Tara 3

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Original: “The last four years have been an honor to spoil her and let her learn how to be a dog and a pet, something she never knew before.”

Tara came to MAESSR in April 2020 when shelters were closing due to COVID and she and 10 other dogs that were seized from an irresponsible breeding situation in New York state were sent to MAESSR to live in foster homes until their case went to trial. The case was dragged out and appealed, and it wasn’t until now, March 2024, that her prior owners were convicted and the foster homes could officially adopt them. As Tara has become permanently attached to her foster mom, she was adopted!

When Tara came to MAESSR, she was not potty trained. At that time, she still had some vision and the ability to hear, so she was quick to learn. Because it was COVID, foster mom took her out every 20 minutes and she quickly learned that pottying happened outside. She was crate trained, but hated going in, because in her former life, she was kept in a crate with no bedding almost all the time. With a cozy bed and some treats, she learned that her crate was her safe space and goes in willingly now. When she’s home alone with her furry brother and sister, she can be left out of the crate, but she gets nervous because she can’t see or hear, and when she gets nervous, she poops. When her foster people leave the house for longer than a few hours, she will go in her crate because she is contained and relaxed in there. At night, she sleeps on foster mom’s pillow. Nowhere else!  Life is good now.

Tara has good house manners, and has discovered the art of counter-surfing. If she smells something yummy, she’ll check it out. Since she can’t see or hear, her sniffer gets her around, and if it smells good, she wants some! She gets up on furniture all the time, but it’s not discouraged in her foster home. Dogs have access to the furniture because they love to snuggle.

For a blind dog, Tara does surprisingly well on a leash, although she is not walked often. Her foster home has three acres that she can run as she wishes. Tara has her own “seeing eye dog” in her furry sister who helps her around the yard. She’s not a fan of riding in the car; it makes her nervous because it’s not a familiar environment and difficult for her to navigate because she can’t see or hear. She eventually does settle down and will ride comfortably in the front seat.

Tara does not care much for toys, but will engage in play with her furry siblings — not a lot, and not often, but here and there. She is unknown with cats, but has had an occasional run in with the resident chickens and doesn’t seem to pay them much mind. There is no resource guarding, but she is an enthusiastic eater, howling if her meals are even a minute late. She also loves treats and thinks she deserves one every time she comes in from outside. For a 12-year-old blind and deaf dog, her energy level is moderate. She’ll run occasionally, but is cautious because she runs into things.

Tara loves to be groomed and pampered. She willingly gets a bath and her hair and nails cut, and blow drying makes her feel like a princess!  She doesn’t mind her ears being cleaned, and at the vet she is a perfect angel.

A word from Tara’s foster mom:

“Tara’s ideal forever home is her foster home. She is being adopted and welcomed officially to the family with open arms. The last four years have been an honor to spoil her and let her learn how to be a dog and a pet, something she never knew before. When Tara came to us, she promptly peed on the carpet, not knowing the difference between going to the bathroom inside versus outside. She had no idea how to climb steps.

“Because it was during COVID and we were all working from home, she slept on my feet under my desk, and I quickly learned that I had a heavy-duty Velcro dog on my hands. She was so close to me that at times, I thought she’d have to be surgically removed from me.

“Her favorite thing to do was to go outside and roll in the grass, and then she’d lay on her side in the grass and fall asleep in the sun. Same thing happens with snow – she loves it! Roly polys are life! She loves to eat, and her howl cracks everyone up. At bedtime, she claims her spot next to me with her head on her pillow. She’s gone on many camping trips with us, loves to be spoiled at the groomer, and everyone loves her wherever she goes. If you give her kisses or rub her belly, she’ll be your best friend (but mom is still her very best friend)! My 13-year-old son has learned compassion throughout this four-year-old ordeal, and has become very protective of Tara.

“This process that started four years ago was supposed to be temporary, but as the situation dragged on, it became clear that Tara was becoming more and more a part of our family and we were terrified that at some point we were going to have to send her back. We are so grateful to MAESSR, to the District Attorney of Orange County, NY, and the Warwick Valley Humane Society for fighting for these dogs and standing up for what is right. We can only hope that this court case will set a precedent for dogs like this moving forward.”

A note from MAESSR President Debbie Lipcsey:

“In April of 2020, as COVID lockdowns were beginning, the Warwick Valley Humane Society contacted MAESSR regarding 11 dogs that they had seized from an irresponsible breeding situation in Orange County, New York.  The shelter was trying to limit the number of dogs in its care due to the pandemic, and they asked if MAESSR would be able to find foster homes for these dogs until the case went to trial.  Of course, MAESSR said yes, and the trek began to get those dogs out of the shelter in New York and into foster homes all up and down the east coast.  Because MAESSR volunteers are amazing at what they do, this was a seamless process, and the dogs were quickly settled.

“Because of the pandemic, the courts were very backed up, and the trial did not begin until January 2022.  There were hearings and appeals, and more appeals, and after what seemed like forever, on April 22, 2023 Lauretta and Daniel Duthie of Laurdan Kennels were convicted of overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance in violation of the State Agriculture and Markets law.  They were fined $1,000 and were required to register on the Orange County Animal Abuse Registry (https://www.orangecountygov.com/934/Animal-Abuser-Registry), prohibiting them from owning animals for the next 15 years.  It wasn’t until March 8, 2024, that they registered, and the dogs were turned over to MAESSR at that time.

“Due to years of neglectful veterinary care and poor breeding practices, virtually all the dogs needed treatment for medical conditions, including dental disease, mammary tumors, deafness, blindness, untreated ear infections and allergies, among other things.  Each dog needed grooming, vaccinations, and most of all the love and attention they desperately wanted.  Where indicated, surgeries were performed for the tumor removals, dental cleaning and extractions. The total cost to provide needed veterinarian care for the 11 dogs exceeded $100,000, which MAESSR shouldered and to date has not been reimbursed by the owners, as was intended during their prosecution.

“Of the 11 dogs that were seized in 2020, these seven, Tara, Eliza, Bennett, Gracie, Nelson, Electra, and Harrison remain in MAESSR care thriving in their foster homes and preparing to be adopted now that the case is closed.  Star, Cameron, Hunter, and Winston crossed the bridge, but spent their last days knowing love and compassion from their foster families.  

“We cannot change the world for all the dogs, but we can change the world for the dogs that come into MAESSR’s care.  We are honored to have been called upon to help and fortunate to have the means to provide what these babies needed.”