actually bore through her skin. This form of torture happened slowly and painfully over an extended period of time. The back of Ivy’s neck is scabbed over but the impression of the collar remains. Ivy’s throat is another story… it bears a large open slit, is swollen and pus drips from it. Infection has already set in and she has a high fever.

Ivy remains hospitalized at the ER Vet and has undergone sedation to have her neck shaved and the dead/rotting tissue cut away from her infected neck wound. We will know later on today the direction that her medical team choses to go in her recovery. Having a drain placed in her neck is a real possibility if her wound is not properly draining. Our main focus is keeping Ivy’s infection from spreading and the real threat of blood poisoning.

We will be visiting Ivy this afternoon and will keep you updated. Please keep Ivy in your thoughts and prayers.

A big thank you to a concerned citizen, named Jarod, who stopped to catch Ivy and to our friend Katie who played a part in getting her to us.

October 12^th:   Ivy’s surgery to repair the deep, infected laceration she suffered from an embedded collar/electrical cord went well. The surgeon was able to remove all the necrotic (dead) tissue, flush out all the purulent fluid (blood/pus) and close the wound completely. Having this done will allow a complete recovery in 10-14 days. As you can imagine, after enduring such abuse, 8-month-old Ivy is having some trust issues. Because of this, we are going to work on some emotional rehabilitation so she is not set up for failure.

If you would like to help sponsor Ivy’s medical care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at www.trioanimalfoundation.org. can earmark your donation “Ivy.” If you are making a donation via a smartphone and are not given the opportunity to earmark your donation, please forward your receipt confirmation to sue@trioanimalfoundation.org.

Please keep Ivy in your thoughts and prayers… she is just a baby and deserves so much more than life has given her.

On October 25^th came a happy update:  Today, Ivy is doing very well and on her way to recovery. In the 10 days she has been back with TAF she has learned that people are nice, and usually have treats and toys. She has met several dogs, including hunky Miller (one of TAF’s therapy dogs… he is on the right)! Ivy had such a huge crush on him and couldn’t stop gazing at him and licking his muzz. The two of them played all afternoon and then hung out in the office while we worked on paperwork.

Ivy is crate trained and understands the idea that outside is the best place to go potty. She is still very much a young puppy, so she is learning some basic commands and manners.

Ivy will have her sutures removed later this week. We are very optimistic that she will make a full recovery, physically and mentally!

The post Abused Puppy Chased Down the Street With a 2×4 Is Now All Smiles appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

This comes from the devoted staff at Trio Animal Foundation in Chicago:

On October 10^th they posted:  ONCE SHE BROKE OUT OF AN EMBEDDED COLLAR/ELECTRICAL CORD, THIS POOR GIRL WAS CHASED DOWN THE STREET WITH A 2X4…

TAF spent last night at the ER vet after being called about a puppy that needed emergency medical attention. Before Ivy was caught, a man was seen running after her with a 2×4. One can only imagine what her life has been like in the short 8 months that she has been alive.

Once at the ER, it was determined that Ivy once had a collar/electrical cord wrapped so tightly around her neck that it actually bore through her skin. This form of torture happened slowly and painfully over an extended period of time. The back of Ivy’s neck is scabbed over but the impression of the collar remains. Ivy’s throat is another story… it bears a large open slit, is swollen and pus drips from it. Infection has already set in and she has a high fever.

Ivy remains hospitalized at the ER Vet and has undergone sedation to have her neck shaved and the dead/rotting tissue cut away from her infected neck wound. We will know later on today the direction that her medical team choses to go in her recovery. Having a drain placed in her neck is a real possibility if her wound is not properly draining. Our main focus is keeping Ivy’s infection from spreading and the real threat of blood poisoning.

We will be visiting Ivy this afternoon and will keep you updated. Please keep Ivy in your thoughts and prayers.

A big thank you to a concerned citizen, named Jarod, who stopped to catch Ivy and to our friend Katie who played a part in getting her to us.

October 12^th:   Ivy’s surgery to repair the deep, infected laceration she suffered from an embedded collar/electrical cord went well. The surgeon was able to remove all the necrotic (dead) tissue, flush out all the purulent fluid (blood/pus) and close the wound completely. Having this done will allow a complete recovery in 10-14 days. As you can imagine, after enduring such abuse, 8-month-old Ivy is having some trust issues. Because of this, we are going to work on some emotional rehabilitation so she is not set up for failure.

