Spread some holiday cheer at Four Paws
COSHOCTON – Rocky has stolen Shari Valentine’s heart and she would like nothing more than for him to find a home for the holidays.
“His Daddy is active duty in the military,” said Valentine. “He’s not overseas right now, but when he’s home he has a job on an oil well and just can’t keep him.”
Rocky, a 6-year-old lab/bluetick mix, has had one owner since he was a puppy.
“He’s a special dog,” Valentine said. “He needs love and lots of it.”
She fostered Rocky for two years while his Dad was in Iraq, but she couldn’t keep him because she has cats.
“Cats are a big issue with him,” Valentine said. “He’s a hunting dog so when they run it catches his eyes and he chases them.”
Rocky, however, seems to get along with other dogs.
“We have eight of them and he got along with everybody,” Valentine said.
Rocky also is fine with kids, but Valentine suggests they be older ones. She also said whoever adopts him needs to be strong.
“He weighs 72 pounds now,” Valentine said. “He’s a stocky boy and needs a strong family. His Dad would get him and just let him run and run. He does pull when you walk him, but once he gets into it he settles down.”
Rocky has officially been with Four Paws Since Aug. 7.
“He’s stressed being here,” Valentine said. “It wasn’t easy for his Dad to give him up. He’s an awesome dog.
If you can’t give Rocky or one of the other dogs at Four Paws a permanent home for the holidays, but still want to help, you can apply to be a foster parent.
“How long you foster the dog is up to you,” Valentine said. “We will give you dog food and if the dog gets sick while you have it we will take care of the veterinarian bills. They just need love and a home.”
She’d like to see all the dogs fostered so Four Paws can do some work on its basement.
“There are things we want to do that we can’t with the dogs there,” Valentine said. “We’d like to do some repairs to the kennels and work on the floors. We aren’t hiding it from the public, we just aren’t happy with the way it looks. After we make some changes we can open it for people to come look at the dogs.”
If fostering isn’t for you, Four Paws also is in need of volunteers to walk the dogs and people to donate blankets to be used as bedding.
To learn more about Four Paws and the dogs and cats available for adoption there, stop by from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Four Paws is located at 504 Main St. and also houses a thrift shop.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places
