Five Lhasa Apsos Research Paper
It’s often said in rescue- we don’t know an animal’s past, but we know that animal’s future. That was the case with five Lhasa Apsos when what seemed like a routine surrender turned into a horrible case of neglect that shocked even the most experienced animal rescue groups who volunteered to take them in.
Robin Roberts founded Critter Mamas rescue in Ruskin, Florida, after she found herself bringing home animals that needed homes. “Dogs in need just find me”, Roberts told The Dodo. The rescue mainly serves their local community, accepting animals from people who can no longer care for their animals due to illness or hardship.
This was the case with the five lhasa apsos whose owner was referred to them this past February. The owner met Roberts and several volunteers in a parking lot because he said …show more content…
his landlord did not know about the dogs and he did not want to get caught with them.Roberts said, “The concept of having five adoptable, well cared for Lhasas sounded fine.”
Roberts soon found out this was not to be the case. Roberts and Critter Mamas volunteer, Connie Phoebus, waited anxiously watching the owner and his friend reach into his van and pull out the first dog. “We gasped in horror. These creatures didn’t have faces or feet. They literally could not walk or see”, Roberts said. “The stench drifted across the parking lot and hit us hard; smelling of urine, feces and filthy dogs.”As Kevin and his friend Adam reached into his truck, picked up the dogs and turned towards us, both of us gasped in horror. These creatures didn't have faces or feet and were bundled in towels and rugs because they literally could not walk or see. Their entire bodies were matted cocoon like on them. The stench drifted across the parking lot and hit us hard, smelling of urine, feces and filthy dogs”.
After assessing the needs of the dogs, Roberts decided it was in their best interest to seek out a rescue she trusted with more resources to handle their needs. She reached out to Rick Chaboudy, executive directorr of Suncoast Animal League in Palm Harbor, Florida. Robins chose SAL because they are a larger rescue than Critter Mamas and Chaboudy would be able to arrange the vet care the dogs needed. “Rick does great work and was a blessing to us and the dogs!:, Roberts said. “But the Critters are great and being their conduit to a happy forever home for these pets is the best feeling ever!
Chaboudy has racked up more than 30 years of experience in rescue. SAL also assists local authorities with hoarding cases and seizures and has people experiences with rehabbing wildlife, too. But Chaboudy said the five Lhasa apsos were the worst case of neglect he’s ever seen.
When Chaboudy picked up the dogs, he was also Just as Roberts said, the stench of urine and feces was overwhelming and it was almost impossible to see the dogs’ faces. Chaboudy took the dogs directly to Clint Wilson, groomer and owner of Island Dog Outfitters was waiting to begin the painstaking work of removing painful mats that had developed over years of neglect. Wilson has volunteered his services to SAL for many years.This turned out to be a task that didn’t end until daylight. Chaboudy told the Dodo "The mats on these dogs were so thick,one of the dog's ears was stuck to her head.Feces and urine were caked into the mats but their feet were the worst." Chaboudy compared their feet to a hand encased in a boxing glove.Chaboudy told The Dodo. The dogs could barely walk due to having two inches of matted fur between their paws and the ground. Poking through the fur were toenails overgrown by three to four inches and twisted in several directions. “All of the dogs toenails were overgrown by three or four inches and were turned in many different directions. He said, "We removed between one and one-half pound of mats from the foot of one dog alone". The smell that had offended Roberts and Chaboudy even caused one volunteer to become physically ill. Although she had to leave the grooming room several times to throw up, she kept coming back due to her dedication to help these dogs.
After the dogs were groomed, they were examined by a veterinarian. It was obvious these dogs had never had any vet care. They were all loaded with internal and external parasites. They all had skin and ear infections. They were all partially or completely blind and one even had a hole in her cornea. All were malnourished, suffering from severe dental disease and luxating patellas. Although all of the dogs had difficulty walking due to the mats on their feet, one of the dogs was unable to stand.
Very little is known about their past. A 2004 sales receipt in the amount of $949 from a pet store in St. Petersburg, Fl that included a breeder certificate tracing back to Iowa. It said the dog had been born in 2003. The owner signed surrender papers indicating the dogs ranged in age from four to 13 but the vet determined they were all at least ten years old. Two of the females appeared to have been repeatedly bred.
