A Lucky Lady

The U.S. Postal Service would have found it hard to resist a charming, old pit bull mix named Lucky earlier this year when they were casting pups for stamps commemorating shelter dogs. Who knows, maybe Disney will discover her.

Last month, Lucky made her way to Rancho Bernardo from a high-kill shelter north of San Diego County thanks to the efforts of three Good Samaritans: Los Angeles-based rescuer Jill Gasparac; foster mom Rachel Crossen; and Dr. Paul Fenner of the Bernardo Heights Veterinary Hospital.

Lucky was among 150 dogs confiscated in a hoarding case in July and had been held as evidence until October.

Gasparac, who has an affinity for senior dogs, had her eye on Lucky and five other older dogs she wanted to pull from the shelter.

She met Rachel Crossen, a Lakeside resident interested in fostering older dogs, on Facebook. Crossen agreed to take in Lucky.

"I told Rachel about Lucky and said I didn't know when she would be released," Gasparac said. "When the shelter called to say they had just discovered she was pregnant, and was in the process of delivering pups, I called Rachel and said, 'We have a problem.'"

The news did not deter Crossen.

Because Lucky was malnourished, four pups died during childbirth and four survived. On Oct. 7 she picked up Lucky and the pups in the parking lot of the Helen Woodward Animal Center where they were transported in a van packed with other dogs from the same shelter.

"Lucky was emaciated," Crossen said. "I began feeding her puppy food and a supplement to strengthen her. The puppies were so small that I thought they were only two days old. They were actually 13 days old."

Neighbors Chris Fenner and her son, Conor, came over to meet Lucky and her puppies.

A few days later, they had their first appointment with Chris Fenner's husband, Dr. Paul Fenner. He estimated Lucky's age to be between 10 and 12 years, and her breed a broad mix including some pit bull. He added that the puppies' father was most likely a shepherd or lab mix.

"Dr. Fenner was concerned that Lucky was skinny and would lose more weight because she was nursing," Crossen said. "He gave the puppies antibiotics because they had an upper respiratory infection and told me to continue the feeding program."

Today, Lucky and her puppies are flourishing. They will soon be looking for forever homes.

"Lucky's very friendly and gentle," Dr. Fenner said. "It's always hard to predict, but I think she easily has two, three or four good years ahead of her. Having a good family will help."

While this appears to be a happy ending, Gasparac said Lucky is the exception to the rule. Some days, Gasparac added, up to 500 dogs can be euthanized at one shelter.

"When you look at the numbers of animals coming in, and those being adopted, you see that it is an impossible task for shelter workers," she said. "People have to spay and neuter their animals."

One way the public can help is by renewing county licenses for their dogs since half of the fees go to spay and neuter programs.

"It costs about $100 to fix a dog, and about $250 to catch, house and kill one," she added. "We're spending more money catching and killing dogs than spaying and neutering them."

Gasparac explains that another way to help is by visiting www.CAspayplate.com and preordering license plates that promote spay and neutering.

"After 7,500 license plates are preordered, the DMV will start a program in which proceeds will go to cities and counties for free and low-cost spay and neuter programs," she explained.

For information about helping Gasparac foster rescue dogs visit Animals, People & Environment Action.

For information about adopting Lucky and her puppies contact Bernardo Heights Veterinary Hospital at 858-683-7363.

For information on adopting other rescue dogs, visit your local shelter or Petfinder.