Previously unwanted animals spruced up for Sunday adoption

Karen Zekan

Friday, March 12, 1999 | 10:23 a.m.

Life hasn't been easy for little Victoria.

She turned up a few weeks ago at the Dewey Animal Shelter, a terrified 3-month-old pup, little more than skin and bones. A filthy, shredded bandage wrapped around a limp front paw was the only hint of her history -- and it would likely be the reason the dog would never find a home.

Few people passing through a shelter are drawn to an injured homeless dog. They see dollar signs for medical bills, not a little soul needing help.

So she waited, along with hundreds of other beautiful breeds, but no one came to claim her. After six days, she was hours from euthanasia when Media Partners for Pets volunteer Christine Rotter, walking through the facility, took a chance and rescued Victoria.

This Sunday, Victoria -- the nonprofit group's most recent success story -- will be up for adoption at a special pet adopt-a-thon in West Flamingo Park.

Between 110 and 150 homeless pets -- mostly dogs and a few cats -- will be up for adoption from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park between Jones Boulevard and Torrey Pines Drive. The cost to adopt a pet is $13.

Media Partners for Pets, in conjunction with its main sponsor, Veterinary Centers of America, is dedicated to developing off-site adoption events for the county and the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The idea is to take the animals out of cages in a depressing shelter environment and introduce them to potential new owners in a positive place.

In the past year the group has found homes for almost 400 shelter animals.

Veterinarians from the Veterinary Centers of America will also be on hand, offering low-cost vaccinations and microchip pet IDs for pets in the community who already have homes.

Victoria is getting spiffed up for Sunday's event.

In the past week Dr. Mayling Chinn and the staff at Veterinary Centers of America's Painted Desert Animal Hospital, 4601 N. Rancho Drive, have taken the pup in, cleaned her up, and treated her for two ear infections, worms, malnutrition and dehydration.

But the best news? Victoria's paw, which at first looked as if it would be amputated, is healing.

In the past week the vet and her staff have put the dog through hydrotherapy, exercising the paw in warm water. And each passing day, the muscles are coming back.

The two groups have gone the extra mile, bringing in trainer Cheri Ireland of Courteous K9 to help socialize the pup. Likely living in the wild for some time, she was initially aggressive, fighting for her food and growling at both people and other dogs.

"She's very trainable and motivated by treats," Ireland said, who notes that the dog's youth is an asset, and Victoria is becoming a friendly, loving pet who admittedly will need continuing work.

"I'd like to see her go to a household where she would be considered a big part of the family," Chinn said. "It would be nice if she had kids to play with. She would be a great companion for almost anyone."