Chaboudy’s concerns were to get the dogs healthy enough to be adopted into loving homes. As far as their former owner, Chaboudy only wonders one thing. "I just want to ask him how did it get this bad?" he said. Instead, he began referring to the dogs as the Fab Five and started planning their future.
The Fabulous Five’s journey back to health was documented nearly every day on SAL’s facebook page. At first, it was hard to differentiate between the dogs, now named Achilles, Helen, Lilly, Sissy and Sequoia. Chaboudy described the dogs as though their lives were non-existent. He doesn’t even know if they ever went outside.
As each week passed, the Fab Five grew more trusting of humans. They received the vet care they needed. Helen was the dog who was purchased back in 2004. Helen’s uterus was infected and she had a difficult time recovering from anesthesia. Lilly lost 12 teeth and had numerous mammary tumors removed. Sissy, Achilles and Sequoia also had dental surgery and were spayed and neutered. They were all on antibiotics,steroids and daily drops for their eyes.Each post on SAL’s page showed the determination and strength of these dogs. Each post showed the incredible efforts made by SAL.
The Fab Five began attending SAL events. They were featured on the local news. They were streamed live on Facebook. They even had a spa day donated to them.Everyday, fans of the Fab 5 awaited updates about them and every weekend, people came out to meet them. Chaboudy once described them as “ as prisoners of their own bodies, trapped inside their armor-like fur, formed out of neglect and filth.” No longer would these dogs be prisoners and no longer would they suffer from neglect. These senior dogs would spend their golden years knowing love.
Just under six weeks after they left behind a life of horror, they were ready to go home with their new families. On April 2, a fundraiser was held to offset the $6100 in vet bills the dogs had racked up. At the fundraiser, Chaboudy introduced those attending to each adopter while he tearfully let go of his Fab 5, one by one.
Yvette and Jim Klausch adopted Achilles. When asked what she said to Chaboudy when she approached him about adopting Achilles, she responded, “I can guarantee you he’ll never have another bad day in his life.”
Gloria Scott adopted Helen, the pet store puppy who likely came from a puppy mill.Scott only adopted special needs animals,including a dog named Ranger who was a bit of a Facebook sensation himself when she adopted him from SNARR
Lilly went home with Kim Tutsch where she’ll live with her rescued dachshund siblings, Hershey and Wiggles.Several days after the adoption event, the results of Lilly’s mammary biopsy came in. It was positive for carcinoma. Upset as Tutsch is, she is still determined to give Lilly the best life possible and will continue to work with the veterinarian treating Lilly.
Sissy is the poster child for the Fab 5. She was virtually unrecognizable as a dog when she was surrendered. She was adopted by Gloria Phillips who hadn’t had a dog in her life for many years after losing her beloved one. “It’s time to take one”, she told the Dodo. “You’re ready.”.
Mila Miller had happy tears in her eyes as Chaboudy handed her Sequoia. She and her husband Ryan, have four cats at home, including one who is 15 ½ years old. Miller always wanted a dog and felt an older dog would be a perfect fit.
Chaboudy knows he will receive updates and alumni visits from the Fab 5.
In the meantime, SAL is busy with 24 Shih Tzu and Maltese dogs in need of medical care taken in from a hoarder not long after the Fab 5 arrived, injured wildlife and any other animal in need that comes their way. Chaboudy summed up his experience with these five little Llhasa apsos on his facebook page when he wrote, “We had the BEST afternoon yesterday celebrating the journey, adoptions and beginning of the "Fab Five's new lives. It was like like a best selling novel with all the great elements. We laughed. We cried. We cheered. Then we said goodbye.”
