UPDATE 2014: Chloe would do best in a home with older kids and a playful doggie buddy. She has ZERO hunting potential so pet home only. We just adore this little sweetie pie.
Chloe is a sweet tiny lemon and white pocket Pointer. Here is the first email I got about her in early May and all the photos we have compiled on Facebook "Hello, Lisa, I know you are a long way away, but I have an English Pointer female who is in desperate need of help and was hoping maybe you knew of someone closer to GA who might be able to help? I am desperate.I own two horses, and board them at a private farm in Ludowici, GA, owned by an older retired gentleman and his wife. He is the nicest man you'll ever meet, but although he means well, he is a terrible dog owner. I would like not to say his name, so I will just call him G.About two months ago, G brought home a young English pointer female who I have named Chloe. She was extremely submissive- would be on her back whenever a person came within 15 feet- and she would completely freeze if you touched her. She never offered to be aggressive, she was just utterly terrified.G got her from a friend of his who breeds bird dogs for hunting. But because she was not only submissive, but extremely gun shy, the original owner was just going to shoot her.Luckily, G stepped in and offered to take her, but that is where Chloe's luck ran out. When G brought her home, she was put in an 8'x8' metal dog pen, and basically forgotten about. He tosses her a scoop of generic dog food once a day, and if she's lucky she gets fresh water once a week.Because she is cooped up in this pen so long, and is a high-energy breed as it is, when/if she is let out she runs for hours. In the course of her running, she usually ends up in one of the horse pastures, and of course has to check out the horses and bark at them. Well when they start running, she starts chasing them, trying to play.Well, G has decided that is "aggressive" and therefore won't let her out of her pen ever.If I don't go let her out to exercise, she will sit in that pen forever. Right now she has red bite marks on her belly from fire ants biting her when she lays down, and although I try to get out there and rake out her pen and put ant killer around, it is never enough.Needless to say, she does not have any vet care. I took her to a local feed store on Saturday while they were doing a Rabies Clinic and got her a rabies shot and the 6-way vaccination.This poor girl is skin and bones, as you will be able to tell from the pictures I am attaching. Partially it's because she is not getting the nutrition she needs, but I think, and the vet at the feed store also suspects, is that she has worms of some sort.I am 100% willing to take Chloe to the vet, and plan on it here in the next few weeks, to get her heart worm tested and checked up to figure out what I can do to help get her better, but she needs more than a few shots and a bath.Chloe is a complete sweetheart. She loves people, and in the last two months has come SOOO far from when we got her. She is starting to learn her name, and although she doesn't know any commands, she walks ok on a leash, rode in a car for the first time Sat. (which she did AWESOME at, btw) and has gotten so much braver around people. When I took her to the feed store, she was wagging her tail and greeting everyone. She did not drop onto her back once.I am sorry this email is so long, it just kills me every day knowing this wonderful girl is out there in that tiny pen being eaten by ants and fleas. I would take her myself, but my fiancé is getting ready to move to Oklahoma, and I will be moving back into a small apartment where I can't take her. I would keep her until next summer when I will move to OK as well, and then bring her along, but I would hate to have to leave her in that pen for the next 10-12 months.I want to find her a wonderful forever home, or even just a foster home, that could take her in and really help build her confidence and trust in humans again. I am willing to do whatever is necessary, all I want is for her to feel loved.Is there any way you could help?" YES WE CAN and YES WE DID!!
Chloe is now in foster care in Chicago adjusting to city life and doing well! She would do best in a home with older kids and since she is being treated for Ehrlichia and Lyme disease- an adopter that understands that she may need to be treated for several months and retested annually. Such is the life of any dog that enters our program as they are all infected...
Due to the fact that these dogs have come from shelters or abuse or neglect situations, and unless we have tested these dogs on upland birds and feel they are confident and ready to work as a hunter with families where they will be trained with kindness and patience, we will only adopt to pet homes.
All adoptions include vaccinations, fecals and deworming, microchips, spaying or neutering, collar, leash and an information adoption packet. All dogs and puppies are also tested for Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever via a $100 blood test. On average nearly 83% of our incoming dogs and puppies from the Midwest are testing positive to one, two or all three tick borne illnesses. If caught early- these diseases are highly treatable. Infected Dog and Deer Ticks are all over the Midwest and United States and these diseases often go missed yet are epidemic. Left untreated- dogs may suffer horrible painful joints, brain damage, chronic allergies, and if the disease progresses- death.
All IBR dogs in foster care are learning to be crate trained, housebroken, socialized with other dogs and loved on by their human foster parents. Adoption fees are used to cover vetting expenses and special need dogs' vetting care. Our adoption guidelines also require non-smoking homes and safe fenced in yards.
If you are interested in adopting this pet through our rescue organization, please fill out an online adoption application.
Others Ways You Can Make a Difference
Shop for custom calendars, mugs and T-shirts at our Café Press fundraising website and choose merchandise featuring Pointers, Setters, Hunting Dogs or Friendly Mutts. All of our calendar stars are rescued dogs that would have been euthanized in shelters across the Mid-West had IBR not stepped in to save them. Your support does make a difference!!
Help offset the high cost of our vetting bills via the Petfinder.com Sponsor-A-Pet link. Illinois Birddog Rescue has always prided itself in not turning away any sick and injured dogs; animals that most shelters would have euthanized. We have saved many dogs with heartworm, tick borne illnesses, broken legs, missing legs, blind dogs, a new deaf puppy, dogs suffering from Parvo and especially senior dogs that may need expensive health care to help them get ready for adoption.
Your donation will not go unnoticed. In addition to helping save lives, when you donate your name will be added to the Illinois Birddog Rescue Donations and Rescue Sponsor List.
Become an IBR foster home and help give a rescued dog or puppy a second chance at a new happy life. The work and dedication of the current IBR foster families can be seen by clicking HERE! You are not just fostering a dog, you are joining a birddog family! If you would like to become a foster home and join our enthusiastic group of birddog lovers, please fill out an online foster home application.
Shop and search the Internet using iGive.com and iSearch.iGive.com - Two great ways to help us raise funds while using the Web. It's free and there is no limit or hidden fees. Give them a try here:
Up to 26% of every purchase through iGive.com is donated to Illinois Birddog Rescue. Membership is free and over 700 online stores are registered through the site, including eBay, JCPenney, Land’s End , Drs. Foster & Smith, PETCO and Petsmart.
iSearch.iGive.com is a fun and easy way to raise money while searching the internet. The donation is $0.01 per qualified search (no limits) and if you are logged in as an iGive.com member (membership to use iSearch is free and optional) you can keep track of your individual contributions through searching and shopping. $0.01 per search may not seem like much, but with our combined efforts it can add up very quickly and make a difference for our rescued dogs. iSearch.iGive.com is powered by Yahoo! search engine. Start searching the web and download the iSearchiGive toolbar to earn every time you search by clicking here:
Monetary donations can also be mailed directly to IBR, PO BOX 364, Wood Dale, IL 60191.
Illinois Birddog Rescue, Inc is a 501c3 not-for-profit charity licensed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
