On February 14th, 2014, we adopted Sarah (later to become Noke) from the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, in Boulder, Colorado. On January 7th, 2014, Sarah and her sister Sandra were turned in as strays, by a citizen, to the Gallup McKinley County Humane Society in Gallup, New Mexico. They estimated her birthday to be November 8th, 2013. She was transferred from Gallup to Boulder, in order to help her find a positive outcome. One January 25th, when they moved her to the clinic to be spayed, she was lethargic and has a 103.8 degree fever. She also had a hot spot lesion on her left side that she was chewing at. Her skin scrape was negative, but her parvo test was positive. Her shelter notes were sad… she chewed through her IV over night and spilled her food and water everywhere. She had alopecia on both inner thighs and her left shoulder… it was EXTREMELY itchy. Even though the deep skin scrape came back negative for mites, the vet started treating her for sarcoptic mange.
Then came the vomiting and diarrhea, along with some more chewing through IVs. (She was an INSANELY mouthy puppy!) She had a fecal test pending at this point, and was on a bunch of meds. She was continuing to lose weight and dropped down to 11 lbs. Why? The fecal test came back positive for coccidia, so they added some more meds to her daily meatballs. She took off her e-collar and chewed apart another IV. She finally had semi-formed feces, but it had mucous in it. Her spay went relatively well. At this point, on 2/2, she was doing much better. She was still on a lot of meds, but she was eating, her temp was down, and she was far less itchy. on the 3rd, she was finally okayed to move to the shelter, but was quarantined for her mange. She would be available on the 10th, but the adopter would need to sign a disclaimer, understanding that she recently had and is recovering from parvo and cheyletiella, which is a skin parasite. They didn’t have to sign anything for her coccidia or being un(der)socialized.
I’d been actively keeping an eye on the Humane Society of Boulder Valley’s website. She wasn’t available for adoption, as you know, due to her medical issues and quarantine. On February 13th, she was available, along with her sister, and I managed to put a second hold on her. Someone else had a first hold. I was told it was a staff member who placed it to keep her safe, whether that was true or not. When they found out I placed a hold, they removed their hold. I brought Alana the next day as a surprise and she loved her. We weren’t looking for someone too big, but when they told us that she was an Akita mix who would probably be 80 lbs, we said… okay! Looking at her medical paperwork from various shelters she went through, she is also listed as a shepherd mix by one and an Aussie shepherd mix by another. Her multiple DNA tests show that she has A LOT in her! She was 11.5 lbs at the time of adoption and has capped out at 49 lbs. Looking back at her paperwork, her adoption fee was $199. We kept going to the HSBV for her medical needs and training. We still support them to this day.
Looking through her folder is so nostalgic. There is a how to introduce cats and dogs sheet. There were so many medical bills because of all the vet visits she needed. She also picked up giardia right after we adopted her. Since she was so undersocialized, we took her to puppy classes two to three times a week. We’d spend hours every day, at home, training her with a clicker. She was a total menace. She opened up to us immediately, even though it took forever (and still hasn’t) to have her open up to other dogs. She is EXTREMELY selective, or rather, corrective. She’ll almost never engage with other dogs, but if they give her some questionable cues, she will police them… especially puppies!
She has had dog licenses for Boulder, Santa Monica, LA County and LA City. Her favorite brand of harness and leash is Ruffwear. She doesn’t mind taking her Comfortis (flea treatment pill) every month, as long as we smother it in peanut butter. She is absolutely not a picky eater and VERY food motivated. People joke that she has a massive appetite due to her health issues as a puppy. It is a cute thought. She absolutely adores her brother Sajah and is ridiculously respectful of her sister Nymeria. She knows that she is the baby; they taught her that as a puppy.
Over the years she has eaten 3650 cups of kibble. We have cleaned up over 4000 of her poops. (That is A LOT of bags… sorry Mother Earth.) She has wrecked countless toys, but her/our favorites are made by Kong, Nylabone and Tuffy. She has a super-cute raincoat made by Hurtta. She has her own loveseat in our home that no one else sits on, except Sajah and Nymeria. She loves going to Dr. Revel at West Hollywood Animal Hospital. She also loves hiking, especially at Will Rogers State Park.
We could talk about her forever! Now, we’re looking to find her a puppy to help raise. She would’ve been a great mother. She is a 10/10 good girl. We can’t thank Boulder Humane enough for saving her, so we continue to support them every month. It is the least we can do for them. Consider spreading the love this Valentine’s Day by giving back as well. And as always, stay hungry and fit!
We LOVE you, Noke! Thanks for making your parents so happy you’re in their lives…
Awww! One lucky dog. :o)