2/1/17 – Meet Smokey Joe who is with I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven. I Heart Dogs is not only a great no-kill shelter but they also help a local non-profit which houses victims of domestic and sexual violence and assists them through the process of healing. Very often, victims of abuse will stay in an abusive situation because of a pet. They worry that the family pet will be harmed by the abuser. Thankfully, I Heart Dogs came along and decided to provide temporary shelter in these situations. We found out about Smokey because, as is usually the case, his medical bills were increasing and the shelter needed help with Smokey’s medical needs. We were happy to help Smokey and I Heart Dogs. After several doctor visits, 4 Paws 1 Heart assisted Smokey with further tests with a specialist. Here is the beginning of his story:
“Smokey Joe was surrendered to us in late November because his owner was moving in with her fiancé who is scared of dogs. He is a 5 year old pit-bull that her son brought him home as a young puppy. Smokey Joe lived with her until he was surrendered to us in November. Smokey Joe weighed 67 lbs. when surrendered to us and seemed to be in good health, but we immediately noticed his disinterest in eating. We attributed it to being depressed. We tried all kinds of food as well as hand-feeding so that he would take in some nutrition. After a month one of our volunteers, Terri, volunteered to foster him and took him home right after Christmas. Within the first week of foster, she noticed he was walking on the top of his back left foot and he seemed to be in pain. He was taken to our regular vet, Wilson’s Veterinary Hospital, where we learned he now weighed 40 lbs., and that his foot (and possibly his entire leg) had no feeling (which attributed to walking on his foot incorrectly).”