Suncoast Animal League is a non-profit animal rescue agency located in Palm Harbor, committed to serving its community with its domestic and wildlife needs.The shelter is only 17,000 square feet so the rescue relies heavily on foster families for their dogs and cats.The shelter also relies on donations to help with operating costs.The Lhasa Apsos were not the only medical cases the shelter has and donations are welcome. If you would to find out about fostering for the shelter or if you can make a donation, please visit
www.suncoastanimalleague.org
Robin Roberts founded Critter Mamas rescue in Ruskin, Florida, after she found herself bringing home animals that needed homes. “Dogs in need just find me”, Roberts told The Dodo. The rescue mainly serves their local community, accepting animals from people who can no longer care for their animals due to illness or hardship.
This was the case with the five lhasa apsos whose owner was referred to them this past February. The owner met Roberts and several volunteers in a parking lot because he said …show more content…
his landlord did not know about the dogs and he did not want to get caught with them.Roberts said, “The concept of having five adoptable, well cared for Lhasas sounded fine.”
Roberts soon found out this was not to be the case. Roberts and Critter Mamas volunteer, Connie Phoebus, waited anxiously watching the owner and his friend reach into his van and pull out the first dog. “We gasped in horror. These creatures didn’t have faces or feet. They literally could not walk or see”, Roberts said. “The stench drifted across the parking lot and hit us hard; smelling of urine, feces and filthy dogs.”As Kevin and his friend Adam reached into his truck, picked up the dogs and turned towards us, both of us gasped in horror. These creatures didn't have faces or feet and were bundled in towels and rugs because they literally could not walk or see. Their entire bodies were matted cocoon like on them. The stench drifted across the parking lot and hit us hard, smelling of urine, feces and filthy dogs”.
After assessing the needs of the dogs, Roberts decided it was in their best interest to seek out a rescue she trusted with more resources to handle their needs. She reached out to Rick Chaboudy, executive directorr of Suncoast Animal League in Palm Harbor, Florida. Robins chose SAL because they are a larger rescue than Critter Mamas and Chaboudy would be able to arrange the vet care the dogs needed. “Rick does great work and was a blessing to us and the dogs!:, Roberts said. “But the Critters are great and being their conduit to a happy forever home for these pets is the best feeling ever!
Chaboudy has racked up more than 30 years of experience in rescue. SAL also assists local authorities with hoarding cases and seizures and has people experiences with rehabbing wildlife, too. But Chaboudy said the five Lhasa apsos were the worst case of neglect he’s ever seen.
When Chaboudy picked up the dogs, he was also Just as Roberts said, the stench of urine and feces was overwhelming and it was almost impossible to see the dogs’ faces. Chaboudy took the dogs directly to Clint Wilson, groomer and owner of Island Dog Outfitters was waiting to begin the painstaking work of removing painful mats that had developed over years of neglect. Wilson has volunteered his services to SAL for many years.This turned out to be a task that didn’t end until daylight. Chaboudy told the Dodo "The mats on these dogs were so thick,one of the dog's ears was stuck to her head.Feces and urine were caked into the mats but their feet were the worst." Chaboudy compared their feet to a hand encased in a boxing glove.Chaboudy told The Dodo. The dogs could barely walk due to having two inches of matted fur between their paws and the ground. Poking through the fur were toenails overgrown by three to four inches and twisted in several directions. “All of the dogs toenails were overgrown by three or four inches and were turned in many different directions. He said, "We removed between one and one-half pound of mats from the foot of one dog alone". The smell that had offended Roberts and Chaboudy even caused one volunteer to become physically ill. Although she had to leave the grooming room several times to throw up, she kept coming back due to her dedication to help these dogs.
After the dogs were groomed, they were examined by a veterinarian. It was obvious these dogs had never had any vet care. They were all loaded with internal and external parasites. They all had skin and ear infections. They were all partially or completely blind and one even had a hole in her cornea. All were malnourished, suffering from severe dental disease and luxating patellas. Although all of the dogs had difficulty walking due to the mats on their feet, one of the dogs was unable to stand.
Very little is known about their past. A 2004 sales receipt in the amount of $949 from a pet store in St. Petersburg, Fl that included a breeder certificate tracing back to Iowa. It said the dog had been born in 2003. The owner signed surrender papers indicating the dogs ranged in age from four to 13 but the vet determined they were all at least ten years old. Two of the females appeared to have been repeatedly bred.
