ADOPT A PET

Let me introduce you to Jax and Dixie. 

These 2 are siblings, about 7 years old. They have had a rough 7 years and we have stepped in hoping to find them a forever home that will help them forget these last 7 years. They have belonged to 3 different homes, all who did very minimal, if any, care for them. These 2 belonged to families that didn't seem to care much for them and they were passed from home to home to home. They were outside and neglected most of the time. They would go days without food and water. Left outside chained in the blazing heat.  And in the winter just left in the snow.  

In June 2017, a nice lady named Joanne got a call telling her about 2 pit bulls that were running around a neighborhood, they were malnourished and filthy. She then became their advocate! She was able to find the owner who had a long history of homelessness, drug abuse and arrest.  Apparently, he had been evicted and left the dogs behind.  He would occasionally go by and empty a bag of food on the porch for them but nothing more. Joanne went to investigate. She found not only 2 bullies, a male and a female, but also 5 puppies and a black cat ( who had a collar embedded around here neck.)
They were starving, filthy with open sores, covered in fleas and ticks, left out in the elements to fend for themselves.  The mother showed signs that this wasn’t her first litter. When Joanne opened the door Dixie (the female) and Jax (the male) jumped right into the truck and started licking her.  They were so excited, thinking they were going to be feed.  Not only was there no food, there was not a drop of water on a sweltering 98 degree NC summer day.  

Joann gave them all food and water and checked them out. Poor Dixie had lacerations on her tits from the puppies trying to nurse long after they should have been weaned. Joanne took them all to the vet and they were extremely under weight and showed signs of long exposure to the elements. Unhealed sores, flea bites, and raw spots all over them.  They were treated and she found homes for all the pups.  The cat collar had to be cut off and his neck treated for the lesions.  It was sad, they were such loving and kind pups.  All they wanted was to sit in your lap and you to love on them.  They would crawl all over your lap and licking you the whole time.  After all they had been through, they still just wanted to be loved.

Once, the puppies were safe it was time to work on Dixie and Jax.  Joanne took them to be fixed ( Dixie had had at lease 2 other litter of pups). Joann had professional pictures taken to post them for adoption and all was ready to go except the owner relinquishment. But at the last minute the owners had changed their minds and wanted the dogs back. Everyone was was heartsick.  The sheriff and animal control were called and nothing could be done. It was one of the saddest days of her life because she knew it was only a matter of time before they would be back in the same position.

Joann would go by and check on them periodically.  Sometimes they were living out of a car and once they were being tied behind a trailer.  She left food and her number for them to call if they ever needed her or wanted to rehome them. She often found them with no food or water in the heat and again would call the sheriff, but there was nothing they could do at the time.  Last winter, in the snow they were without shelter or blankets.  Poor little things were sitting on the back porch shivering. It was on going. 

Joann moved away in May 2018 and tried once again to get a release and couldn’t.  All she could do was ask the neighbors and landlord to let her know if they left them again or  they seemed neglected. December 2018, she got a call from a friend that Dixie and Jax once again had been left behind.  Someone went over and they were left again in a fence with no water, no food.  They were down about 10-15 lbs.  He started to feed them and started working on a release form to be signed.  We called the sheriff twice.  They contacted them and we were finally able to get the release.  They had been out there since November, by themselves.  

These babies deserve a good home.  After all they have been through, they are still so loving and sweet.  They always great you with wagging tails and lots of kisses. They are so thankful for love and attention. They are great with other dogs and kids and were even ok with the cat that lived with them. We need to find them the best home possible to show them the love and care they deserve. 
We are looking for a home that will keep them together since they are bonded

Hickory, NC
Contact crystal@hartmanshaven.org