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SCARLETT -Tampa, FL ESRA #2002-003TX Age = 8 years old Gender = Spayed Female Color = Liver/White Variety = Bench/Show-Bred

Scarlett is a sweet eight-year-old blind girl with a heart of gold. She came to Colorado from Texas where she was picked up as a stray, and won the hearts of all who have come to know her. She'll be treated for heartworm in the coming weeks and then, soon after, her eyes will be removed to relieve pressure caused by glaucoma that went untreated for years and made her permanently blind. The eye removal will make her more comfortable and relieve the headaches she is most likely suffering from right now.

Her blindness seems to be only a small deterrent in her very capable life. She learned quickly how to navigate the rooms and now we're trying verbal commands with a body harness to help her move in unfamiliar places with ease. She has the most beautiful markings on her liver and white coat; she also has a great smile and a very wiggly butt. She has discovered our cat and is way too curious for her own good, so a non-feline home would be best. She likes to play with fuzzy, squeaky toys but isn't that interested in our four-year-old male Springer, though they spend the hours together while we are at work. She's a deep bonder and is always happy to be cuddled up with us on the couch for hours. With a special family full of patience and encouragement, she'll be the best friend for life. She rides very well in a car and is crate trained, even though she doesn't enjoy it too much.

Update: 2/21/02

Scarlett is done with her first two rounds of heartworm treatment and is recovering beautifully. She is to remain quiet for 4 weeks and at that time have one more check-up to be sure she is heartworm free.

Update: 3/30/02

Scarlett has completed her heartworm medication and has been enjoying her life a lot more than before. It was confirmed recently through x-rays that she has severe hip dysplasia. Because of this new development, she has been moved down to warm humid sunny Florida. This moister climate would also be better for her eyes too.
She is settling in nicely down there and is, as always, a happy dog. Keep checking for more updates from her new foster family.

Update: 4/10/02

Ms Scarlett had surgery yesterday where her eyes were removed and the little tumor on her eyelid taken off. The surgery only took an hour and they were amazed at how quickly she recovered and was up and walking around. She is sporting an e-collar, ate her dinner and breakfast with gusto (and provided after meal belches) and is handling it all with her usual grace and dignity. She appears to be in no discomfort.

She had pre-op labs, chest x-ray and EKG, which revealed a grade 2 heart murmur. This is believed to be a result of the heartworms as her heart remains enlarged in a pattern consistent with having had been infected. This is not expected to get worse and requires no intervention.

The eye vet and his staff were very relieved that we opted to remove her eyes. This is not usually the case, folks become very distressed and resistant about this and want other interventions done, which only postpone the inevitable and cause the animal to go through unnecessary pain and stress. The pressure in her left eye had come down considerably, but was still in an unacceptable range ( 59 when first examined, 33 last week and normal range is 13-18) and Dr Wolf said it would have been a constant struggle and nearly impossible to maintain, and she would often be in pain from it.

If you look past the shaved places around her eyes and the blue thread from the stitches poking out around them she is more beautiful than ever<grin> She looks as if her eyes are closed instead of an accident ready to happen. She is baby-gated away from the other dogs again, to keep them from licking her eyes, and she is NOT happy with me right now:))) She knows there is a cat she needs to keep under the bed a few feet away!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all her sponsors. Where would the Divine Ms S be without you?

Update: 6/08/02

The unsinkable Ms Scarlett continues to flourish. She has established herself as queen of the house and gets all the choice resting places nearest her people. Her eyes are completely healed now, so everyone can admire her beautiful face.

At the suggestion of Gary Hanes, one of her sponsors, injections of Adequan are being considered for the next phase of her treatment, rather than a more invasive procedure on her hips. Meanwhile, she is on glucosamine and vitamin C, and moves with no apparent discomfort, but with some stiffness in her rear. It is wonderful to watch her trot around the yard with her head and tail held high. She has lost a few pounds and her muscle tone continues to improve. If she is invited on the couch for a snuggle, she hops up like a pup and gives big smoochies.

Scarlett remains the portrait of courage, grace and dignity unless she thinks a tummy rub might be coaxed out of her admirer by flipping on her back and presenting hers. Any time. Any place.

Update February 5, 2004: Scarlett traveled to the Chattahootchee ESS Specialty dog show in Atlanta in January and walked in the Rescue Parade while her biography was being read. She particularly enjoyed leaving all our other dogs at home and being the center of attention for my husband, son and myself.