If you would like to help sponsor Ivy’s medical care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at www.trioanimalfoundation.org. can earmark your donation “Ivy.” If you are making a donation via a smartphone and are not given the opportunity to earmark your donation, please forward your receipt confirmation to sue@trioanimalfoundation.org.

Please keep Ivy in your thoughts and prayers… she is just a baby and deserves so much more than life has given her.

On October 25^th came a happy update:  Today, Ivy is doing very well and on her way to recovery. In the 10 days she has been back with TAF she has learned that people are nice, and usually have treats and toys. She has met several dogs, including hunky Miller (one of TAF’s therapy dogs… he is on the right)! Ivy had such a huge crush on him and couldn’t stop gazing at him and licking his muzz. The two of them played all afternoon and then hung out in the office while we worked on paperwork.

Ivy is crate trained and understands the idea that outside is the best place to go potty. She is still very much a young puppy, so she is learning some basic commands and manners.

Ivy will have her sutures removed later this week. We are very optimistic that she will make a full recovery, physically and mentally!

The post Abused Puppy Chased Down the Street With a 2×4 Is Now All Smiles appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Maggots have burrowed deeply into her face and tunneled through to her neck. However, since the fur on her neck is so badly matted, you cannot see the carnage that lies underneath. You can only see maggots pop out around the edges and through her ear. It is absolutely horrifying and smells of rotten meat. As maggots grow, they begin feeding on a dog’s skin and tissues. They eventually produce a special salivary enzyme that is capable of liquefying intact skin. As the maggots feed, this destructive salivary enzyme actually digests the dog’s skin, creating full-thickness, punched-out skin lesions (sores) within a matter of hours. The maggots move into these cavities. They continue feeding on exposed skin and enlarging the raw openings, creating a perfect environment for severe secondary bacterial skin infections. Some flies can secrete toxic substances into these wounds. If a dog becomes heavily infested with maggots, it can go into shock. In Antonia’s case, the maggots could have also already done irreparable damage to her sinus cavity, ear canals or even brain.

Since Antonia has such a high fever, she is being started on IV fluids immediately. Her medical team will have to do a full blood panel to see if she is stable enough to be put under to shave/cut off her matted fur with a scalpel… it is that hard. Pain medication and antibiotics will also be given through her IV. We won’t know anything more about her condition until her medical team can dig deeper and flush the maggots out. The abuse that this girl has endured is gut wrenching and makes absolutely no sense at all. The lack of morality in some neighborhoods in Chicago seems to progressively be getting worse. God help us all.

September 6^th:  TAF transferred Antonia over to our regular vet today. The poor girl is literally dying to scratch and rub her head and face to alleviate the itching, but then her ear is so painful and sore that she can’t lie her head down properly so she just sits and stares in misery. It’s really hard to see. TAF’s vet said she needed to sedate her and really scrub her head and neck clean as infection is already seeding the area, despite the antibiotics. (The brown and red marks on Antonia’s skin are a result of the maggots eating away at her skin.) She will also be looking more deeply/closely into Antonia’s ear (her right one) to figure out what is going on that is so very painful. We want Antonia to get some relief and comfort so she can rest and settle down to begin healing. It’s clear our girl has never had a good day in her life and it’s almost like she has post traumatic stress from the maggots crawling around her poor face, neck and ears. Antonia is now hospitalized.

September 8^th:  TAF visited Antonia at the hospital today. She clearly felt better because she was very happy to see us, vocalizing and jumping around. Her ear is much less raw and inflamed though she still tilts her head a bit to that side. Antonia is receiving medication and painkillers twice a day for her ears and has started to fight them less, which we hope is a sign the pain and inflammation are reducing inside the ear as well. Antonia’s head and neck are still very scabby and itchy from where the infection is. The vet staff is applying silver sulfadiazine cream to the raw areas. (Silver sulfadiazine works by stopping the growth of bacteria that may infect an open wound. This helps to decrease the risk of the bacteria spreading to surrounding skin, or to the blood where it can cause a serious blood infection (sepsis)). Antonia will be re-assessed tomorrow to determine the best course of action. We want to be sure her pain and discomfort is completely managed before moving her, and will do whatever it takes to make sure that is possible. Antonia’s medical team can more aggressive with her pain management, than we can, so we are leaving it up to them.

September 22^nd:  It has been a couple weeks since Antonia came to us with a maggot infestation on her face, head and neck.  But it was her severe earaches that would cause her excruciating pain. Even after two weeks on ear antibiotics, the infectious bacteria inside her right ear is still present. She is about to start her third round of antibiotic ear drops.

