Welcome, Chelsea

Now that's a freedom face if I ever saw one. This is Chelsea (shelter name Cinnamon) in a car on the way to foster care on what would have been her last day alive if she wasn't rescued.

As you know, even the most dedicated shelters don't always have the time, funds or space for all the animals that come through their doors, especially the special needs one... and Chelsea has a deformed leg. Although the shelter she was at was wonderful enough to get x-rays done on her, the shelter was full and no one was looking to adopt her.

Thankfully, someone stepped up and offered to foster this beautiful girl for Joa's Arc.

Chelsea's leg appears to be an old injury to her front leg that healed on its own and has left her wrist looking a little different than most dogs'. Although, Chelsea's leg looks different, she doesn't act any differently - Chelsea loves to play with other dogs, run around after toys and will give you lots of kisses. After going into foster, her foster family got her to a specialist first thing on Monday. Joa's Arc was fully prepared to start fundraising like loons for what we suspected would be a very expensive surgery (breaking and re-setting were our concerns from the x-rays), however the specialist who saw her today recommended to not perform any surgery on Chelsea and to let Chelsea be! Her body has healed and she felt no pain even when she had her wrist moved all over and tested. Chelsea may be prone to some arthritis when she is older, but that is about it!

This pretty girl is approximately 1 year old, spayed, up to date on shots and microchipped! If you are looking for an addition to your family, you definitely need to meet Chelsea!

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Congrats to Zan

Congrats, Zan (now "Jude")!! Zan, a CH kitten, was adopted.

Thank you, Darlene & Ed, for taking on a new challenge by offering to foster Zan and literally saving his life, giving him love and helping him find a forever home.

Zan's foster mom, Darlene, posted tonight: "Zan went to his forever home today. Yes, I miss him dearly but with fostering comes acceptance and understanding. He is one of the lucky ones that made it off the streets, into a shelter, foster and now his own home. Fostering offers an animal a chance at life. No, a shelter is no guarantee. I typically will hear someone doubt themselves before trying to foster. Most of the time it is for emotional reasons "I could never let them go". I say why not give yourself a chance? You might learn something(s) about yourself. Thank you Zan."

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Help Cordi's Heart

She runs, she loves everyone she meets (cats, dogs, people), she jumps, she leaps, she whole-body-wiggles with excitement ... and she has a heart murmur.

This is Cordi and she came into a local shelter where it was determined she had a fairly severe heart murmur - making her not a candidate for adoption at a very busy shelter.

That's about as special needs as it gets!

The vet at the shelter said her heart murmur is a possible grade 3 or 4, but Cordi really needs an echo done to see what exactly is going on inside this poor girl. Enlarged heart? Defect? The congenital defect some pits can have that could be fixed surgically, if that's what it is.

Cordi is sweet, silly, lovable and just wants to run and play ... but her heart condition is limiting that ability right now. She's more tired than your average puppy and when she gets really excited, her chest feels like a cat purring because of how severe her heart murmur is.

Joa’s Arc is currently trying to raise $600 for Cordi to see a cardio specialist and have a full work up done to see how (if) we can help her live a better, more full life ... and hopefully be more adoptable!

We need the funds first though.

Cordi has so much life inside her and so much love to give - please consider donating to help Cordi's heart.

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Hello from Cordi

This sweet little girl came into a local shelter and it was determined she had a fairly severe heart murmur - making her not a very good candidate for adoption at a very busy shelter.

Cordi, as we're calling her, is sweet, silly, lovable and just wants to run and play ... but her heart condition is limiting that ability. She's more tired than your average puppy and when she gets really excited, her chest feels like a cat purring.

Joa’s Arc is currently trying to raise $600 for Cordi to see a cardio specialist and have a full work up done to see how (if) we can help her live a better, more full life ... and hopefully be more adoptable!

Cordi has so much love to give - please consider donating to help Cordi's heart.

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Less Adoptable Pet - Coco

No longer able to walk and blind from malnutrition, Coco was found by Animal Control Officer John M after starving for weeks in an empty house. Although Coco was able to spend time overnight in an emergency vet facility, it was obvious Coco needed more extensive care than the local shelter would be able to provide him. John was able to make arrangements for Coco to be fostered by Joa’s Arc's wonderful friend, Karen, and Karen reached out to Joa’s Arc for our help.

After some fluids, blood work, food and care, Coco's ability to walk return and his eyesight followed slowly after. In fact, it only took about 24 hours before Karen was reporting, "by this evening he took his first steps and quickly found a bone...then peed on my carpet LOL...he is starting to act like a dog :)"

Coco is now about 10 months old, housebroken, knows his commands (sit, stay, come and off), is excellent in the house, gets along with dogs, cats and people adore him. He is extra loveable.

