Feb. 2, 2006
 
Adopt a Furry Friend and He/She May Save Your Life
 
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- After our Irishsetter “Brian” was neutered at age 3 1/2, he developed diabetes. For the next eight years, dad daily tested Brian and administered insulin. Eventually, he went blind and shortly thereafter passed away.
 
Knowing that the only way for me to recover from the loss was to find a new Irishsetter, I started looking on the web for rescue groups, particularly those who wanted to place an adult, so that I would know if he had any preexisting health considerations.
 
A breeder near Ann Arbor offered me one of two Irishsetters. She raised horses, was moving to Oregon, and wanted to only take two other Irish with her. The catch: Come and get him.
 
Arranging with a friend to drive me to Michigan, we picked up the big shouldered three year old lap dog. In fact, he hopped in the car, was quite content, until about ten miles down the road he started whimpering. I rode the rest of the way back with him on my lap, all 100 pounds of him! Considerably taller than Brian, Danny did not immediately win my dad’s favor, particularly since he had a habit of counter surfing, stealing ham, and wrecking the garbage.
 
One night, though, Danny would not let me sleep. He came to the bed and kept pawing and pawing at me. I thought he needed to go out. Instead, he led me to the back room where my dad treats his legs. Since the doors had been closed, I had not heard him calling for help.
 
The blood thinning meds after an operation had caused him to start bleeding from the leg uncontrollably. By the time EMS arrived, he was nearly passing out. If not for the rescued Danny, dad would have bled to death while everyone slept.
 
Ironically, I like to think that Danny returned the favor for dad administering those shots to Brian. And, yes, dad and Danny bonded after that.
 
But this story is not to praise Irishsetters or Danny, rather, to let you know that the Cabell-Wayne animal shelter is full.
 
“Please ask the media to do a story to tell the public, they need to foster or adopt one. Save a life today,” wrote Jaime Trainer, who added that ten out of 72 dogs at the shelter need rescued.
 
Among the candidates for adoption, Brandy, a 9 year old St. Bernard, who needs a loving home without cat to spend the rest of her life; Kramer, a lab mix, who was brought in as a stray; Elkie, a 1 ˝ year old beagle mix who would do best in a home without small children; Lincoln, a 2 year old German Shepherd, who was found as a stray; Taffy, an eight year old boxer/hound mix who needs a home; and Diamond, a three year old husky mix.
 
Although you can view photos of the dogs available for adoption at http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/WV13.html , the shelter does not have email, so to visit or reserve a pet, you’ll need to go to 1901 James River Road, Huntington, WV, or phone (304) 696-5551.
 
The shelter is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Dogs $50; cats $40. The shelter accepts only CASH and the price includes either spaying or neutering at a local vets.
 
Don’t let any of these furry friends pass to Rainbow Bridge from a lethal injection because the shelter became full and no one wanted them!