Archive for the ‘Scooter’ Category

At long last, Scooter, a two year old black lab mix, has found a permanent loving home. His long and winding road to a family began last fall when a joint effort by several animal rights groups, including Wishbone, rescued a number of shelter animals in Montcalm County just before a Class B dealer arrived to confiscate them for medical research.

Scooter

Scooter was one of those lucky animals saved from a horrific fate at the medical labs. After an animal organization from the county physically removed him from the shelter, Scooter was handed over to Wishbone where we provided him with a new lease on life and cared for him until the right family came along.

An intelligent, energetic dog, we knew that Scooter would be ideal for a home where he could play and be active. Luckily this young lab found the perfect family this April.  Scooter now spends his time sleeping on the family beds, playing with the household’s children or waiting eagerly for his two favorite things:  a ride in the car or a nice long walk outside. A lovable goofball, Scooter keeps his new family entertained with his endless attempts to ‘talk’ and an endearing manner of lying down with paws going every which way.

His new dad’s previous animal companion was a trained therapeutic dog who brightened the lives of cancer patients at Children’s Hospital in Detroit, but sadly he passed away. Scooter will also be trained as a therapy dog and someday soon should also be helping the young cancer patients at the hospital.

This is one of WB’s happiest success stories. Just one day later, Scooter would have been lost to a research lab. Instead he has come full circle. Rescued from experimentation at a medical facility, his future now includes bettering the lives of sick children. Meanwhile he has quickly become the newest member of a loving family.

“He has brought laughter and joy to our family,” his new dad claims. His ten year old daughter agrees, adding, “I’m so glad that Scooter didn’t get used for a science experiment.” Now Scooter’s life — and the lives of many others — will be all the richer for his timely rescue

In Montcalm County animals have more to fear from a trip to the animal shelter than just being left behind. As terrible as it may be for a pet to be surrendered by their owner, they also face life in a harsh, unforgiving research laboratory if chosen for such a fate. Unbelievably, some Michigan shelters still allow this practice and many animals are pulled from their crates and sold for such use.

Scooter, an 18 month old black lab mix, was headed for just such a life. He had just recently been turned in, and before he was given a chance for adoption he was chosen by a dealer that profits from taking shelter dogs and selling them to laboratories, where they are caged and used for testing everything from drugs to cosmetics (including Botox), very often with lethal results.

Scooter was lucky to escape such a horrible fate. A Montcalm area organization stepped in and removed him from the shelter, but when they couldn’t follow through on his rescue they called Wishbone for help. Of course, we were glad to provide him with a second chance and brought him in to our care.

Scooter is a smart, active dog with lots of energy. He loves to play, and could make a great Agility dog. He loves to be active, and would make a great companion for someone who has the energy to play with him as he grows up. He is loyal and loving, and seems to do well with other dogs, although they would probably need to be as playful as he is.

Please contact us if you would like more information about Scooter, or would like to meet him in person. You can also download a pre-adoption form here -CLICK- if you’re interested in giving him a second chance.

Scooter, like so many other animals in the West Michigan area, needs a loving forever home with someone like you. He will reward you with unconditional love, and ask for nothing but your love in return. Well, that and a couple of Frisbees.

Thanks for your interest in Scooter, you can also find more information on the tragic practice of selling animals to research here –

http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research

http://www.jethrosplace.org/campaign.htm

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=104521&catid=14