In addition to all of this, almost all of the scabs that covered Antonia’s neck, head and face have fallen off. Her new skin underneath is incredibly sensitive and she is very cautious when you put your hand near her head, face or neck… some of this is also a reaction to the neglect and abuse of her past.

Antonia has gone into heat so it is going to be awhile before she can spayed and ready for adoption. Until then, she will be hanging out with her therapy buddies Antler, Miller and Hazel Grace. As you can see in the photo, Antonia likes to sit with her foster mom Antler.

October 12^th:  After ER hospitalization and weeks of doctors’ appointments, Antonia went in to have her ears scoped yesterday. We are happy to announce that Antonia’s ears have fully healed and that she was able to be spayed.

As you can imagine, after such neglect, Antonia has been a little shy at times. She has been in a foster home and we have been working with her day and night to build up her confidence. She has made great strides and we are really looking forward to finding her a home that would cater to her needs.

October 20^th:  AFTER MANY WEEKS OF RECEIVING MEDICAL CARE, ANTONIA IS NOW READY FOR ADOPTION!

On September 2nd, Antonia was found behind a garbage can in a Chicago alley. Antonia’s face, head and neck were covered in maggots and they were eating away at her skin. As bad as this was, it was the excruciating pain of her raging ear infections that brought Antonia to her knees.  She has now received a clear bill of health and is ready for adoption.

Antonia is a 15-pound, 1-year-old shih tzu/poodle mix who loves to snuggle, hang out and sit on your lap. She is a low maintenance girl who is very friendly and loving, but can take a minute to warm up to people. Antonia would be best in a home where she can be the one and only, or with another very chilled out little dog. She just isn’t sure what to make of other dogs, but seems to enjoy their company. In addition, we believe it best that Antonia not go to a home with young children. As you can imagine, after such neglect, Antonia has been a little hand shy at times and we don’t want to set her up for failure.

If interested in adopting Antonia, please visit our website (www.trioanimalfoundation.org) and click on the adoption icon. There you’ll find information about our adoption program as well as the application

The post Once Infested With Maggots, Antonia Is Now Like a New Dog! appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

https://www.facebook.com/BCACadoptables/videos/1140430179346922/

He weighed only 19 pounds, little more than a third of what would be considered healthy.  A good Samaritan saved him from the streets, where he would have quickly perished, and brought him to Bossier City Animal Control.

“This poor guy who we’ve named Jude was left on a chain to starve. When he got close to death they cut him loose so they didn’t have to deal with disposing of the carcass,” they said on their Facebook page.  “Despite humans failing him in every way possible, he still wags his tail and gives kisses.”

Jude was taken to Benton Animal Hospital for treatment and recovery.  BCAC’s office manager and rescue coordinator Brittany Hardy said she sees many pit bulls come in in a similar state.

“They’re a great breed, but often used for income and no care for where they end up, and a lot of the time they end up here,” she told the Shreveport Times.

It has taken months of care, but Jude is finally beginning to look like a healthy and happy boy.  He still has a few more pounds to pack on, but one of the staff members recently told me that now he is “doing great.”

If you would like to help Bossier City Animal Control continue to save dogs like Jude, please click here, or send a donation via PayPal to roadtorescue@bellsouth.net.

The post Mangy, Skeletal Dog Makes a Complete Transformation Because of Love appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Hospitalized in critical condition, Thomas was started on warm IV fluids and warming packs were placed around his body to help stabilize his dangerously low core temperature. It would take weeks of wound care and IV antibiotics for Thomas to finally be given a clean bill of health.

It was then that we focused on Thomas’ emotional recovery. This can sometimes be just as challenging. After spending many hours with TAF’s therapy dogs, Thomas learned that when we raised our hands it wasn’t to hit him and when we approached him he did not need to cower… he learned what it meant to be loved and how to trust those that watched over him.

Now for the happy ending… it is with great joy that we announce that Thomas has found his forever home! Thomas’ new dad is a Chicago police officer and knows all too well the abuse that Thomas has gone through. He knows that he has a very special pup on his hands and will continue to watch over and protect Thomas, just like those before him. Thomas has already bonded with his new dad and they are inseparable… buddies for life!

A big thank you to everybody that helped to sponsor Thomas’ medical care and to his medical team at Heal. Without all of your help, Thomas would not have made it. Thank you so much for saving his life!

