Everybody Loves Lucy, But She Still Needs a Permanent Home

Picasso Veterinary Fund in Action! (April 2009)

It was Christmas Eve when Lucy, a four-to-five-year-old stray Boxer mix, was brought into the Animal Care & Control (AC&C) shelter. She was emaciated and dehydrated, her stomach distended, yet she was as sweet as could be, and the shelter staff immediately fell in love with her.

For the next three weeks, the shelter workers tried hard to find an adopter for Lucy. She was featured as "Pet of the Week" in the Canarsie Courier and her listing appeared on Craig's List in every major city in the Northeast. But no one stepped up to adopt Lucy, and she became very depressed.

Fortunately, a volunteer from Adopt A Boxer Rescue (AABR), an Alliance Participating Organization, saw an ad for Lucy, and within 24 hours she was safe with an AABR foster family. But by now, Lucy's health had deteriorated further. She could barely lift her head, and couldn't drink enough water, to the point where she was climbing into the tub to lick water from the faucet. It quickly became clear that Lucy's unquenchable thirst was not stress-induced, and she was hospitalized.

The Mayor's Alliance agreed for Lucy's hospitalization and treatment to be paid for by the Picasso Veterinary Fund, which pays for extraordinary treatment required by sick and injured dogs and cats that come out of AC&C shelters. The veterinary team at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists, one of the specialty hospitals that treats many Picasso animals, made the diagnosis: Diabetes Mellitus, which requires daily insulin injections. By now Lucy had been without insulin for at least three weeks, and she had become so dehydrated, she was near death. Hospital staff immediately started Lucy on insulin and IV fluids, and her condition stabilized. She was soon able to return home with her foster family, where she continued to improve.

Lucy's foster family tells us that she's not bothered in the least by her daily insulin shots — she just stands still and wags her tail while she gets the injection! They say she is housebroken, cheerful, and very well mannered. Throughout her ordeal she has demonstrated a sweet and affectionate nature with people and other animals, and steals the heart of everyone she meets. She can be a bit shy at times, but thrives on attention, having been described as "the quintessential cuddle-bug" and "a total sweetheart." Take a look at her videos, featured on the Adopt-A-Boxer website.

AABR is looking for that special adopter who will give this grown-up puppy the love she so generously gives to all those around her — and someone who isn't daunted by the modest cost and relative ease of Lucy's daily insulin injections.

What will life be like with Lucy? Well, when she's not snuggling on the couch or angling for a belly rub, she enjoys a brisk walk. She's good with cats, and appears to be fine with other dogs. Pretty much the only thing she doesn't like are orange traffic cones — if she sees one, she'll try to wrestle with it and then carry the offending object away!

If you'd like to make Lucy a part of your life and family, e-mail Adopt-A-Boxer Rescue at Adoptions@AdoptABoxerRescue.org or complete an online adoption application.

And please consider making a tax-free donation to the Picasso Veterinary Fund, the special fund of the Mayor's Allinace that made it possible for Lucy to receive the medical care that saved her life. You can make a convenient online donation and become a part of the growing number of people who are directly saving the lives of wonderful cats and dogs who just need a little help to get back on their feet and into loving homes.