By Madison Bendistis
Elm Staff Writer
Lately at the Humane Society of Kent County, visitors have been greeted by the pitter-patter of little paws. The shelter currently has five American Staffordshire Terrier puppies available for adoption.
The staff is hoping that their mother, 3-year-old Dolla, will have an equally short stay at the Humane Society. This loving pup has beautiful caramel eyes and tan fur.
Dolla’s babies have the opportunity to spend their entire lives in loving homes. For Dolla, the first three years of her life have been far from ideal.
“Her owners used to breed her. She had litter after litter after litter,” Humane Society Intern Sarah Collins said. “Dolla came to us in November after she and a couple of other dogs were seized from their owners, and she was very pregnant. Just about four days after she arrived, she gave birth to a litter of 10 puppies.”
After a court case last Monday, Feb. 12, a judge decided to grant the previous owner rights to five of the puppies, and gave the Humane Society of Kent County custody of the remaining five puppies and Dolla.
“I could not be happier with the outcome,” Collins said. “Especially the fact that we got Dolla.”
Dolla has since been spayed, so she will never have to birth another litter again. This wasn’t the only health issue that Dolla faced in her previous home.
Dolla tested heartworm positive when she first arrived at the Humane Society, and according to Collins, “She was also literal skin and bones.”
The staff feeds her puppy food three times a day to help her gain weight, and Collins said that she’s finally getting there.
“She has some scar tissue on her head from an old injury. You can see on her ears she has scars, too,” she said. “But she’s still so pretty.”
Dolla has had her heartworms fully treated and is now at a healthy weight. With her puppies old enough for adoption, she is now ready to find a home of her own.
Despite everything that Dolla has been through, she remains a playful dog at heart.
“She loves giving kisses and running around,” Collins said. “And Dolla is also a great mom. She’s very loving and nurturing.”
Potential adopters should know that, because Dolla has never been properly introduced to dogs or cats, she would likely do best as the only animal in the household.
“If all you’re doing to your dog is breeding it and the only interaction they have with other dogs is when they’re getting bred, then they’ll be scared of that. Every time she sees another dog she’s just so scared,” Collins said. “I don’t know if I’d put her in a home with cats. She’d probably be OK with a more docile cat. But she does great with children.”
If anyone in the Chestertown community, WC faculty and staff members, or even students with families are interested in rescuing Dolla, please contact the Humane Society of Kent County at 410-778-3648 or by emailing info@kenthumane.org.