Maltese Only News
November 2002

Maltese Dog Rescue News

None of us know what tomorrow will bring. In rescue we have been made all to well aware of that fact. Part of being a responsible pet owner is to plan for your beloved pet should your life end unexpectedly or you become incapacitated in some way and not have the ability to care for your pet. In the last few months I personally have had to handle two very different cases of pets left in jeopardy because owners did not prepare for the unexpected.

#1 Comet The 11 + year old Maltese was a beloved pet of a well to do senior, owner’ we will call Mrs. X. Mrs. X was a widow with no children and developed Alzheimer’s disease. She had on many occasions said she wanted her beloved Comet to be cared for when she could no longer do so and knew she had the money ensure this was done for the rest of his days. After years of illness she was declared incompetent by the courts and taken to a nursing home. Comet was left behind in the apartment owned by Mrs. X with no one to care for him. Neighbors got the key when they would hear his sorrowful howling. They would go and feed him. After one month of being alone in the apartment the courts allowed an allowance of $200 a month to Mrs. X’s housekeeper to take Comet and care for him. After 3 months the court cut off care for Comet. The house keeper did not want to keep him once this was done and it is at that time I was contacted by the Attorney and account of Mrs. X. They asked me to take him into rescue, which of course we did. I received a little dog that was obviously neglected, extremely ill and covered in sores. Not only that, his eyes where actually sealed shut with drainage, from eyes so severely infected that he lost the majority of his vision. After 3 months of recovery in rescue Comet is now living happily in a wonderful loving home. Mrs. X died two weeks after Comet came into rescue never knowing her beloved pet was safe at last.

#2. Lil Bit and Misty Having owned these two sweet little white dogs owner #2 planned a lovely vacation. Thinking she was being a responsible pet owner she arranged for her babies to be placed in a kennel while she was gone. Kissing them good bye and walking out of the boarding kennel she never knew it would be the last time her babies would see her. She never made it back from that trip alive. Her beloved pets remained in that kennel for more than 3 months. To make things worse the kennel keeper did not like these two little dogs. When I contacted him he said he would not release the dogs to rescue because in his opinion they where nasty little dogs and should be euthanized and not allowed in anyone’s home. I don’t know as a fact what happened in that kennel but once we got the dogs into rescue (with the help of the niece) We where able to place these a two dogs in a new home in NY State, where they are loved. I think my point is made. Do not assume your pet will be cared for. Neither the courts nor family can assure you that your pet will be cared for in the manner you want unless you put it in writing. Verbal wishes are just not enough. I shutter to think of how many other pets’ end up in situations that a owner never wanted for them. If you have no one you can depend on to care for your pets then consider a rescue. Put it in writing and make sure that it is in a place where your wishes can be followed immediately should the unforeseen happen to you. Responsible pet ownership goes beyond the grave if you truly want to rest in peace, protect them now while you can.

Mary Palmer, President/Rescue Coordinator Northcentral Maltese Rescue, Inc. (With National coverage)

PRINCESS RENEE

Princess Renee is just that. A Princess. She was treated with the kind of love even us humans would love to have. Princess’ father developed lung cancer. Princess was the kind of girl who loved sleeping with her mom and dad. When her dad got sick she could no longer sleep with them and she would sit on the floor at night and cry. Princess’ dad called me crying and said he had to give her up and wanted a “special” home for her. Unfortunately she had to be fostered immediately. Princess’ foster mom fell in love with her. Pricess fell in love with her foster mom’s daughter and immediately bonded and was able to sleep with her. Along came Diane who immediately fell in love with Princess and Princess with her. They have both bonded and Princess now has a new mom and dad and is still being treated like a “Princess”. Congratulations, Princess, on your new forever home.

"There's a place in the sun where there's hope for everyone." --Stevie Wonder