Dog Survives Nutrient Issues, Skin Problems, and a COVID Lockdown Before Getting Adopted

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Nevada SPCA transferred Barbara Ann, a sweet 6-year-old German Shepherd, in early March of this year from another shelter: she was emaciated with patches of hair missing all over her skeletal body. Our veterinarian determined that she had a condition that prevented her body from absorbing nutrients properly, along with a skin infection.

We started a successful regimen to nurse Barbara Ann back to health, and she started to gain weight and hair back. Then the COVID pandemic shut our shelter down. Although we continued adoptions virtually and by appointment, for six long months, Barbara Ann was overlooked because of her reactivity to other animals: she has to be the only animal in the home. It broke our hearts to walk past her kennel each day and see that sweet face that we knew would thrive in a wonderful home.

We exhausted our contacts and media exposure trying to get Barbara Ann adopted but were still unsuccessful, so our next strategy was to hire Barbara Ann a trainer to calm down her reactivity. It worked. On August 29, Barbara Ann was adopted by a couple that fell in love with her… just like we did.

Story submitted by Lori Heeren.