Chaboudy’s concerns were to get the dogs healthy enough to be adopted into loving homes. As far as their former owner, Chaboudy only wonders one thing. "I just want to ask him how did it get this bad?" he said. Instead, he began referring to the dogs as the Fab Five and started planning their future.
The Fabulous Five’s journey back to health was documented nearly every day on SAL’s facebook page. At first, it was hard to differentiate between the dogs, now named Achilles, Helen, Lilly, Sissy and Sequoia. Chaboudy described the dogs as though their lives were non-existent. He doesn’t even know if they ever went outside.
As each week passed, the Fab Five grew more trusting of humans. They received the vet care they needed. Helen was the dog who was purchased back in 2004. Helen’s uterus was infected and she had a difficult time recovering from anesthesia. Lilly lost 12 teeth and had numerous mammary tumors removed. Sissy, Achilles and Sequoia also had dental surgery and were spayed and neutered. They were all on antibiotics,steroids and daily drops for their eyes.Each post on SAL’s page showed the determination and strength of these dogs. Each post showed the incredible efforts made by SAL.
The Fab Five began attending SAL events. They were featured on the local news. They were streamed live on Facebook. They even had a spa day donated to them.Everyday, fans of the Fab 5 awaited updates about them and every weekend, people came out to meet them. Chaboudy once described them as “ as prisoners of their own bodies, trapped inside their armor-like fur, formed out of neglect and filth.” No longer would these dogs be prisoners and no longer would they suffer from neglect. These senior dogs would spend their golden years knowing love.
Just under six weeks after they left behind a life of horror, they were ready to go home with their new families. On April 2, a fundraiser was held to offset the $6100 in vet bills the dogs had racked up. At the fundraiser, Chaboudy introduced those attending to each adopter while he tearfully let go of his Fab 5, one by one.
Yvette and Jim Klausch adopted Achilles. When asked what she said to Chaboudy when she approached him about adopting Achilles, she responded, “I can guarantee you he’ll never have another bad day in his life.”
Gloria Scott adopted Helen, the pet store puppy who likely came from a puppy mill.Scott only adopted special needs animals,including a dog named Ranger who was a bit of a Facebook sensation himself when she adopted him from SNARR
Lilly went home with Kim Tutsch where she’ll live with her rescued dachshund siblings, Hershey and Wiggles.Several days after the adoption event, the results of Lilly’s mammary biopsy came in. It was positive for carcinoma. Upset as Tutsch is, she is still determined to give Lilly the best life possible and will continue to work with the veterinarian treating Lilly.
Sissy is the poster child for the Fab 5. She was virtually unrecognizable as a dog when she was surrendered. She was adopted by Gloria Phillips who hadn’t had a dog in her life for many years after losing her beloved one. “It’s time to take one”, she told the Dodo. “You’re ready.”.
Mila Miller had happy tears in her eyes as Chaboudy handed her Sequoia. She and her husband Ryan, have four cats at home, including one who is 15 ½ years old. Miller always wanted a dog and felt an older dog would be a perfect fit.
Chaboudy knows he will receive updates and alumni visits from the Fab 5.
In the meantime, SAL is busy with 24 Shih Tzu and Maltese dogs in need of medical care taken in from a hoarder not long after the Fab 5 arrived, injured wildlife and any other animal in need that comes their way. Chaboudy summed up his experience with these five little Llhasa apsos on his facebook page when he wrote, “We had the BEST afternoon yesterday celebrating the journey, adoptions and beginning of the "Fab Five's new lives. It was like like a best selling novel with all the great elements. We laughed. We cried. We cheered. Then we said goodbye.”
Suncoast Animal League is a non-profit animal rescue agency located in Palm Harbor, committed to serving its community with its domestic and wildlife needs.The shelter is only 17,000 square feet so the rescue relies heavily on foster families for their dogs and cats.The shelter also relies on donations to help with operating costs.The Lhasa Apsos were not the only medical cases the shelter has and donations are welcome. If you would to find out about fostering for the shelter or if you can make a donation, please visit
www.suncoastanimalleague.org