The difficult Ohio economy led to the foreclosure of the home of a multigenerational family, which also included a number of active breeding Springers and a litter of six seven-week-old pups. The pack was augmented by a set of six half Springers from an “open door accident” four years back. The loss of the family home, and the loss of the many beloved dogs was truly heartbreaking for this family.
From this group, on Saturday, April 23, 2011, ESRA welcomed three adult Springers and six pups into our care. One of the adult Springers (Katie) will whelp a litter any day. Another (Brutus) is heartworm positive —a testimony to the grave danger in using horse formula ivermectin, as the active ingredient can be unevenly distributed in the paste formula, and the liquid formula must be dosed accurately to be both safe and effective. The third adult Springer (Maci) is a senior female with significant urinary tract issues that we are addressing as rapidly as possible. The family believes they have found homes for three of the other adult Springers in need of rehoming, but we stand ready to take these dogs in as well should the need arise. The six little pups will be ready for their Forever Homes as soon as we get to know them better. Watch the Ohio listings for Naomi, Suzy, Ruby, Joy, Elijah and Nicodemus to learn more about them.
Simultaneously, we were called upon to rehome the sire and five five-month old pups from a litter in a nearby community. This group includes Gage and his five young puppies, Enzo, Rudy, Phil, Zach and Noah. Ironically, Gage is a full sibling to the puppies in the other group of Springers. Again, the economy was an issue as the household was experiencing the stress of underemployment and could not support the needs of the dogs.
Adding to the floodwaters of Springers coming into ESRA Ohio in April is our beautiful pair of life-long friends, Roxie and Dixie, who also came to us after losing the only home they had ever known. This bonded pair will be available for a new Forever Home soon, but not unless they go together!
And there is Lucky, a lovely little five-year-old female who, sadly, has been bred very often. One of the consequences for her is a significant string of mammary chain tumors. Prevention of mammary tumors is one of the important reasons to have female dogs spayed promptly! Fortunately, the initial biopsy results are very encouraging, and after complete removal of both mammary chains, Lucky is expected to have a long and happy life. Little Lucky has a tough surgery and recovery ahead of her, and your good wishes are appreciated.
Meet some of Ohio's April Shower Springers
… and see how ESRA is helping
April 23 was a busy day for the Ohio ESRA volunteers. Lots of hands were involved in the vetting and transport of these dogs. Many families have been tremendous in coming forward to open their homes to foster these dogs. Those who cannot foster have provided much needed grooming and temporary housing. Phil Sproat, ESRA National Board Member and Midwest Vice President, has brought in significant support from the animal care industry to assist us with the needs of these dogs. Special thanks to our corporate sponsors and partners PetSmart Charities, Willowcreek Veterinary Services, Idexx, Putney, Inc, Troutman Kennels and All Four Paws. Without their generous financial and resource support, we may not have been able to provide the services and care that we did.
Madeline Finnerty, long-time Ohio volunteer, is tremendously active in her local county rescue efforts. She has successfully placed the six Springer mixes into safe settings. Some have already found homes. Through our liaison with FIDO's Companion Rescue, Inc., managed by ESRA member Michelle Reichlin, Madeline has obtained assistance with the veterinary care of these nice dogs.
Dr. Sandra Gebhart of Willow Creek Veterinary Service gets a huge ESRA "woo woo" for setting up a mobile clinic for us at Troutman's Kutz and Kennels — and thank you Christi Troutman for providing a safe, clean room and a huge bathing tub for us! With a great venue, professional help and many willing volunteer hands, we were able to efficiently provide exams, vaccinations, microchips, and needed tests for all the dogs. It was a very busy and rewarding day — a lot was accomplished.
It was tremendously helpful to have our own vet-tech-in-training, Stacey Shehin, to assist Dr. Gebhart. And Jackie Miller was wonderful with the details of the records — intake numbers, microchips, all the packets that went out with the dogs. Special thanks also go to Mary Guttieri, the Ohio Coordinator. Mary mobilized the volunteers, transports and foster homes while Phil Sproat worked on resources and put the vetting together. Without Mary's leadership and wisdom, this project would have substantially been different.