Given who she is, the whole trip seemed pretty ho-hum to her and she handled it with her usual grace and dignity. She didn't miss a meal, snoozed all the way to and from Atlanta, and enjoyed all the attention and treats she got while helping us with the ESRA table at the show. She sang along with my son during breaks in the action and offered her tummy to anyone she thought might rub it for her. While waiting for our turn to go around the ring, she tried to pick the pocket of the person in front of us- she just knew he must have some treats in there somewhere.

Scarlett was very displeased to return home and find all the other dogs still there. A girl can dream.....

Without your help, this old blind girl with bad hips would never have had the chance to show the crowd how it should be done in the show ring.

Update January 27, 2005: Scarlett had two lumps removed, her patella and cruciate ligament repaired last week, and is doing great! She had been starting to lose her bossiness and seemed willing to give up the position of She Who Must Be Obeyed in her foster home as her movement had become more impaired, but she's back to taking no guff from the other dogs and raring to go on walks. She has to be on bed rest for two more weeks, then short leashed walks to build up her muscle again for a few weeks, but is expected to have only the pain from arthritis in her hips to cope with when fully recovered. She has been on glucosamine, Ester-C and aspirin, but the surgeon is recommending that she be started on stronger stuff, such as Rimadyl or Deramaxx in lieu of hip surgery. Her foster mom also realized she needs to lose a couple of pounds when picking her up to put in the vehicle to go to her surgery date.

Thanks to all her sponsors from this brave and stoic girl.

Contact foster mom: Debbie Kersey

Click Here To Sponsor Scarlette

SCARLETT'S GENEROUS SPONSORS TO DATE:
Nancy McClintock	With best wishes from Mischief, Bristol and Emma
James M. Popa Family	In memory of Missy
Suzette Owen
Debbie Kersey
Sue Schulte
Susan & Rick Zucker	In memory of Berkley
Lesley Blyth
Christopher & Merrie Corbett
Gary & Margaret Hanes	In memory of Little Maddie from Texas - never forget!
Marsha Gillingham
Richard Curley
Deb Mickey	In memory of Katie and Jessie
Denise and Fred Meindl	In memory of Winston, our cherished friend
Janet & Denny Burkenpas	In memory of Mandy
Tommy and Melissa Noel
Mae Henry-Weins
Bob Knell	In memory of my best friend Samantha and ESRA Springer Danielle
Stacey Kissam	In honor of Copy, who had a heart of gold
Debra K. Westrick	In memory of Shire
Katrin Owen
Bill and Kathlene Lima Powell	In memory of Molly and Mulligan, two beautiful Irish Setters
Russell Hancock	A gift for my best friend, Brunswick
Bob Knell	In memory of my best friend Samantha and my little pal Rose
Gary Hanes	In memory of little Maddie in Texas - never forget!
Karen Bruskin	From Sammy, the happy ESRA Springer, and his sister, Sunny
Angela Setliff	A gift for Betsy, my Springer, my love
Denise Ehner	In memory of Springer Max Dakota, age 2
Elizabeth Glew &          Carla Monestere	In memory of Betz Clemmer
Patrick & Annie Waller	In memory of Ms. Cinnie, Princess, & Major. We Remain
Robert Vint	In memory of Pippi. Wags to another survivor!
Ann Davis	In loving memory of Haven, a very brave little Springer girl. With much love, ESRA Springer brothers Huckleberry and Bentley Davis.
Bob Knell	In memory of Samantha, Joshua, Rose, & Brady
Jim & Tressa Goughenour	In memory of Chipper & Putter, our departed Springers
Al and Chris Washick	In memory of Barney, "The Good Boy"
Janet M Burkenpas	In memory of Mandy
Merrie Corbett	In memory of Cooper and Bogie.
Doc, Julia, and the Martin family	In memory of Maggie.
Michelle Reichlin & Mike Sherrill	A gift for the Special Needs Dogs, so they have a Merrier Christmas.
Janet M Burkenpas
Juanita Watson
J. Ragan
Kenneth & Diane Ariosto
Edward & Patricia Nahin
Janet M Burkenpas
Connie Emery
Janet & Denny Burkenpas
Karen Bruskin	In memory of Sammy and Sunny.
George & Elisabeth Wortley	In memory of Snickers.
Janet M Burkenpas
Janet Burkenpas	In memory of Mandy.