Found, a not-for-profit center, takes in dogs that no one else would. These dogs get better and give unconditional love.
The rehabilitation and re-homing center found has Neptune and Marty playing with one of the volunteers. Neptune is a 4-month-old pit bull mix puppy who came to Found when he was 5 weeks old, says executive director Alicia Boemi
"His back legs are deformed," Boemi said. "He was born that way, so we're not sure what exactly he came from, if his mother abandoned him or if his owner abandoned him."
Marty is a 4- or 5-year-old miniature poodle whose back legs are paralyzed.
"He'll scoot around on his front paws, and he's extremely happy, loves other dogs loves people, loves to be held," said Boemi.
Both dogs are being rehabbed for adoption. Neptune is still a puppy.
"Right now we're working on socializing with him since he was taken from his mom at such a young age," said Boemi. "He really needs to learn some more social skills, but we're also teaching building muscle in his front legs, and basically making him strong.
"We are going to fit him for a wheelchair. Since he's still growing every day we can't fit him right now, because he gets bigger and bigger, so at 6 months old we're going to get him a wheelchair."
Marty has other issues that are not physical.
"We're going to rehab him, we're going to get him fully healthy, clean up the sores and the wounds he has on his body, get him a cart, socialize him a little bit more with dogs and temperament test him and then adopt him out," Boemi said.
Dog handler Fabian Romo says these dogs have a lot of potential.
"If a dog gets along with other dogs, it opens up a lot of windows and doors, for behavior and probably getting a good family," said Romo.
Found has plans to expand.
"Right now we're limited to about 10-to-15 at a time, and that's based on our kennel space and our foster homes," said Boemi. "We're currently expanding into a new building. We have 18 kennels and two built-suites, so we'll be able to take in anywhere from 20-to-25 dogs at a time, which will be huge and will be able to effect many more lives. And then we're also working on taking in cats as well.
"These dogs have come from horrible, horrible situations and we are able to take them in and give them the care that they need and then adopt them out."
If you are interested in these dogs or others, follow this link to the Found website: www.foundchicago.org.
