Abused Dog Gets a New Home
www.springfieldnews.com
By Stacy d. Stumbo
March 11, 2005, SPRINGFIELD, OREGON --Only three months ago, Missy Lemkau was alone and lost. A large, gaping wound on her neck was evidence of months of neglect at the hands of her family, who apparently kept her chained somewhere in the Mohawk Valley.
Somehow, she found the strength and courage to break free. After wandering countless days on unfamiliar roads, Missy was exhausted and stopped at a Marcola-area home.
The residents, seeing the severity of her injuries, called the Lane County Animal Authority and gave the Bernese mountain dog mix a second chance at life in a happy home.
Theresa Iverson, Greenhill Humane Society shelter manager, said animal authority officers rushed Missy to a veterinarian when they realized she had a rusty choke chain embedded in her neck. The chain had to be cut out of Missy's fir and skin before she was treated with powerful antibiotics to fight possible infection. When the procedure was complete, her future was still uncertain.
"Her owner never came forward," Iverson said.
In spite of the pain, Missy pressed on, just as her ancestors would have.
The Bernese mountain dog has ancient origins, according to the American Kennel Club. Used as drovers, draft dogs and watchdogs on farms in Berne, Switzerland, they have gained recent popularity with families worldwide. They are no strangers to hard work and physical strain.
The animal authority transferred Missy to Greenhill through its "second chance" program. There, staff members tended to her wounds until she was placed in the organization's foster parent program.
Iverson said the program assures a safe home for abandoned animals while the society tries to secure a permanent place for them. When Greenhill called, Amy Rodakowski-Lemkau and her husband Travis Lemkau jumped at the chance to care for Missy, even temporarily.
The family already had a cat, fish and frogs for pets, but "we were looking to adopt a dog," Rodakowski-Lemkau said.
With the recent addition of 9-month-old daughter Libby to their Eugene-area home, the family wanted to make sure a canine guest would be gentle and friendly. Missy fit the description perfectly.
"She's the best dog," Rodakowski-Lemkau said of the 67-pound animal who changed her family's life. "She's so good with the baby. I was really hesitant at first, but they really get along. She'll lick the back of Libby's head. It's so sweet. We just kind of fell in love with her."
Dog care wasn't easy at first, she acknowledged. Missy's wounds had to be frequently bandaged and antibiotics administered several times a day. "It's a lot of work, but it's worth it," she said.
Missy is sometimes scared of cars and is skittish when the dryer door closes too loudly. But, for the most part, she's adjusted to a home filled with love.
If Missy was abused as well as neglected at her old home, it's not apparent from her behavior, her new family reports.
"How horrible," Rodakowski-Lemkau said as she contemplated Missy's former life.
The family finalized their adoption of Missy last week. Along with a new life, she's getting a new name.
"We're calling her Zoie," Rodakowski-Lemkau said. "We're so happy she's part of our family."
Iverson said it is unusual to find a dog in Zoie's condition in Lane County. Still, only a few weeks ago another dog was discovered with a choke chain embedded in his neck.
Greenhill is hoping another family will come forward to care for that dog and give it a new life.
For information about animal abandonment and neglect in Lane County, contact Mike Wellington from LCARA at 682-2370.
