12/04/2024
Loved having the opportunity to work with Stormy and Monkey's House Dog Hospice and Sanctuary. Now on to Therapy Dog with Rowan university!
Stormy has been with us just short of 6 months. Just under 180 days.
She arrived at the Montgomery County SPCA - PA as a stray. She is a pitbull with skin issues. In the managements mind that was 2 good reasons to kill her. No temperament test, no dog meets. She was put in a kennel and slated to be killed in 2 weeks.
I’ve told this story before, we cannot forget and we must fight for change at this shelter.
This plain brown dog, a pitbull with skin issues spent close to 2 weeks in a kennel, no walks, no interaction. Then one day a volunteer leashed her up and took her for a walk. The volunteer just wanted to show her kindness, decency and compassion. The volunteer was crushed at how nice Stormy was. Loving, gently, in need of belly rubs and kisses. Then another volunteer took her out. My friend Maria Termini Rossi wanted to show her kindness and compassion knowing there would be no promotion, no reaching for rescue help-just certain death. Maria snapped some pics and shared her sadness about this wonderful soul for which there was no hope. Clearly Stormy had skin issues but Maria snapped a pic of a mandatory belly rub. I saw mammary masses. I asked some questions, quickly filled out some paperwork and a very precious soul left that shelter on her feet instead of a bag. Truly the stars lined up many people along the way to save her.
In the almost 180 ”one more days” Stormy saw Dr. knight, was spayed and had her very cancerous mammary masses removed. Her skin started to improve with special food and baths and she very quickly started stealing hearts.
Stormy decided she didn’t like nippy little dogs. Nothing major happened but it was enough to make me concerned about the safety of spicey, unpredictable littles. We started working with Nicole from Philly Unleashed (Tabernacle, NJ). Stormy loved learning, earning treats and stole Nicole’s heart too.
One morning Stormy woke up with her eye a white/red color. A trip to the eye doc showed that she was permanently blind in that eye and had limited remaining vision and would likely go blind in the other.
Next Nicole had a cancellation in her board and train program and generously gifted Stormy 2 weeks of professional training. Stormy was a stellar student, she loves kids, dogs that don’t snap at her and learning new things. She made a lot of friends.
She returned home smarter than me. We had homework to do.
You might be wondering where this long story is going. Please sit down for this part. Today with the help of Aunt Holly, Nicole and all of the staff at Philly Unleashed this plain brown pitbull with skin issues and a laundry list of actual issues PASSED HER CANINE GOOD CITIZEN test!!!!!!!!
Next stop, therapy dog certification. She will become a certified snuggle bug!
I think all of the dogs who come thru our doors are special. Stormy learned to sit, stay while Holly walked away, then towards her and away again. She came when called and repeated the whole thing laying down. This is a first for Monkey’s House and we couldn’t be more thrilled for Stormy. In the twilight of her life she has been seen for the incredible being that she has always been.
Thank you Nicole Skeehan and Philly Unleashed for seeing her potential and helping her happily achieve it. Thank you Aunt Holly for working with her and reinforcing all of her homework. Stormy loves learning, being with people, getting treats and giving snuggles. She snuggles with her whole body and heart.
Stormy has done more with her 1 more days than most.
We are incredibly appreciative to everyone who has donated to our end of the year fundraiser. Please spread the word the more people that know of our work, the better chance we have of meeting our goal.
Thank you,
Michele, Jeff, The Aunts and Uncles and especially the pups.
