THE Dawgs of Dogtree Pines

Nubbins, formerly Army, found down in Casa Grande was paralyzed from the neck down. His story is horrific. He was hit in the back of the head with a “blunt object” and thrown out of a car on the side of the highway. While he was lying there waiting for help, he got tick infested. They estimate he laid there for 3 days!

     A blood clot in his neck caused paralysis and he was in a catatonic state. He could not walk and didn’t know how to do even basic things like eating and drinking. I saw that face and I wanted him badly but knew I could not handle a fully paralyzed dog in the middle of 20 others. Luckily, Southwest Oasis Labrador Rescue (SOLR) stepped up and placed him with fosters. I stayed in touch and three months later he was walking, albeit like a drunken sailor, and was ready to come to the sanctuary and join his new pack to continue his recovery. 

     He is now fully recovered with just some lingering oddities. He’s 85 lbs. of pure joy and muscle and he’s the funniest dog to see walk. His little “Nubbin” (nubbed tail) just bounces all over the place with joy...a bit out of control. He’s so beautiful and so sweet and loves exploring his 3-acre forest and having his freedom. He accompanies Tucker on patrols around the back forest making sure that his fence line is secure.  He’s fascinated by the squirrels and can be found staring into the trees in hopes that someday he may catch the little critters. He was one of those "meant to be" miracles. He is absolutely flourishing. When it comes to walks, Nubbs is first in line but instead of walking he takes our volunteers for runs.  Yes he can run in his own awkward beautiful way AND you need to be in shape to keep up with his pace.  Nubbs has a special relationship with his favorite volunteer and he 'chirps' and jumps with glee when he sees her knowing a walk will soon be in the day's events.

   Thank you for supporting Nubbins and others at Dogtree Pines!

Gus formerly Grayson, came to us from the euthanasia list at the Devore Shelter in San Bernardino. From there he went to the vet for a full workup. He has a horrible spine that is actually fused in a few places, hip dysplasia, allergies that have caused hair loss and places on his skin that are hot to the touch. The worst are his poor ears. That had to sedate him to work on them as they were full of pus and blood. The vet had to use a kitten sized otoscope to even find his ear hole. X-rays showed that his ear infections were so chronic and untreated, that the inside of his ears had calcified and turned to thick bone-like material. This poor guy has been suffering from untreated ear infections for a long time. We are trying everything we can to improve his ear condition, starting with oral and topical antibiotics. Gus may be a candidate for TECA (total ear canal ablation). He was so sweet through the whole uncomfortable vet examination. We are hopeful that his pain level will be better in the near future. Our vet is amazing and when she came in and sat down with Gus, he began rolling back-and-forth on this back kicking his feet in the air, showing off for her. What a funny boy. Maybe he was just happy to finally having someone provide him with some care for his pains.  Gus has survived a hard life and deserves to be here at DTP. Gus believes he needs to 'guard' me and we love him for that even more.

Est DOB  2.14.16  Rescued 7.14.24

Two days before Christmas, Navi was rescued by the border by Barb's Dog Rescue. He was in such terrible shape, starved nearly to death and covered in lice and maggots. Much of his body was covered only by raw skin but his biggest problem was an infected wound so deep his bone was exposed and extended down into his paw. 

Fearing amputation was the only option, Barb reached out to Dogtree Pines for help. Navi made his way to the states and to Dogtree Pines to continue his treatment. His wounds were so severe that they had to be treated from the inside out. Medical maggots were delivered to Dr. Delia at Harmony Veterinary Care and inserted into his wound to debride and clean up the damaged flesh. 

Navi spent the better part of 6 months recovering from his severe wounds but he did make a full recovery. His wounds will always show the horrific start to his life but all that has changed now. It was said that all Navi wanted was a family. Navi has a family, has made friends and finally feels safe for the first time in his short life. He wiggles and squiggles all over the bed in the morning with excitement for another day! He has also discovered the "BALL" and lives to play. He's good too...one of the best retrievers we've seen. 

Navi is a volunteer favorite because of his happy outgoing manner and his enthusiasm to play ball. We call him the Mexican Jumping Bean

This beautiful boy Dre was picked up as a stray in Yuma and never  claimed. He sat at the Humane Society of Yuma until a foster stepped up.  They returned him about a month later for "swimming too much"..in the  middle of summer in Yuma no less. He had lost weight and didn't look  good. About a month later I had enough of watching him sit around. I,  and friend Pilot Randy made a flight to Yuma to pick up Dre, Bernie  & 2 littles. Dre was then flown straight to his foster in  Scottsdale. There is never a dull moment in rescue. The next day, I  spoke to the foster and we decided to do the old swaperooski and traded  dogs. She took the very rare green lab, a.k.a. Bakers Dozen, and I took  Dre. He has turned out to be the be the BEST boy. He's completely deaf,  which I suspect he always was, but acts as thought he was a trained  service dog. His favorite thing is to follow his Dad everywhere he goes  and then stand in his way. He loves to swim and has this amazingly soft, thick coat. When you approach Dre, he rolls immediately on his back waiting for belly rubs. We love him so much!      

