8 abandoned puppies recovered, in new homes

Published 10:40 pm Monday, September 22, 2008

GRANITE FALLS — The eight Australian shepherd puppies found abandoned and starving on a rural Snohomish County logging road this summer have new homes and appear to be in good health.

In a single day earlier this month, Everett Animal Shelter workers found adoptive families for the four male and four female puppies.

“The pups are doing great,” said shelter director Bud Wessman.

One of the puppies, Paisley, was adopted by the daughter of Gary Tuttle of Granite Falls.

Tuttle, 71, is the retired logger who found the emaciated litter locked in a portable kennel while he was picking blackberries in the forest in August.

“She just runs and plays and has a great time,” said Tuttle’s wife, Lois. “She’s just an everyday typical puppy and has a happy life.”

The day Tuttle found the puppies, they were emaciated and so ill they couldn’t hold down water.

It was nearly 90 degrees — one of the hottest days of the year — and the helpless animals were covered in their own waste and starving.

The Tuttles took the puppies to the Everett Animal Shelter, where they were cleaned and evaluated by a veterinarian.

The dogs, which had eaten their own feces to stay alive, were diagnosed with an intestinal parasite and a potentially deadly blood infection, both treatable conditions.

An employee at the animal shelter took care of the runt, the puppy in poorest health.

Dawna Berg-Bancroft of Arlington took care of the seven remaining puppies.

She is a dog breeder who also volunteers with animal rescue groups.

While attending college at the University of Washington, Berg-Bancroft said she used to sneak dogs scheduled to be put down out the back door of the Seattle animal shelter.

While caring for the Australian shepherds, Berg-Bancroft fed the puppies a special high-protein food for sled dogs — a mix of salmon and tripe — along with dry kibble and Ensure nutrition shakes. She also gave them regular doses of medication.

In short time, some of the puppies doubled their weight and went from having bones sticking out of their skin to being healthy pets, she said.

Reporter David Chircop: dchircop@heraldnet.com.

Everett Animal Shelter

8,500Animals received

8,000Animals saved

3,000 Adoptions

Source: City of Everett estimates for 2008

Want to adopt a dog or puppy?

The shelter constantly has more dogs and cats for adoption than it does homes.

The shelter is at 2732 36th St.

Construction has 41st and 36th streets closed west of I-5. A detour to the shelter runs along Pacific Avenue west of I-5 and continues south on Chestnut Street.

More info: www.everettwa.org (select “animal services” from the “jump to” menu) or call 425-257-6000.