TN Death Row Dogs

In the last couple of months, Gia has made amazing progress both physically and mentally. It's hard to believe she is the same dog that arrived, covered in hundreds of circular puncture wounds that looked like she was stabbed with an ice pick.  Her ears had also recently been cropped in a crude home chop job, completed with either a knife or a pair of scissors.  We can't imagine how incredibly painful that must have been and treating her double ear infection everyday was sheer terror for her. Gia has suffered a lot in her life, more than any dog should ever have to. Even still, with a painful skin infection all over her body, Gia let us treat her everyday. She knew that we were there to help and now that she is healthy, it's time for her to move into a foster or adoptive home. In her former life, she lived in a junkyard so Gia has a lot to learn about being in a home. She needs someone who can help her transition into the "normal" world. Gia is a very sweet, kind dog and she loves everyone she meets. She holds no grudges about her past life or treatment. Gia lives in the present and she is happy everyday for the second chance she was given. She would do best in a home with a respectful male, or as the only dog. She is fascinated by cats, as she is with many things that she has never experienced before. She also likes to jump on them and smack them with her paws, so she needs to go to a home with no cats!  If you're interested in adopting or fostering Gia, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!

For all of those who have wondered what has happened to some of our special cases, I wanted to share their updates.  We take many dogs which I refer to as “medically challenged”.  They need a little extra time, medical care and TLC before they are able to be adopted.  Paisley has fought a hard battle, but today she looks beautiful.

[caption id="attachment_570" align="alignleft" width="300"] Before: A blurry picture of Paisley inside the shelter.


One Saturday, a rescue friend called to tell me she had a puppy for me.  She told me how starved and pitiful she looked on her walk through the shelter.  What impressed her the most was that Paisley didn't know she was starved or pitiful looking, she wanted her attention so badly.  I knew she wouldn't make it out in her condition so I knew we had to help her.  There was another puppy in the same kennel with her at the high kill shelter where they were and it didn't seem right to leave him behind so we took them both.

[caption id="attachment_573" align="alignright" width="300"] After: Paisley is ready for adoption!


A day or two after arriving at the vet near the shelter, they called to let me know that they suspected they both had Parvo so we had one tested.  Sadly, the test was positive and we started intense treatment immediately.  The other puppy taken with her was much healthier but a couple of days later lost his life to the virus.  Miraculously, Paisley fought Parvo with all she had and won.  This little starved puppy made it and we knew then that she was a fighter!

A month later, Paisley looks much different than the dog we pulled from the shelter.  She is happy, loving and most of all, spunky!  Paisley is going to make a great dog for a very lucky family and she is available for adoption now!

For all of those who have wondered what has happened to some of our special cases, I wanted to share their updates.  We take many dogs which I refer to as "medically challenged".  They need a little extra time, medical care and TLC before they are able to be adopted.  Grace's progress is nothing short of astounding.

[caption id="attachment_579" align="alignright" width="180"] Before: Grace pictured shortly after her arrival.


Grace was pulled from a high kill shelter where she came very close to losing her life.  She had a very severe case of Entropion, which caused her a great deal of pain and made her vision very limited.  Being disabled due to her vision made Grace an easy target for abuse.  She was reportedly punched and beaten in the face by some very cruel person and abandoned by her owners in this condition.  The bite scars and crusted blood were still present on her face upon arrival told just how recent her abuse was.  She was not only attacked by a person, but another dog leaving her littered with bites and what appeared to be cigarette burn marks on her hind quarters.

[caption id="attachment_580" align="alignleft" width="300"] After: Grace soaking up the sun on the porch of her foster home.


Our vets at the Animal Care Center of Carters Creek in Columbia performed two surgeries and gave Grace her vision back.  They did such an amazing job that it's hard to believe she is the same dog.  Shortly after, she was moved to a foster home with children and other dogs where she has thrived.  We have watched Grace slowly come out of her shy shell and start loving life.  She is currently available for adoption and is going to make some lucky family an amazing dog!