Luckily ESRA has successfully built the national visibility and solid reputation that allows the team to be the first responders when a need such as this arises, but it is the grassroots efforts of "the boots on the ground" that get the work done! ESRA Ohio can be proud of their diligence in getting these dogs set for the first leg of their journeys to Forever Homes. Watch this page for updates as we get to know the individual dogs and announce their achievements!
4/25/11 WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS ALREADY: 
One of our foster homes encountered a surprise much earlier than expected. We knew that Katie was pregnant but her foster family didn't realize they had less than 24 hours to get ready for the blessed event! Jamie Carr got right to work building a whelping box and not a minute too soon! Katie whelped her pups last night with assistance from Beth and Jamie Carr and Phil Sproat. The Ohio April Shower Springers now add five fat healthy little puppies to their group. Katie is doing well in her beautiful whelping box that was finished just in time!
4/26/11 AND THE BABIES' NAMES ARE …
Proud foster papa Jamie Carr presents four little girls named Lilly, Laney, Lena and Cidra and one little boy named Cosmo. Can you guess the theme of the name origins?
UPDATE 5/1/11: 
Truly a "lucky" dog, our Lucky had a double mammary strip late last week and is now recuperating very well in her foster home. She was much loved at the Sylvania Vet Hospital and is a real sweetheart of a Springer. Only five years old, she has a long and happy life ahead of her.
Our senior girl from the April Showers, Maci, is not so fortunate. We learned late last week that her urinary tract issues are the result of a serious inoperable cancer. We will be providing palliative care for her since she probably has only about six to twelve months with us. She is a sweet dog and happy to be cleanly groomed and comfortable. We are very grateful that she is with ESRA and that she will not suffer.
On a happier note, Enzo, one of the now-six-month-old pups has already found a happy home and will have two precious little girls to play with!
UPDATE 5/12/11: 
Noah and two more of Enzo's littermates have now found families to call their own. And the fifth just might be finding his Forever Home in the blue grass of Kentucky! According to Mary Guttieri,"These were wonderful pups with great temperament and easy to place." Gage, the sire of these pups, has settled right in with a family in Indiana and seems to have always been there. We're pretty sure four of the five from the younger group of pups have also found homes; and we have lots of interest for the fifth.
Katie and her new puppies are thriving. Just look at those fat little tummies!
Check the Ohio listings of available dogs for the status on other April Showers dogs. We're committed to finding each of them their best Forever Homes when they're ready to move on!
UPDATE 6/21/11 ON MACI'S GOOD LIFE: 
Maci's foster mom reports, "Maci is doing great. She finally went into the pond to swim but there was a reason she went in — ducks!
She now will stalk them and then when they go in the pond she follows!"
UPDATE 7/1/11 ON THE APRIL SHOWERS SPRINGERS: We already told you Maci's story, Katie — the dam of the last litter of pups — is still available for adoption, ALL THE OTHER DOGS HAVE HOMES!Now that is good news!
Lucky just underwent a second surgery this week — at her last post-op visit, the veterinarian identified a pea-sized lump in one of her forward breasts, which could not be removed at the first surgery as there would not have been sufficient skin to close the incisions. So she is having surgery again to remove these forward breasts, now that she has healed from her first surgery. She is a lucky girl, however, and has a great adopter waiting for her.
Contact: Jackie Miller at gok9go@gmail.com if you want to hear more about Ohio's April Shower Springers.
| SPECIAL THANKS TO THE APRIL SHOWER SPRINGERS’ CORPORATE SPONSORS: | |
|---|---|
Contact Phil Sproat at psproat@yahoo.com if your organization would like to join these companies in support of ESRA or Ohio's April Shower Springers.
|
CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR THE OHIO APRIL SHOWER SPRINGERS
| THE APRIL SHOWER SPRINGERS’ GENEROUS SPONSORS TO DATE: | |
|---|---|
 Keith E. Behnke |
Thanks to Ohio Rescue Team! |
| Don and Renee Holmes |
In memory of Daniel of the Canyon. God bless our ESRA volunteers |
| Mary A. Lyons |
In memory of Annie the Fox Terrier and her Springer sister Jessie |
| Diane and Tony Foos |
Thank you to our Ohio Rescue Team |
| Kath and Bob Trendler |
A gift for Maci in memory of Lilly, our forever friend, rescued in the 90's through Ohio ESRA |
| Hurst Family |
In memory of our loving Springer Gabi |
| Anonymous |
|
|
|
|
|