Nearly A Dozen Dogs Rescued from Nepal
Loveland Store Helps Rescue Dogs From Nepal
by Pamela Johnson
At Hank’s Pet Food Market in Loveland, Colorado, Fozzie, a one-year-old dog from Nepal, kisses Zoe Katsulos, founder of HIPAW and Humanitourism. Fozzie, who is paralyzed from the waist down, is one of 11 dogs who were rescued and brought to the U.S. from Nepal for a better life. Paralyzed back legs didn’t slow down Fozzie, as she scooted around, lapping up attention and love, while sharing her excitement.
“When you look in her eyes, you see she’s full of life,” said Zoe Katsulos. “This girl needs a life.” Fozzie was hit by a car while living on the streets of Nepal. That is why she and her nonprofit, with help from the owners of Hank’s, brought Fozzie to Loveland where she is currently being fostered.
Though she has fostered many dogs, Kathy Brodersen said she feels a special attachment to this special needs pup, who she is considering adopting. “I think she picked her home,” Brodersen said.
The nonprofit recently brought 11 special needs dogs to Colorado from Nepal. The owners of Hank’s, Lisa Sauer and Teresa DeGuelle, donated a large amount of the airfare needed to bring the second batch of six dogs to Colorado, including Suni and Tika, who they have adopted.
Rescue Dogs with Tragic Stories and Special Needs
Each of the dogs has a tragic story and a need for a special home, which Katsulos hopes they will find here, in Colorado, where she believes they actually have hope for finding a permanent home.
Biju was hit by a car then thrown in a river and left to die. Someone found her and helped her heal, but in the days that she languished, her puppies died.
James had a home in Nepal, but it was not a happy one. He was tied outside by the garbage, alone. When he broke free to try to join his family, he was severely beaten and left to die. Yet, this small dog still loves people, and though he may flinch when petted, the two-year-old loves the attention and is free with his kisses. Read more…
Each of the dogs, most which were rescued and cared for by a rare animal rescue shelter in Nepal, has lingering issues.
Grayson, who is being fostered in Greeley, lost half of his lower jaw after he was attacked and mutilated by a larger street dog.
“However, here, they have a chance at a life with a loving family — a chance they would not have in Nepal, where adoptions of even the healthiest of dogs are rare. Nobody in Nepal would adopt a dog who’s missing a jaw, missing an ear, paralyzed, missing a leg,” said Katsulos. “They have zero chance unless we get them out. There, they’re doomed.”
Recently, Sauer took a trip to Nepal to work with animals through Humanitourism and was moved to help by what she saw. She and her business partner decided to make a donation to help bring some of the dogs to Colorado, where homes and resources are abundant. They each adopted a special pup. In addition, Sauer contacted her network of dog-lovers and animal rescue groups and they found foster homes for each of the six dogs who made up the second batch that were brought to Colorado.
Sauer said she and DeGuelle stepped in to help to raise awareness and because these special animals deserve a chance at a happy life. After all, helping animals is a big part of their lives. Four of the six dogs they helped bring to Colorado, sniffed around Hank’s Pet Food Market recently, checking out bones and toys and getting lots of love, attention and smiles.
“How can you not smile at them,” said Katsulos, “When you see how happy they are, how hopeful.”
This post has been edited. Read the original article here.