The post Dog on the Absolute Brink of Death Makes an Unbelievable Recovery appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

The poor lass was struck by a train on January 20^th.  The train conductor saw her run onto the tracks, but there was nothing he could do to stop in time.  He was completely devastated.  McMullen was called to the scene, and immediately rushed to her aid.

“Molly’s left hind leg had been cut completely off all the way to her hip. She had severed an artery, and she had lost more than half of her blood,” said Bailey Deacon, communications director for the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter.  “She lost the end of her tail, and she had very large lacerations on her face and her side. It’s a miracle she survived.”

The post Dog Run Over by Train Adopted by Officer Who Saved Her appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

“Levi is our hero,” Darcy Cherry explained to the Janesville Gazette.

Levi, a smiley sweetheart, is small for a pit bull. But he has a big heart, and will defend his family to the death.

On January 19th, Darcy and her longtime boyfriend, Bob Stenzel, had forgotten to lock the back door of their Wisconsin home. Around 6:15 PM, a masked man dressed in black barged in and ordered the couple to the floor.

“I prayed. I prayed to God for us all to be well,” Darcy said.

“Where’s the safe? Where’s the money?” the gunman repeatedly demanded.

But they told him there was no money or safe. Darcy told the Gazette that they’re simple working people: she’s a property manager for a landlord, and Bob is a handyman. She said the fact that the man remained so calm was chilling.

“Where’s the weed?” he then asked.

Darcy told him they didn’t have any of that, either. At that moment, Levi, who had been in the dining room with them, stood up and began growling at the burglar. Though he’s usually friendly with strangers, he doesn’t like violence and reacts defensively at the sight of toy guns.

“He said, ‘Call of your dog. I’ll shoot. I’ll shoot,” Darcy noted.

She could hear in his voice that Levi was distressing him. She and Bob called Levi to them, but he refused to listen. The man fired at him and fled.

The bullet grazed the top of his head and became lodged in the thick skin of his neck. Bob called 911, and police and Emergency Veterinary Service arrived quickly.

“They were so wonderful to Levi,” Darcy recalled.

She says they’ve had him since he was a puppy. Friends found him abandoned in an apartment building. Bob called and said, “Hey, I’m bringing home a pit bull!”

“No, you’re not,” Darcy told him, but the little guy quickly stole her heart. It seems that everyone who meets him falls in love, and friends and family members often ask to take care of him.

A drain tube has been inserted in Levi’s skin to prevent an infection from developing.

But Levi’s life has been full of nerve-wracking events. About five years ago, he was dognapped in the middle of the day. Thankfully a neighbor saw him being enticed into a van, and took down the license plate number. Police found it and saved him that same day.

Then in June of 2014, the family was walking along the trails above the Devil’s Staircase in Riverside Park when Levi toppled over the side of a cliff. Darcy firmly believes that Levi falling prevented her sons from inadvertently taking the same spill, so he has saved her family once before.

That horrific incident shattered the bones in his right front leg, causing amputation to be necessary. But he’s a true survivor, and clearly loves his family.

Darcy is still incredibly shaken by the ordeal, and worries about the possibility of seeing him when she is outside of her home.

“It’s exhausting, having to live a normal life again… This guy knows who I am.”

The post 15-Year-Old, 3-Legged Pit Bull Saves Family from Armed Intruder appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

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This story comes from Second Chance Rescue:

Wooly was abandoned over a year ago in Dallas, TX, and was finally captured in November of this year. He was frozen with fear and in absolutely horrific shape: cuts and wounds all over his body and face, a missing front foot and an injured back leg that he was forced to drag behind him.   Neighbors to the area he was found in told us that he had a bear claw trap caught on his foot for weeks until it finally fell off, together with the foot.

What we didn’t know is how extensive his injuries were until he was brought in for medical treatment. Due to the massive amounts of open wounds on his body, he was shaved down and it became evident that Wooly had been fighting for his life since the day he was abandoned. His face is a map of scars; his body shows the trauma he endured for over a year. Due to the bear claw trap attached to his foot, Wooly was never able to fight back when he was attacked by other dogs, wild animals and humans who meant him harm.

Thanks to the amazing work of our Dallas partners, Wooly finally knew what it was like to be safe. He is now in foster in NY and has continued making the progress he started while in foster in TX. But it will be a long road to recovery.

Wooly is still fearful and he is still in pain, but he is improving daily. Every day he becomes a little braver, every day he manages to test his limits just a little bit more. We are behind Wooly every step of the way, no matter how long it takes.

