Makita's long journey home

A majestic malemute/husky was often seen laying along Highway 1 West when I was enroute to work at Red Lake. She looked like she was just resting there. I often wondered about her.

A few months passed and in March, 2010, I got a phone call from Kristy who lived in the neighborhood. She said she had a dog to bring to the shelter. She said the dog had been hit by a car some time ago, and that she had been feeding her. I agreed to take her and they brought her to the shelter. I immediately recognized her as the dog I had seen laying alongside the road, and all this time the poor girl had been injured.

I called her Makita and soon she became one of my favorites. Makita had her kennel with the door open. She would go out to relieve herself and would eagerly go back to her space where she always had food, water, and straw to bed herself in. She walked with a slight limp.

Makita was spayed, vaccinated and heartworm tested. We discovered she had heartworm, so she was treated for that as well. She spent four months at the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue.

Tricounty Humane Society agreed to take her. It was discovered there that she would need leg surgery for TPLO. The orthopedic surgeon would do the surgery and we would pay for it. However, on further X-rays, it was discovered she had a broken femur and also a broken pelvis. The surgery was postponed and it was recommended that she have an amputation sometime in the future, however, she was still using the leg and the vet felt it should not be amputated now.

RLRR adopted her back as we did not think that she was very adoptable with her orthopedic issues. Makita spent three more months at the RLRR shelter and loved her kennel and was nestled in the straw once again. It was good to have her back, but our hopes dwindled for her forever home.

Then, in Dec, 2010, Terresa found a place for her. Makita left for a foster-to-adopt home with Hercules, a male dog of her breed.

MAKITA'S FOSTER FAMILY REPORTS:
It seems like Makita has been with us a long time – I was startled to look at the calendar and see it is only been 2 weeks!

Her new sleeping place at night is on the carpet at the foot of our bed. She moves around to her kennel, our bedroom and basically the entire lower level. Just enjoying the freedom and movement I think. She has found cool or comforting spots she enjoys so just moves as the spirit or need moves her.

Makita and Hercules have taken to lying within three feet of each other on the entry area of the family room after supper. Looks like people do after Thanksgiving dinner, just sitting back after enjoying the meal and the company, but instead of falling asleep on the couch they are sprawled out on the floor. Really laughed the first time we noticed it!

We had dog visitors over again yesterday. Makita met them when she first came to our house. Makita was interested in them but wasn’t bothered by any of them and wasn’t interested in play on their first visit. When they came yesterday, we did the meeting thing for dogs and Makita immediately declared territory. Since she was barking and upset I took her back inside.

She didn’t like that so after a few minutes when she was calm and asked, I took her out again. Hercules had been playing with his friends but when she came out, he went to her and talked. She was able to meet one of the dogs (male). She wasn’t happy but she wasn’t upset either. Then she wanted in and I took her in. She asked to go out again, so out we went and she met the other dog (female). That was more interesting. She tolerated being sniffed, and she sniffed back a little. You could just hear Makita think “mmmm that isn’t as ok” but I might like her. When both dogs were satisfied (slight talking between them) Makita wanted back in. So in she went. She was satisfied to be in the rest of their playtime with Hercules. When they left, out she went and investigated the yard.

It has been very interesting watching Hercules guide and be protective of her. I think it has been established that he is the resident dog. He told her those dogs were his friends and they were playing. He watched when she came out and made it clear his friends could meet her, but he was there so nothing would happen to her. All of the dogs understood that. When Makita is out by herself she does her business then goes back to the door looking for Hercules. Making it clear she wants him out too.

She reminds us regularly how accepting, adaptable and tough she is and that she knows we are too. Gotta Love her - Go Makita! ;)

Gus & Gang

In spite of the uncertainty of her orthopedic future, Makita's family wants to adopt her:

"We still want to adopt Makita. It is love all the way around! We will face the surgery when it is necessary, just like any family does."

So- Makita finally made it home.

Karen

Transport July 17

We are happy to report that our faithful transport team made another successful transport July 17th to the metro. Karen met Tom in Bemidji who took the animals on to Motley to meet Barbara. Barbara took the load to Tricounty and on to the metro rescues.

We are so thankful to have a shelter to help these animals, friends to transport and provide support, as well as rescues for these great animals to go to on their journey.

TINY TIMTiny Tim was a very small puppy- cute as a button- found at the pow-wow grounds and was surrendered by a concerned citizen. He went to RLRR foster care with Dino.

TONYTony was found wandering in Red Lake hungry and was brought to the shelter where he was neutered and vaccinated. He went on to Tricounty and was adopted already.

