4 Thursday, March 20, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
Deliverance, neglected dog finds loving home
Story and photos by Patti Babcock
Dorothy Waldroop joined the crowd at the Nye County
Animal Shelter in Pahrump Saturday morning. She and at
least 60 other people were there to adopt one of the little
dogs confiscated by the Nye County Sheriff's Office on
March 9.
Waldroop and her sister-in-law Mildred Johnson, who is
visiting from Tucson, Arizona, were stunned when they saw
the pathetic dogs on
television news. The dogs
were covered with feces
matted in their hair. Some of
them had their eyes matted
shut. All suffered from
dehydration and
malnutrition. They learned
volunteers were shaving and
bathing the little canines.
It was a grim story. NCSO
Officer Lori Pringle arrived
at a trailer on White Road in
Pahrump to investigate a
complaint and found 39 dogs
and one ferret living in cages
overflowing with feces and
urine which were even in the
food and water dishes. The
filthy animals, owned by
Kathy Schaefer who is
charged with 40 counts of
misdeamor animal cruelty,
all suffered from
dehydration and
malnutrition. Dental disease, Dorothy Waldroop with
worms and ear infections also plagued many of the dogs.
Three dogs had to be euthanized.
The little dogs, poodles, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas and Lhasa
Apses, were to offered for adoption.
Waldrooo knew she could provide a lovin home. Johnson
agreed. During the adoption she said, "'Dorothy treats all of
her animals like they're he," children."
Nye County, Animal Control issued numbers to potential
adopters who were called in, one group at a time, to look at
and possibly adopt one of the animals. Waldroop had
number four.
Nye County Animal Control Officer Frank Johnson led
Waldroop accompanied by her sister-in-law into the shelter.
They looked at the dogs in the puppy room. Without their
hair, all looked amazingly small and achingly Vulnerable.
The tiny dogs wiggled and wagged and begged to be chosen.
The big question was, "How to decide?" Waldroop went
from the puppy room to the main shelter area, where two or
three dogs shared a cage, then back to the first room.
She asked questions. Officer Johnson answered. The dogs
were three to four years old. Most required dental work
which the adopter would have to fund. Ears needed to be
rechecked. Dr. Steven Romeo had examined each dog
checking heart, lungs, temperature, teeth and overall health.
The shelter would spay or neuter the dog and give it a rabies
shot. Waldroop's cost would be $5 to cover the license lee.
Since she was a senior the adoption was free.
"T ve always wanted a poodle. I looked for one in Pahrump,
but I couldn't find one and I couldn't afford one," Waldroop
said. Now she could have the dog of her dreams. Why a
poodle? Waldroop and a number of other people who
wanted a poodle said they
want them because they are
so intelligent and loving.
They don't shed and don't
smell (under normal
circumstances).
A gray poodle and a black
poodle, both males, were the
final choices. When
informed she could only
adopt one, Waldroop choose
the gray dog. Toby,
Waldroop said she thought
the name fit the dog,
appeared to agree on both
the adoption and the name.
He wagged his whole body
and licked both Waldroop
and Johnson.
Betty Pohlmeier, holding
number five, adopted a tiny
brown poodle. Her young
grandson approved her
choice. Like Waldroop, she
had wanted a poodle, but she
newly adopted "Toby." wanted to think about the
name for a while.
The small foyer where adopters took care of paper work
became more crowded when Jo Ellen Askloff arrived. She
just wanted to make a donation to the shelter to help pay for
the care of the neglected
animals. Askloff. her
husband Eric, and their three
poodles had driven fl'om Las
Vegas to deliver their check.
"We've had poodles for 25
years," Askloff said. "We' re
poodle lovers, and we just
want to help."
The adoption story was
repeated until all the dogs
found families. Some people
were disappointed when they
didn't get one. Animal
control workers were quick
to tell those still waiting that
there were from 30 to 50
other dogs who needed
homes. A few were adopted.
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