Rescued   9.4.2022

WOODY AND PEANUT. A friend and supporter alerted me about these two. They were dumped on the side of the road in Chowchilla, CA and sat for two days, waiting for their people to return. They were finally picked up by volunteers and taken to a high kill shelter in Madera. Nobody was willing to take a bonded pair and their time was running short, so we stepped in. Labrador Rescue of Fresno acted fast and pulled the two to safety. Of course, there was a hurricane about to slam the west coast so transport was delayed a bit until it was safe. They look like they’ve had a bit of a rough life and both were intact, about 10 years old.

Both boys were neutered.  In time they became less bonded.  Peanut a feisty little guy was adopted by one of our volunteers and is living a dream life.  Woody likes his stuffed animals and is our grumpy old lab at Dogtree and he will remain with us.

I discovered Monkey and Petey in a small rural Alabama shelter when I  was looking for a yellow lab. I was making arrangements to secure Clifford1 and the shelter called asking if I had room for two more. The plan was for Clifford1 to fly out and Petey and Monkey to be  transported. At the local foster in AL, Clifford1 was adopted which left  the two coming to Dogtree Pines. I've never done a relay transport  before but a schedule was set up with under 2 1/2 hour legs all the way  across the nation and volunteers filled the schedule. There were 21  legs in total with 2 overnights (Dallas & Albuquerque). It was a  well coordinated process! What I didn't think about was the toll it  would take on two old dogs.  It was a rough 2 1/2 days and Petey let everyone know. The last three legs of the trip (Gallup, NM to Prescott,  AZ) were flown by friend Pilot Randy and I.  It took just a short time  for the two to get settled in and they are living their best second  lives.

Petey found his person in life...volunteer Hailey. He is now living his best life with Hailey and her family. Monkey fits in perfectly with the pack and will remain at Dogtree Pines.

The Lily flower is associated with fresh life and rebirth. Our little Lily has had a rebirth coming to Dogtree with a swollen abdomen and an emaciated body showing all of her ribs. We heard she was found abandoned in Casa Grande while trying to eat rocks.  Beth and Susan drove to Phoenix to meet the other half of the transport relay and brought her home to us. It just breaks our hearts to think about her pain but Lily is a sweetie and shows no bitterness.  She is also brave and shows her teeth to any pups that approach her while she is eating. After taking Lily to the vet to get her abdomen drained weekly, Cindy continued an aggressive care program for Lily. After several weeks, we noticed that Lily’s abdomen no longer was swelling. Cindy contacted the vet to ask what was happening. The vet really did not have a scientific answer. We, at Dogtree Pines, think it was a miracle and a testament to the love and care here. Lily, does still have congestive heart failure that caused the fluids to drain into her abdomen.  That condition did not allow her to fill her stomach enough to get the needed nourishment. However, now she is able to walk around the sanctuary and join the other pups outside. She is usually found resting on her oversized dog bed but is no longer experiencing pain from the extended abdomen and is able to finally gain some weight to fill in her protruded ribs. 

"Tucker the Great" Pyrenees came to Dogtree Pines when his owner became very ill. United Animal Friends was advertising him for adoption and there were no takers, probably because of his size, his need for property and a job, and the amount this dude eats. That day, I was at my vet office and mentioned him to Dr. Tammy. As it turns out, she has treated Tucker his whole life and knew his owner well. One call later, and we were scheduled to pick up Tucker the following day. Now, we have never had a dog this big and had no idea what to expect. Tucker is the size of a small horse and brings counter surfing to a whole new level. He and Bill bonded almost immediately and Tucker became a permanent of Dogtree Pines. Bill built him the Taj Mahal of dog houses that Tucker absolutely loves. Tucker stays busy guarding the 3-acre fenced property and chasing coyotes, deer & especially javelinas.  Tucker was 8 years old when he came to live at Dogtree.  As he has gotten used to his new home, he has claimed my bathroom as his new dog den (complete with his own personal fan).  Tucker has passed his Good Citizen test and is becoming our Dogtree Mascot at events.

