WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2015 – A Riverside County animal control officer retrieved a dog in the field this week and he and his colleagues immediately recognized the pooch as a special-needs animal.
The 4-month-old, poodle-terrier mix does not have eyes. The dog, nicknamed Cassie, is now available for adoption at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.
A call was received by the Department of Animal Services on Aug. 5 by a concerned person who reported a “sick or injured animal” that was spotted outside their home’s porch in the city of Indio. Officer Hector Palafox responded to the evening call for assistance and transported the dog to the county shelter.
Employees have been giving Cassie extra tender loving care, in light of her disability. She also was groomed.
“We’re hoping to find a special home for this special-needs dog,” said Emily Huffman, a veterinary technician who assisted Officer Palafox when he came to the shelter with the dog.
The dog was likely born with the disability.
Dr. Sara Strongin of Riverside County Animal Services examined the dog and indicated in her notes, “where the eyes should be, the puppy has small palpebral fissures and possible small/rudimentary globes.” A congenital condition, or birth defect, was the cause, she said in her notes.
Also, she said the puppy had a slight accumulation of serious discharge around the eyelids that will require regular cleaning. “Enucleation of orbital contents would be needed to resolve the cosmetic issue,” she wrote in her report.
Employees at the county’s shelter in Thousand Palms have grown fond of Cassie. She’s gotten very good at recognizing certain employees’ voices.
“She uses her nose, similar to a hound dog perhaps, only she’s much smaller and fluffier,” Huffman said. “She is also very, very sweet.”
Cassie’s animal ID number is A-1219275. Adopters should understand the dog’s lifetime special needs and prospective adopters can discuss those in full with a veterinary team member at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.
