The “Pit Bull” Ambassador

By Cheyenne Stamp

Photos by: RoppOp Photography

“Maci, no…” sighs Beau, as I enter Charley the Pet Boutique in downtown Boise.  I see a muscular “Pit Bull” come racing towards me. With the recent press, most people would be concerned at this sight, but I know that I am about to get a greeting full of kisses and tail-wagging. Even though Beau keeps Maci on her best behavior, I also usually get an “up close and personal greeting”, since Maci and I are old friends.

Here at Northwest Animal Companions, we have a myriad of adoption success stories, and we continue to add to them on a daily basis. What we do is full of rewards that are immeasurable. Maci, though, is not only one of those great stories; she has gone one step further.

Maci was surrendered to us by her original owners. She was only a few months old and had tested positive for the Canine Parvovirus. Parvo is a very serious virus that only affects dogs and is deadly if not treated aggressively. One look into Maci’s pleading golden eyes and we knew she wanted to live. She had things she needed to accomplish and Parvo was not going to get in her way! After a few days of hospitalization, she was in the clear and ready to go into foster care.

Maci’s first opportunity to make a difference came when she inspired a young volunteer named Kayla to do her Senior Project on the Canine Parvovirus. As Kayla worked on the statistics and explored Maci’s experience, she realized that there is not enough education available to the community about the Parvovirus. It is easily prevented by vaccination, yet rampant in our area. Certain breeds, including the Staffordshire Terrier, are prone to it. It is contracted through microscopic parts of fecal matter that can be found literally anywhere. Kayla recognized that most new pet owners do not understand how dangerous something as simple as taking their puppy to park can be! She used Maci’s example in her Senior Project, in which she proposed to Northwest Animal Companions a New Pet Adoption Class that not only outlines the typical puppy training, but medical risks and disease prevention. We are currently developing the program and planning to implement it in 2009.

As if this weren’t enough, Maci’s true Ambassadorship is demonstrated by her work at Charley the Pet Boutique. Besides Bakery Treat Tester and Floor Sweeper, she is also in charge of Customer Relations. When you visit her store on 8^th Street in downtown Boise, you are guaranteed an experience much like mine. Even on those long days, when the mailman only gives up one treat and she’s been busy ALL day pampering poodles and modeling swimsuits, she trots out to greet everyone that comes through her door. Her tail wags at supersonic speed, usually wiggling her hind end along with it. She is a loyal employee, always willing to demonstrate the toys or show you just how much your dog really will like the treats. Most importantly, she attests to the public that “Pit Bulls” are not dangerous dogs. In fact, they are incredibly intelligent and eager to please. They are companions, caretakers and friends. Maci teaches us that, just like any other dog, with proper training and care they can be a lifelong member of any family – even one where you are expected to welcome strangers, new dogs and children on a daily basis.

Maci, we thank you for helping us at NAC to educate our community, even if the education comes with a slobbery kiss from time to time.

 Lucy and her five siblings were only 2 weeks old when they were abandoned near Idaho City with their mother. That is where NAC came in. They were brought to Boise, and placed in foster care. Sue and Carl came to visit the puppies on a regular basis and it wasn’t long until they had fallen in love with little Lucy.

They adopted her when she was eight weeks old and what a different life she’s had since! She is one of the Shop Dogs at Boise Cycle (the other Shop Dog is Chloe, another NAC dog!) and now she’s a SuperStar!

Way to go, Lucy! We are proud of you!

 If you’d like to read more about Lucy’s story, or see her puppy pictures, click here.

Cover photo by A Time To Remember Photography

By Sue Davis

We fostered Polly after she came to our yard one cold, snowy night begging for help.  I knew immediately she was in trouble.  She looked like she was 20 years old and could barely stand up.  She couldn’t see because her eyes were matted shut.  I stroked her back and the bones stuck out, she was starved.  I felt her belly and realized she was pregnant.  After getting her warm and some food, I contacted Nina with NAC.  She got Polly an appointment at Ada Animal Hospital.  This wonderful clinic does so much to help NAC animals.

Polly was in some serious trouble.  Her back feet were hurt.  Some of her teeth were broken and needed to be removed.  Her tail had a bad injury to the bone, nearly the entire length of it.  The life threatening concern was her uterus. It had ruptured and her 3 kittens had died inside her. This was causing infection throughout her tiny body.  Dr. Loertscher said, had we not brought her in to be spayed, the infection would have killed her. Medically, there was no reason for this cat to be alive.  But, she had such will to live, because she knows the best part of her life is yet to come.

Shortly after arriving at the clinic, she underwent a long surgery that involved tooth extractions, spaying, and a tail amputation (There’s about two inches left – it’s the cutest thing!) A couple days after her major surgeries, Polly was a new cat – happy, lively, and healing up.  She had a huge appetite.  She started filling out and her coat began to shine.  She’s on her way and looking for her ‘Forever Home.’

Polly is a Polydactyle.  Her front feet are like big mittens.  She has a blue eye and a green eye.  And now she has the cutest little ‘manx’ tail that looks like she was born with it.  Polly is extremely gentle and loving.  She likes to be held and will knead your neck and kiss you.  Surprisingly, even after all she’s been through, there is not a mean bone in her body.  She is the perfect cat. 

Polly was adopted by a wonderful person shortly after her surgeries. She now can live the life every cat should live! It will be filled with love, companionship and purring. There is a reason this little cat is still around…

  …To Be Continued?

Who knew hockey and pets mixed so well?

After much anticipation, about 30 NAC volunteers gathered at the Qwest Arena on the night of February 13th for Pucks for Pets with the Idaho Steelheads. In hurried excitement, everything got setup and we were ready for the people to start rolling in… and boy did they! Fans were able to purchase chew toys donated by Petco and raffle tickets on the way in and visited with some darling little puppies at the NAC booth just inside the entrance. We had several of our currently adoptable dogs there for visiting and raffled off some great prizes.  

The toys were to be thrown onto the ice when the Steelheads scored the first goal, and was that a sight! Magic 93.1 was also there to sponsor the game and took one of the precious little puppies, Toby, onto the ice during one of the intermissions to show everyone! He was famous after that and started getting his own donations. Go Toby!

 After all was said and done, we raised just over $2000, received over 700 pounds of pet food, and adopted 3 dogs! Just as important, we met so many great people and had a really good time. Special thanks goes out to all the volunteers, Petco (thanks Kent!), the Idaho Steelheads and Magic 93.1!

 Also, a big thanks to RoppOp Photography for documenting the evening for us. If you would like to see the entire collection of pictures from the event, click here.