Stevie was the last one left on the euthanasia list Friday and we pulled her at the very end of the day. My friend Meagan drove her up to Dogtree. She is in quarantine getting lots and lots of food. She has a warm bed and a view out the front with a private yard. She is a skinny 33 pounds which is very thin for a shepherd. She has weak back legs and is emaciated with two different types of tick disease. Stevie is younger than initially suspected, aged at 12 years old, but we really think she is more like 8 or 10 years old at the most. She is super bright and curious and is busy checking things out. I am not sure that she has ever lived in a house because the garage door is open to the yard, however she pees and poos in the garage. It is like that is what she is used to doing because she was never let outside, however we will never know for sure. Stevie learned quickly to go outside as the other dogs showed her the ropes after she joined us in the house. She saw the vet last week and received a welcomed medicated bath, but also received a list of her health problems such as testing positive for degenerate myelopathy. Thank you Meagan for transporting this pretty girl and naming her for us. I am very protective over this sweet, thin lady who will spend her senior years here at DTP.  She is almost always by my side 'guarding' me.                                    Est DOB 2.18.2016  |  Rescued 2.18.2024

Dakota Rose "Kota" is just about the prettiest dog we've known.  She came to us from a family.  We won't go into the story as it is just too sad. She's about nine and we soon learned that she has cancer.  Here at DTP we do not let that be a death sentence as there are now amazing drugs to not heal but to keep the cancer at bay.  Kota is living her best life.  She LOVES the water and cannot pass up a hose as she thinks every drop of water is meant for her.  She can get dirtier than any other pup at Dogtree.  Her fur is velvety soft and her cancer has not stopped her one bit.

Helen came to us from Yuma with two damaged eyes. She is our token "little". When she arrived, she had scratched ulcers into her eyes (probably due to allergies). It took many, many vet visits and months of wearing the "collar of shame" but her eyes healed with no permanent vision damage. That was three years ago and she hasn't had any problems since. Helen is our little drama queen and likes to get the big dogs all worked up. Despite being the only little, she definitely holds her own. Don't dare go near her meal or else...

Sophia is her name because she is a beauty.  We were told she was an elderly and aggressive German Shepherd.  After her check up we disagree with that all!  We think she is only about 7 (not 11-12) and in spite of a few growls through the fence once she made her way into the house she has gotten along well with the others.  She does not seem to be sick at all and after a good brushing she is even prettier than when she arrived.  She also knows how to play fetch, loves  to go on walks, knows sit and shake (with either paw). Welcome beautiful Sophia, your picture does not do you justice. 

If you are interested in adopting this smart girl, reach out to us.

Matilda, formerly, Rebel came to us from San Bernardino County Shelter. She was in an outdoor kennel overheating being overweight AND with a severe case of pneumonia!  She was found as a stray in the city of Rialto. We think she is about nine. We were working with the shelter for about two weeks but she was not available as another rescue put a hold on her.  When the rescue did not show up, the shelter called me and we picked her up the same day, then took her to Prescott Animal Hospital (PAH) to receive treatment for pneumonia. It was so bad we were not sure she was going to make it but she did pull through. She is 96 pounds so we need to get some of that weight off of her now that she beat pneumonia. Matilda “Tilly” was in quarantine for a brief time in the large upstairs laundry room. Tilly decided her quarantine time was up and she made her way to the house. She is a sweet and determined GSD.

Who could resist those enormous ears? Not I! We saw a plea from Pinal County in Casa Grande. Grandpa Pappi was found stuck in the mud in a canal. When he was rescued he could not walk but after being warmed and eating he began to get his strength and started to stand and walk. Nobody knows how long Pappi was  stuck in that canal but he was weak and emaciated. The shelter is no place for a senior so I went on a mission to get him out asap! Within about 2 hours, I had him secured and transport set to Casa Grande Airport where Pilot Randy would pick him up the following morning.

