ADOPTED

SAGE

Sage was a recent guest of one of our rural Animal Control Shelter partners, along with her sister, Bala. Both our girls have a hard luck story to tell, since they were strays for a while, before the Dog Officer picked them up. When they first arrived at the shelter, Bala and Sage were frightened and shut down. We can only imagine the story they could tell.

Our long time shelter contact, Emily, first brought Sage and Bala's plight to our attention. Some dreadful trauma had befallen these beautiful girls, and Sage's situation was particularly dire. When she was found, her right eyeball was, literally, dangling out of its socket. She was rushed to emergency surgery, to have the nonfunctioning eye removed. We were speechless as we wondered what kind of accident could have caused this damage.

Emily beseeched us to take these striking two year old Beagle/Plott Hound mixes into our rescue program, to complete their vet care, and to find their forever homes. When we first met Sage, her eye had already been removed and was securely sutured. She had begun to adjust to a one-eyed existence and was doing remarkably well. The girls have adjusted beautifully to country life, and now that their vet care is finished, they eagerly await their new families.

At first Bala and Sage were quite bonded, but we have socialized them with other dogs, so that they can be adopted separately, into multi-dog homes. Or, they could be adopted together into a home ready for a compatible pair of siblings. Sage is the quieter of the two, and our challenge with her, has been to desensitize movement on her blind side; she has adapted beautifully. We find great inspiration from disabled dogs. There is no mourning the loss or wallowing in self pity. Dogs simply live in the moment and move on with their lives the best they can. Sage is a real trooper, and has maintained a calm, sweet demeanor throughout her ordeal.

Bala and Sage are largely Plotthounds, which we don't see in rescue very often. They sport the characteristic brown Brindle pattern coat, and long floppy ears. Their coats are short, glossy, and require minimal grooming. In size, Sage is smaller than breed standard, weighing about 35 pounds. We suspect Beagle DNA somewhere in the mix, due to her smaller, compact physique.

As a scent hound, Sage is easy to entertain, because she gets maximum brain and body workout from a simple stroll in the woods. She loves nature, and outdoor activities are the ideal means to bonding with her. She seems alert and interested in the world around her. Sage is a medium energy dog and does well with a couple of leisurely strolls each day, and then quiet relaxation time next to her beloved human.

Sage would be a great fit for an active single or couple, who can offer her a gentle touch, and patience to allow her time to unwind. She may not trust small children, but she would do well with another friendly dog or cat. For folks who truly love the process of helping a traumatized rescue dog heal, adding Sage to the family will reap endless heartfelt rewards.

Sage has good house manners, and is house trained and crate trained. Adopters should expect the occasional accident as she transitions to a new home. Sage is in excellent health, and is spayed. She is vaccinated for rabies, parvo, adrenovirus, distemper, coronavirus, leptopirosis, canine influenza, and bordatella. She has been dewormed, and has tested negative for heartworm, lyme, earlichia and anaplasmosis.

If you are interested in Sage, please write to Denise@eskiesonline.com, or call/text Denise at cell: 860-908-9738 for an adoption application.