Now Wooly needs your help. His leg is infected and he reinjures his stump daily. He is scheduled for amputation surgery this week.

Please stand behind him with us, help him rise and live the life he so deserves. He will never be lonely again, he will never long for love or go another night without a meal. He will only know kindness and compassion, his worst days are behind him and it’s up to us to make up for lost time. While we cannot begin to imagine what his past has been like and the demons he has faced, we can ensure his future is warm and filled with love.

Please share and donate from your heart. As always your donations are tax deductible and your contributions allow us to continue giving dogs like Wooly their second chance.

If you would like to see this be the last day Wooly spends in pain, please CLICK HERE to donate.

The post Dog Who Lost Foot in a Bear Trap Fighting for a Better New Year appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Pedro Dinis was walking his dog in Carrieres-sur-Seine, which is west of Paris.  His dog began behaving peculiarly, and he noticed a Dogue de Bordeaux buried up to her head.

“Only her head was visible and it was difficult to see given the amount of earth covering her,” he posted on Facebook.

She was surrounded by rocks, which are believed to have been thrown at her after being buried.  She was also attached to a large sack filled with gravel (to keep her from escaping).  Dinis called emergency services, who rushed the badly “shocked and dehydrated” dog to Clinique Vétérinaire V24.

Her former owner will face a two-year prison sentence and a $33,000+ fine when he goes to court next year.

Athena is now living the good life.  She was taken in by Raymonde and Jean-Pierre Delfosse, a couple who runs the rescue group SOS Dogue de Bordeaux.  She can spend the rest of her life there, playing with the other pets and going for walks on the lush grounds.

Her former owner will face a two-year prison sentence and a $33,000+ fine when he goes to court next year.

Athena is now living the good life.  She was taken in by Raymonde and Jean-Pierre Delfosse, a couple who runs the rescue group SOS Dogue de Bordeaux.  She can spend the rest of her life there, playing with the other pets and going for walks on the lush grounds.

The post UPDATE: Dog Found Buried Alive Has Been Adopted appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

After being dragged and hit by a car, shot, and left to die on the road, Belle is now recovering and learning what it means to be loved by people.

Julie Jones Horton of Easley, South Carolina was driving down a country road last week when she saw a badly injured animal hobbling across the street.  As she drew closer, she saw that it was a dog.

The poor bedraggled creature could not have been found by a better person – Horton is a dog foster mom.  When she stopped her vehicle and attempted to approach, the dog flopped on her side in a ditch, peering up at Horton, blood streaming from her mouth.

The woman went to get a blanket to wrap up the dog and carry her to the car, but by the time Horton returned, the dog was scampering off.

“I thought, ‘If she goes into the woods, she will bleed out overnight,’” Horton told Fox Carolina.  “I had to help her.”

She chased the little dog for about a mile before other drivers took notice.  The dog actually jumped right into the vehicle of one woman who had pulled over to assist.

Horton took her to the Magnolia Veterinary Hospital for treatment.  It was discovered that the dog, whom they began calling Belle, had been shot with a BB gun, hit by a car, and dragged by one.

“It appeared she may have been intentionally dragged because the damage was only on her underside,” Horton said.  “There were old wounds there, too. It looked like it wasn’t the first time.”

Along with another woman, also an animal foster mom, who had stopped to help, Horton paid as much of the $1,000 vet bill as they could.  Sugar wraps are being used on Belle’s paws.  They must be changed daily, with $40 being racked up each time.

Anyone who would like to help with Belle’s care may donate via PayPal to jjones07@bellsouth.net or by contacting Magnolia Veterinary Hospital.

Belle is now recovering slowly, but well.  It will take time to heal both her physical and mental wounds, but with all the love and care she is receiving, she will be able to start a new life.

“She’s eating and coming around with some tail wags, but any voice that might seem loud, it just scares her.”

The post Woman Saves Dog Shot, Dragged & Hit by Car appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Two boys were out for a walk, exploring their neighborhood, when they saw an old sign lying on the ground.  They found that it was being used to cover a storm drain, inside of which was a starving pit bull that had been maliciously left to die.  But thanks to these guys, Mars is now safe and recovering.

Tyler Price and his cousin Eugene were ambling through an unkempt lot in Flint, Michigan when they saw a discarded sign on the ground.  They flipped it over to see what it said, and were even more amazed to see what was beneath.