Why Coco this week? Coco is not just a pit bull , a breed hard to place due to a poor reputation (http://www.petfinder.com/before-pet-adoption/pit-bull-myths-reality.html) and the overwhelming number of them in local shelters, but Coco is also special because of his history of neglect. He is a wonderful dog right now, but that's because he's socialized, being trained, has structure in his life and rules to follow. We are looking for a home that will continue with Coco's training so he develops into a great dog for years to come. This is one special boy, and we are looking for a special person/family that will be committed to him forever.

Thanks to ACO John M for his compassion and quick thinking, Karen for finding the room in her heart & home, Camden County Animal Shelter & Joa’s Arc for working together, all those who donated to Coco's care and those who shared his plight, Coco is doing amazingly well.

More posts and info on Coco are available: - http://joasarc.blogspot.com/2012/06/meet-coco.html - http://joasarc.blogspot.com/2012/06/more-on-coco.html - http://joasarc.blogspot.com/2012/06/update-on-coco.html - video collection of Coco's journey to recovery

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Miss Popular, Daphne

Saturday, since our day ended up being open, Daphne and I headed over to visit her foster dad's work. It wasn't just any day at Camden County Animal Shelter either. It was the day of their Pet Fest and what a day it was - food, vendors, a DJ, lots of doggies, plastic pools filled with water for the dogs, treats and lots of people wanting to love up Daphne. It was great!

I figured if I had to carry the little princess around that she was going to earn her keep ... Daphne wore this cute little envelope on a ribbon around her neck in the hopes of getting donations towards her care and some wonderful, wonderful people did end up donating what they could to help. Everyone was so sweet and felt so bad for Daphne. Here are photos from the day (some taken from others' Facebook pages):

Saw Daphne Saturday, but didn't get the chance to donate or were you not able to make it out Saturday? You can still donate - snail mail us or head over to PayPal to make a donation to Joa’s Arc.

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Update on Coco

From his foster mom: UPDATE: COCO - the Starved Pittie from Camden

Coco is doing amazingly well. He is enjoying life and LOVES his friend Adeline - another Camden County Animal Shelter Pit Bull that was dumped by her owner in a field.

Coco's blood work came back perfect and it appears that his sight is improving. He is a smart pup and is learning his commands. He now knows "sit" and "off". We are continuing to work on his housebreaking (that's why he is wearing his belly wrap) and he is showing tremendous improvement. Coco will be ready for adoption soon so please keep him in mind - he deserves the BEST home.

Thanks again to everyone who helped Coco: ACO John Micklewright, Camden County Animal Shelter, Joa’s Arc, those who donated to his care and everyone who shared his plight. It takes an army to save one dog - but by working together we can help so many.

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More On Coco

Coco's mom wrote the other day: "Just wanted to let everyone know that today I found out what Coco's original name was....are you ready?!

His owner named him "DIRT".

Makes me ill to hear this, but I was informed of his name when I called ACO John Micklewright to get some information on Coco's initial medical care.

Look at his beautiful face, how could anyone call him Dirt!!

I can promise you this, Coco will only know kindness and love for the rest of his life. Thank you John, Joa’s Arc, Camden County Animal Shelter, those who made donations to his care ... and everyone who has been keeping him in their thoughts and prayers.

Coco sends you all kisses and he is loving his new life :)"

Thank you, Karen, for taking Coco in and giving him such incredible love and kindness. Surely you will nurse his sweet soul so that he never remembers his days as "Dirt".

Donations for Coco's care can be made to:
Joa’s Arc
PO Box 243
Audubon, NJ 08106

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Meet Coco

Coco is a 8 month old chocolate pit bull boy who came into our care at just 20 lbs!

Left in his home in Camden, NJ, after his owner was arrested, a neighbor alerted Camden City Animal Control of his condition.

Coco is now in foster care with our good friend, Karen, so he can gain some weight and get ready to be adopted to someone very special who will make sure Coco only knows love for the rest of his life.

When Coco saw the vet several days after coming into Karen/Joa’s Arc's care, he had already gained a pound, was walking again (he wasn't the first day) and his blood work looked good for the physical condition he was in.

His foster mom wrote just yesterday: "This morning I let him out at 6:30(AM) then we went back upstairs. When I got back in bed he was walking all around my bedroom...then he came to the side of the bed and put his paws up to come in bed. It was too cute. He climbed in bed - put is head on the pillow and his body next to me and fell sleep. :)"

Joa’s Arc is happy to help Karen help Coco to recover and, in turn, assist Camden County Animal Shelter in their efforts to give every animal in need a chance ... even the "extra special" ones.

Donations for Coco's care can be made to:
Joa’s Arc
PO Box 243
Audubon, NJ 08106

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