Benefactors Help Pup Get Back on Its Feet

The story of Polly, the lame and orphaned puppy, started out as a two-hanky tale. The 7-month-old husky-German shepherd mix needed both an expensive operation and a home.

But now, Polly needs only a home.

A Ventura County couple decided that their Christmas gift to each other would be an anonymous $2,700 check to the Humane League to pay for an operation to fix Polly’s hip.

“Polly’s secret benefactors gave us the check on Saturday,” said Joan Ploss, a founder of the Humane League, a Ventura County pet rescue and placement organization.

The puppy was born with severe hip dysplasia, which means that her hipbones are not in the sockets. A kneecap is also dislodged, and she can only walk a few minutes before she starts whimpering.

But that will be corrected next week. Veterinarian Miles Yoshioka, who practices at the Adobe Animal Hospital in Oxnard, says that Polly will soon be able to walk, even run, without pain.

Then, as soon as she has recovered from surgery, Polly can begin looking for a permanent home. Right now, she is in a “foster home” in Oxnard.

Polly began life as the runt of a litter of 14. Her owner couldn’t care for the passel of puppies and turned them all over to the Humane League.

For the past five months, Polly has put in an appearance each Saturday at the Oxnard PetsMart, where league volunteers showcase about 50 pups and kittens available for adoption.

“She likes everyone, including kids of all ages,” she said.

Ploss added that the league always needs donations to care for dogs with special problems like Polly, as well as volunteers to provide temporary homes until permanent ones are found.

Call the Humane League at 642-4595 for more information about adopting Polly or another puppy.