January 10, 2001

Contact: Paige or Scott Bluhm
(215) 412-0270
paigeb@siberescue.com

RESCUE GROUP HELPS "SPECIAL NEEDS" DOGS

Colmar, PA, 1/10/2001 – In the short seven months since it was founded, Tails Of The Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue (TOTTSHR) has found loving permanent homes for dozens of abandoned or neglected Siberian Huskies and Husky mixes in New Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania. The majority of these dogs are in excellent health and living happily with their new owners. Recently, however, the group has assisted several dogs with special medical needs.

“It started with Toby,” explains Paige Bluhm, who co-founded TOTTSHR with her husband, Scott. “Toby (a Red and White male with one blue and one brown eye) was pulled from a shelter by a good Samaritan who, knowing she could not keep him but wanting to save him from an uncertain future, brought him to a vet and called various rescue groups in the area to try and find a good home for him. TOTTSHR took him into the rescue organization and placed him in a foster home. Toby's foster parents noticed that he was having difficulty getting up after long periods of lying down, and seemed to walk a bit stiffly until his muscles warmed up a bit. They promptly took him to the vet, who diagnosed Toby with Hip Dysplasia. The vet told them that Toby, at seven years of age, was only in the early stages but his condition would surely worsen with time, and that he would ultimately need surgery to correct the problem.”

A loving family adopted Toby on November 12th, 2000. TOTTSHR has established a fund to begin raising money to help Toby's new family meet his impending vet bills, estimated at over $1,000, for his eventual surgery. After the fund reaches this goal, the group will continue to maintain the fund for other dogs that come into the rescue organization requiring extraordinary vet care. This fund has been titled the Toby Fund.

The Next Beneficiaries “Shortly after Toby was adopted, we took in Yaz, a black and white female with blue eyes, about four years old, who will be the next beneficiary of the Toby Fund,” Bluhm continues. “Yaz was picked up on December 5, 2000 from the SPCA in Lancaster, PA, where she was found as a stray. About 10 pounds underweight and shy towards people, she came into rescue. The next day, she was taken to the vet for her standard vet care, and to be spayed. After she had recovered from the anesthetic, we noticed that she was having a difficult time going up and down the stairs, and she seemed to be having problems seeing. When we took her back to the vet, he recommended a canine ophthalmologist, who diagnosed Yaz with Hereditary Bi-Polar Cataracts, which can be corrected with surgery. Just like Toby, when we adopt her out, we will agree to pay for her surgery, which is estimated to cost approximately $900 per eye.”

Like Yaz, who was taken into rescue with no prior knowledge of her medical problems, Xanadu was also picked up from the Lancaster SPCA on December 5, the same day as Yaz. She was also found as a stray. Xanadu is estimated to be about 7-8 years old. She is a beautiful red and white dog with gorgeous blue eyes. Her foster family took her to the vet for her standard vet care. During his examination, the vet noticed that it was difficult to get her attention. He tried calling her name, clapping his hands, etc. but received no response. He finally informed her foster parents that she was severely hard of hearing. A specialist is currently evaluating her to see if it might be possible to restore at least part of her hearing

Last year, some 35 Siberian Huskies found new homes through TOTTSHR, a nonprofit volunteer organization to which contributions are tax deductible, but there are still many more in area shelters or in foster care, waiting for a new family. To learn more about Siberian Huskies and TOTTSHR, or to offer a contribution to the Toby Fund, go to the group’s website at www.siberescue.com or contact Paige Bluhm.