Brave dog survived fire, needs family

[TribalRats]

BY COLIN McEVOY

Herald Staff Writer

WANTAGE — Three months ago, firefighters rushed through the flames of a Vernon house fire and discovered an unlikely survivor.

It was Sadie, a five-year-old German Shepherd.

Today, Sadie is at the Wantage Dog Pound, where community members and pound officials are trying to find her a new home before she is put down.

"She's just such a great dog," said Colleen Keegan, a 16-year-old friend of the dog's former family. Colleen has been writing letters and talking to people, encouraging them to adopt the black-tan dog.

"We don't know how much time she has left," Keegan said. "She is very lovable and it would break my heart to see her put down."

But John Abate, township assistant animal control officer and pound supervisor, said there is very little danger of that.

"Oh, she's going to get a home," Abate said. "She's obedient, she's loving and she's very, very friendly. I'm sure she'll be adopted very soon."

Helmi Ismail, Sadie's previous owner, put Sadie up for adoption because he could not bring her to the condominium building his family moved to.

Ismail, who could not be reached for comment, asked the pound to guarantee that Sadie would not be euthanized, but pound officials said such an arrangement is impossible.

"Unfortunately, we cannot make that promise to anybody," said Jim Doherty, township administrator.

"We cannot promise lifetime room and board for any dog or cat at the pound," he said. "What we can do is provide assurance that if a dog is adoptable, we will continue to make good faith efforts to adopt the dog as long as there's room at the pound."

Abate said there is plenty of room and that the adoption rate for dogs is very high, especially for dogs like Sadie, who get along well with families and other pets.

"The only time we really euthanize animals is if they're not adoptable, and she is very adoptable," he said. "I wouldn't have any concerns whatsoever adopting her to a family with children."

Abate said several people have already visited Sadie to consider adopting her, and one woman told Abate she would try to take Sadie in six weeks, once her home was refurbished, if nobody had adopted her yet.

Other members of the community have also made efforts to find a home for Sadie.

Hope Hastings, owner of Posh Puppy Dog Care in Hamburg, has promised a free training day and grooming session to whomever adopts Sadie.

Hastings does not make this offer for every dog at the pound, but she said Sadie is a special dog, and had been through a great ordeal with the fire.

"She's been through the mill and hasn't lost her spirit," she said. "I'm going to start crying just thinking about her."

Some of the cats at the pound have been through ordeals similar to Sadie's.

An orange cat named Rusty survived being hit by a car two weeks ago, and another cat, Shela, was rescued after being found with her uterus hanging out, a condition that sometimes occurs after giving birth.

They are among the 10 cats and six dogs currently being held at the Wantage Dog Pound.

Abate said the pets usually find homes, adding that Taddle Tale, a gray and white and gray cat they had since October, was adopted only this weekend.

"People have this preconceived notion sometimes that pounds don't care," he said. "But as long as we have the space, and as long as they are adoptable, we're going to do all that we can to find them homes."