It’s bad enough to tie up a dog outside with no food or water.
It’s worse to then move away and leave the dog there.
And you earn a special place in hell when that dog is blind.
Poochie apparently was born without eyeballs. She’s 2 or 3 years old, weighing in at 6 pounds and is possibly a Chihuahua-papillon mix. She was in bad shape — starved and dehydrated — when she was found and was going to be put down by animal control. But the folks at Animal House Shelter in Huntley stepped up and rescued her.
Animal House reports that Poochie does a nifty job of compensating for her lack of sight. She walks up to people and jumps up to be held. She looks right at you and can recognize when there are several people in the room, looking back and forth at them as they talk.
She is now available for adoption. For information, contact Animal House at 847-961-5541 or info@animalhouseshelter.com, or go to animalhouseshelter.com.
Some updates. A couple of weeks ago, we posted the story of Mitzi on the Unleashed blog.
She’s a 10-year-old terrier-sheltie mix whose 96-year-old owner died last month. The woman’s family couldn’t keep her, and shelters aren’t too keen on taking in 10-year-old dogs. So we spread the word. Well, Mitzi has found a new home.
According to the late owner’s daughter, a woman and her two grown daughters were the first to respond.
“She said she fell in love with her picture as soon as she saw it, and she fell in love with Mitzi when she met her,” she said. “She even brought her some baby carrots as a treat because I told her she was on a diet. Mitzi, being a real ‘people person,’ also fell in love with her and her family. It was a very good visit, which lasted about an hour and a half and ended happily, with their taking Mitzi to her new home in Evanston.”
And remember Charlie? He’s the Lab pup mentioned in this space last month, the little guy who was almost put down because of various health problems (a significant overbite, possible hip problems) but was spared because of his charming personality.
Well, there’s good news: He was adopted this month by a family with two cocker spaniels and a Yorkie. Janine Rubeck, shelter manager at Green Lake Area Animal Shelter in Wisconsin, reports that he’s settling in, and all is well. And we have photographic proof.
— William Hageman
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Events for pets and their people
Sunday, Oct. 28
Woodstock: Expert clinician Richard Shrake will conduct a colt-starting demonstration as part of a fundraising dinner for the Hooved Animal Humane Society, 10804 McConnell Rd. For details or to register, call 815-337-5563, e-mail info@hahs.org, or go to www.hahs.org.
Sunday, Nov. 4
Mundelein: Festivus for the Rescue Us, a fundraiser co-sponsored by Illinois Shorthair Rescue and Lean On Me Doberman Rescue. Pictures with Santa, a microchip clinic, raffle baskets. Noon-4 p.m. at B.C. Dog Training, 920 Turret Ct. For more information, go to ilshort hairrescue.com or leanonmedoberescue.com.
Saturday, Nov. 10
Elgin: “Come and Get Your Love,” Anderson Animal Shelter’s annual dinner and auction; 6-10 p.m. at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 495 Airport Rd., Elgin. Tickets ($80) and information available by contacting Kathy Melone at 847-697-2880, ext. 33, or kmelone@andersonanimalshelter.org.
Chicago: Harmony House for Cats’ Holiday Fest. Handmade ornaments, catnip beds and toys and more. Free admission. 3809 N. Kedzie Ave., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, hhforcats.org or call 773-463-6667.
Friday, Nov. 16
Chicago: PAWS Chicago Fur Ball, Chicago’s only pet-friendly black-tie gala; 6 p.m., Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton St. The evening includes cocktails, dinner buffet and dancing. Four-legged guests will enjoy their own amenities, including a pet spa and buffet. Tickets are $350 per person and $100 per animal and may be obtained online at pawschicago.org or by calling 773-843-4884.
Saturday, Nov. 17
Northbrook: Heartland Animal Shelter’s Golden Paws Gala. Pet lovers and their well-behaved dogs are invited to the black-tie-optional event. Radisson Northbrook, 2875 Milwaukee Ave.; 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person and $25 per pet in advance or $100/$50 at the door. Visit HeartlandAnimalShelter.net or call 847-983-2887 for details.
Sunday, Nov. 18
Chicago: Red Door Animal Shelter’s third annual fall bazaar and cookie walk; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Indian Boundary Park, 2500 W. Lunt Ave. Artisan wares, homemade cookies and evergreen wreaths, all to benefit the animals at the shelter. See reddoor shelter.org.
— W.H.
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Shelters and animal-control facilities may suggest items by e-mailing us at q@tribune.com. Put “Unleashed” in the subject field.