“I lifted it up with my foot and looked. All I could see were his eyes,” Tyler said.  He says his first thought was, “We gotta get him out!”

When the boys were unable to get the dog out, Tyler called his father, George.

“He immediately said, ‘Dad, take my wallet – can you go to the store and get the dog some dog food and water?’”

While they waited for animal rescue group, Streethearts, to arrive, they lowered food down, which he happily gobbled up.  The rescue group was able to get a rope around the dog and pull him up.

“I thought he was gonna be like, angry, or like, try to bite people,” Tyler said.

But all the dog – called Mars – had for people was love.

“You can’t get near him without getting kissed!” said Terissa Kerr.

When his story was posted online, Terissa knew she needed to help.

“I just saw his little face and something called to me,” she explained.

Though Mars, who only weighs half of what he should, is recovering quickly it boggles Terissa’s mind how anyone could starve, abuse, and abandon an animal like this.

“My mind cannot comprehend why someone would want to do something like this – especially to him!  He’s amazing…. Thank God Tyler came along.”

Mars will spend the next year rehabilitating with Terissa.  Perhaps he will stay longer.  Tyler doesn’t currently have a dog, but after this rescue, his family is considering adopting one.

“He’s been on me since Sunday about getting a dog, so we’ll get one that’s rescued.  He deserves it,” George said.

It was discovered at the vet that Mars has a severe heartworm infestation.  He may not survive the treatment, but a fundraiser has been set up to give him the best chance.  If you would like to donate, please click here.

The post Teens Save Starving Pit Bull Thrown in Sewer appeared first on ILoveDogsAndPuppies.

Diamond had been badly abused while she was being used to churn out fighting dogs and likely serve as bait to them. She was put in a shelter, and ended up with the person whom she needed and who needed her the most – the new mom who’s helping her heal from her life of terror. Diamond’s skin is too sensitive to be exposed to sunlight, so her mom makes her protective outfits.

Scars on Diamond’s head and body are from battery acid that was probably used to punish her because she wouldn’t fight. She wound up in Atlanta’s Fulton County Animal Services, whose dedicated staff work tirelessly to find good homes for all their animals. Volunteer Neely Conway posted a bio about her, hoping someone would give this wonderful girl a home.

Diamond loves Sushi…. the cat, that is!

Melinda McGuire was shown that post, and she instantly fell in love. Melinda was going through a rough patch, and had recently had to say goodbye to her 16-year-old dog. When she saw Diamond’s photos and stories she drove to the shelter and vowed to give her a home.

“I was scared, but I forgot about all the joy it brings.” she told Mashable.

Joy, yes, but also unforeseen hurdles. Diamond’s burnt skin was so delicate that she would require extra care when outside. Melinda puts sunblock and moisturizers on her now, but the first day in the sun was a lesson.

“Diamond had been with me about 5 days and was still very, very sick. This was the day that she went outside to lay in the sun, and I realized that wasn’t going to work because her skin was literally becoming too hot to even touch.  The Diva’s very first outfit was actually this ….. a Panama City Beach t-shirt, a bandana….. and a dishtowel.”

Melinda had spare fabric from making her granddaughter a princess dress, so she fashioned a babushka and cape for her.  Diamond wasn’t incredibly please after sitting so long for her first fitting, but she definitely became a fan of her new clothes and the attention they brought.

“If she had not enjoyed wearing her outfits so much, then I think it may have ended that day,” Melinda said.  “But I threw in a pair of the little kid’s sunglasses, and Diamond loved every minute of it.”

Thus, Diamond the Diva Dog.  In addition to protecting her skin from the heat and cold, her floral clothing has also helped protect Melinda and herself from the rude stares of judgmental passersby.

“I had been so worried about people’s perception of her – and I guess of me, as well. I already had one woman ask me why I had done that abuse to her, and I sure didn’t want anyone to assume that Diamond was aggressive on account of her appearance,” Melinda explained. “Instead, people kept coming up to us to ask if they could pat her or if their children could. She became an instant favorite at the vet clinic when she came in with her Sesame Street cape on and sprawled out in the middle of the waiting room.”

When she was first adopted, Diamond had a severe ear infection that required daily treatment for three weeks. Melinda got to be good friends with Dr. Michael Good, who launched the Homeless Pets Foundation, which pulls animals from kill shelters and finds them homes. Now Melinda is using Diamond’s celebrity status for this good cause.

Looking after rescue puppies all day is exhausting!

Here’s the Diva’s fashion show:

Well, not every one can be a winner…

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