Scarlett, a 6-year old Doberman Pinscher with Wobbler Disease, was rescued by the Greater Charlotte SPCA in April of 2011. It's impossible to know what her life was like before she was rescued, but she was most likely used for breeding until it was discovered that she has Wobbler's, at which point she may have been abandoned. Despite her rocky past, she loves people and will snuggle with anyone who gives her the chance. She is fantastically well-behaved (never chews on anything that isn't hers, doesn't jump on people, great with cats and kids) and she is 100% house-trained with zero accidents to date. Although she is crate-trained, she doesn't need to be crated while you're away and she is fine without going to the bathroom for as much as 9 hours at a stretch while you're at work. She loves to go for walks and car rides, and she acts just like a big puppy when she gets excited (like when she encounters a squirrel). She would also be ideal for anyone living alone, as she barks quite menacingly at any stranger who approaches the house and most people upon seeing a Doberman wouldn't guess that if they actually approached her she would do little more than lick them to death.
Scarlett's condition, Wobbler Disease, is a progressive condition of the cervical vertebrae that affects larger dog breeds and horses. For Scarlett, this condition has manifested as a slight weakness in her hind legs that causes her to have a wobbly gait and makes it difficult for her to climb stairs or jump onto elevated surfaces. However, she has no trouble walking or running. Although Wobbler's is a degenerative disease, its progression is quite slow and can be counteracted to an extent by exercise. For more information about Wobbler's, check out the wikipedia or petsurgery.com articles.
Although Wobbler Disease should be considered a handicap, this condition combined with her age makes Scarlett ideally low-maintenance. She is happy just to lie at your feet (or on the sofa) most of the time, and only needs one or two short walks a day. Additionally, because of her condition, GCSPCA is offering her as a free adoption with all her vaccinations up-to-date (she has already been spayed) and additional future aid with veterinary costs. She is a special needs dog, but the emphasis is entirely on the special, as anyone looking for their canine soulmate will find in her an unconditional love, loyalty, and tenderness that will change their life forever.
For information on how to adopt Scarlett (or if you just want to meet her) email me at avery.sawyer@gmail.com or check out
the GCSPCA website.
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