I have to talk to you about Luna. Oh, what a story this sweet girl has.
Ten months ago – yes, you read that right, it was 10 months ago – someone saw a bunch of coyotes on their game trail camera, only to discover one of the animals was actually a dog.
Luna is a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, who actually could be mistaken for a coyote. It makes sense.
Shortly after spotting her running with the coyotes, she was found in a foot trap and brought into the shelter.
Her foot was sore from being in the trap, but healed up nicely. She does have slightly crooked legs and we’re guessing she may have had injuries in her life that healed over and she now has some arthritis because of it.
When she first came into us, we were so incredibly ecstatic to discover she was microchipped. It always makes us incredibly happy when we find one because it means someone must want her back.
Believe it or not, the chip went back to a person in South Carolina.
How on earth Luna had made it from South Carolina to Pennsylvania, we have no idea, but the stories she could tell if she could talk would certainly make for a best selling book.
She had been missing for more than a year and unfortunately, no one could come get her, so she stayed with us.
We have started testing our dogs for heartworm because they can be such a problem for canines. The records we got from South Carolina showed that she did test positive for heartworm.
Well, when we tested Luna, she came up not only with heartworms, but also Lyme, Ehrlicia, and Anaplasmosis (which come from tick bites – probably because she had been running with coyotes for so long).
She needed a whole lot of treatment.
We did notice she would occasionally have a tough time breathing and seemed tired a lot. No wonder with all those problems inside her body!
Luna couldn’t have a whole lot of activity while she was being treated for everything, so she would get slow walks out of the kennel and we tried to keep her calm. It’s tough in a shelter, because there’s always a lot of activity, but after six months, Luna has been cleared not only of the heartworm, but all the other diseases as well.
Everyone at the shelter absolutely adores Luna. She’s a special girl because she’s been through so much and been with us for so long.
We want her to finally find her forever home, but potential adopters should have a little knowledge of her breed and realize she can be stubborn and bossy at times (who can’t, though? Heh).
She tends to herd humans and will sometimes give a gentle nip to get people to go where she wants – as a result she should probably go to a home without small children.
She’s also really smart girl, just like her breed.
Luna seems like she ignores cats, but she might try to herd them, which could cause problems if the cats don’t like it.
Anyone who would be interested in this gorgeous girl is asked to fill out an application and we will set up a time for you to meet her. She’s not in the general adoption area because of her situation, but I’m hoping by writing about her, we might get some folks to come in to see her. Please check her out at cvas-pets.org.
Luna is such a special girl and will need to find a special home.
Could that be with you?
*****
Jennifer Vanderau is the Public Relations Coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, readers may call the shelter at 717-263-5791 or visit the website cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates thrift stores in Chambersburg and Shippensburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the stores.