MAKITATwo of the special riders were Makita who went to foster care at Tricounty and Misty and her little tribe of 6 puppies that went to Minnesota Pitbull rescue.

MISTY AND HER PUPSCarol Priest made the rescue of Misty and her pups and dropped her off at the vet where I picked her up. She suffered malnourishment and dehydration and was trying to nurse her 6 puppies. The owners said she would not eat.

Poor Misty is a darling pitbull --about 9 months old-- and only a bag of bones. She is so timid, she falls to her belly and crawls as you approach her. She has a big heart, and is a great dog

MISTYShe ate and ate when she arrived here. She had a full bowl of puppy kibble and a can of pedigree both morning and night. In 8 days during her stay she gained 4 pounds and her hair got shiny. She produced massive amounts of milk and was so happy to have the food, water, and safe environment for her and her pups!

She was accepted by Laura of Minnesota Pitbull Rescue who will dearly love this girl. Such a sweet spirit.

And I've already received an update on Misty- the little starving mama pitbull that left!! They just love her- as I knew they would. Also- if you remember Lucy (now called Zeebe) the starving pitbull from last November- she may be getting her forever home!@!

Karen:)

MISTY'S PUPSUPDATE FROM RESCUE:
Misty is doing well! =)

I had her overnight on Saturday and then brought her to her foster home on Sunday morning. She has a whole room for herself and her puppies. There was a laundry basket in the room with clean towels/blankets and she has made a bed out of the basket. It was super cute!

She is a doll, you are right I LOVE her!! =) She may already have an interested party too, (once the pups are 8 weeks of course). I am sure they will come meet her in the next few weeks.

Talk with you soon and again, thank you so much for contacting us about her. And on a side note, Zeebe/Lucy had her meet and greet last night and all went well so as long as the resident dog and Zeebe get along she will have a forever home!

Laura
MN Pit Bull Rescue

Makita

Makita, a female husky mix was seen laying along the road on the reservation for several months. I assumed she belonged to someone in the Bigstone community so each day I passed her by.

One day a concerned citizen from that neighborhood came to the shelter and brought Makita. She said she had been feeding her and all along she was a homeless stray. She was frightened and seemed ill.

Well, she warmed up to me quickly and turned out to be so affectionate to me but kind of a loner with other dogs.

I had her spayed, vaccinated, and tested for heartworm and turned out she had lymes, anaplasmosis and heartworm. I treated her 3 weeks with doxycycline and then treated her for heartworm also with a 2 day injection of immeticide on 7/5 and 7/6.

She is a very good girl. I left the kennel door open and the only time she left was to toilet and never goes anywhere else. She loved the attention and petting I would give her, but never got enough from me because of all the work that needed to be done at the shelter.

She went to Tricounty Humane Society on July 17 with the promise of a foster home which she got.

Well- today I hear that she also needs to have surgery on her leg and Tricounty said they do not have funds to pay for that- and will return her to the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue. Unfortunately, the treatment here is not as good as in the metro- so I would hope and pray that she could get the funds necessary to have the surgery needed so she can be adopted and have a life with a real family.

She has a tear in her ACL in her back left knee and possible miniscus tear. She will need a TPLO surgery or an Extra Cap Sealer repair

I know my requests for medical for the special "broken" kids is a lot lately, but Makita breaks my heart- she has been through so much and somehow we need to help her.

I know but we have paid about $500.00 so far in her vet bill, and every time we take from our budget, we are dipping into clinic and neuter/spay funds. I'm hoping to get more donations to help. It just seems the needs are greater than the resources.

I thought I would put this out to the supporters of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue, especially now as we have the opportunity of doubling the dollars donated with the matching funds available.

Thank you all for every way in which you help this work.

Karen

UPDATE FROM TRI-COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY FOSTERING MAKITA:
We heard back from one of the vets.

Because of her breed and the size of Makita she will need a more expensive surgery called a TPLO to fully repair the leg. If they were to just go in and do a less expensive version, there is a high likelihood that it will tear again and then they will have to go back in to do another repair down the road.

So, with a very generous discount from one of the area surgeons, the surgery can be done for $841.00. I know it's a lot of money and I don't know where you guys sit right now for funds, but I know that we are pretty low ourselves.

Also, the surgery cannot be performed until she is fully recovered from heartworm treatment, which is not for another 2-4 months, or until she starts testing negative. So it does give you guys some time to try to raise/save up some money.

I'm sorry this wasn't better news. I hope that you guys are able to figure something out. Let us know what direction you would like to go, we are still able to find foster care for her here... hope we can still help you out!

Tri-County Humane Society
Animal Care Managers


Thanks to Tri-County for working with Red Lake Rosie's Rescue so faithfully!