Pappi is smaller than I expected and once home, was obviously a bit intimidated by the bigger dogs and all the chaos. After about a week, Pappi tried his hand at a foster home. Within 24 hours he back at Dogtree to stay. He has been flourishing and it's so fun to watch. We have a special connection, him and I, and I can't wait to see how he comes out of his little shell. Welcome Pappi!                                                                                                                  Est DOB 3.1.2010  |  Rescued 3.1.2024

Sunny is a small, lab mix who came to us from Maricopa. Sunny was found along a roadside with another smaller dog, who was adopted.  The two were picked up and dropped off at a high kill shelter. We needed to get her out of there and our great volunteers stepped up getting her moved over the weekend. These wonderful people made sure that Sunny was safe and that she was transported to where she belongs, Dogtree Pines. We only know she is around by looking down and seeing her standing as close as she can to our legs.  We have never heard her bark. She is sweet and petite weighing in at about 25 pounds. Sunny is the perfect name for her as she is a volunteer favorite. Many seek her out, pick her up and just snuggle and pet her for hours.  If a perfect dog was created it would be a clone of Sunny.  She has a lipoma on her side but that does not get in her way of cuddles. Sunny sleeps next to my head in bed with her little nose crammed underneath my pillow.  She just wants love - all the time.

Est DOB 3.27.2013  |  Rescued 4.27.2024

Betty White arrived here from Arizona Humane on her last day before a planned euthanasia.  Betty has a severe condition called "Chronic Shar Pei Fever Syndrome"  resulting in very high temps (104-107 degrees) and swollen  joints. Betty went to the vet and her bloodwork looks surprisingly good. Her condition is very controllable. She is sweet and after spending some time with us we also learned she had kennel cough.  Her cough is now under control and we are happy to have our own Betty White.                                                                           Est DOB 3.27.2018  |  Rescued 3.27.2024 

Blue, who we now call Blue Roomba, is an 18 year old Blue Heeler male we picked up from Riverside County Animal Control Blythe division in California. Blue was found in a field walking in circles because he is mostly deaf and blind and had no idea where he was nor how to get home. Animal Control believes he was dumped there. We call this precious old man Blue Roomba because he gets around quite nicely at the Sanctuary by just walking along a wall, turning and starting in a new direction. When he finds something or someone in his way, he just bumps them with his nose and continues walking. When he finds a few dogs together, he curls up and lies down next to them. After he received a medicated bath for his irritated skin condition, you could tell that Blue felt better instantly. Blue Roomba may be elderly but he is not ready to slow down anytime soon.  

Pretty is a 10-year-old German Shepherd mix. She was pulled from MCACC and needs some extra care and attention. She was not doing well on a cold concrete floor. You cannot tell from this photo but her front elbows are swollen and painful, hopefully with just bad arthritis that we can help. She was sick and stayed at a foster down in the valley for a while but she is now at Dogtree and quite shy.  She stayed outside in the pines for several weeks only coming to the house for meals.  She has made great progress and is now staying inside and enjoys taking treats.  We hope to gain her trust for pets, more hugs and walks in the future.  

I would check each morning on this tiny pup to see if anyone had adopted him. Each morning the days that remained before his euthanasia date ticked by. The picture posted on the shelter site of this pup (now named Teddy) was really bad, I mean terrible. Teddy looked like an elderly, disabled, disjointed bear-fox-dog combination. No one wanted him and we swooped in and brought Teddy to Dogtree Pines. We all initially thought Teddy was an elderly dog that had suffered from distempered. We were completely wrong on all accounts. He does move oddly from some type of injury, but he did not have distemper. He is also quite young, a puppy of a few months old. He runs and jumps and chases the squirrels up the trees. Teddy is a fan favorite and could easily be up for adoption however he is a team mascot and is staying put. He entertains pups and people alike. He is one of our favorite success stories that he was a few days from euthanasia but because of Dogtree Pines he is happy and provides happiness to everyone around him. Teddy would have been just a victim of a bad picture but now we cannot take enough pictures of him jumping, running, sleeping, enjoying life and yes, kissing fellow resident Pappi. Check out our Dogtree Pines Facebook page for some precious videos.

Sally 

One-eyed-Jack is an interesting story. He was found wandering and homeless in Ash Fork, AZ. A trapping group was called to rescue him, but they had no one to foster so he went straight to boarding at Prescott Animal Hospital. I was called because he was reported to be an "old dog". I went to meet him at PAH and knew immediately that he was not very old. I left to return a week later and decided to foster him. He was not a good candidate for Dogtree Pines but the thought of him just sitting in boarding day after day did not sit well with me. Jack (then Sarge) is deaf as well as blind in one eye. Once I got him home, I realized he was much younger than once thought, only about 3 years old. We took him to several adoption events. Everyone loves him but is afraid of the commitment of a "special needs" dog. After several months, One-eyed-Jack officially became one of the Dogtree Pines pack. He gets along with all the dogs in our pack and gets around quite well, galloping to everywhere he goes. If you are interested in fostering Jack, he is a lover and is a young, active dog that will be a wonderful addition to an active family.

This 9-month old beauty is Timber. He was picked up as a stray and ended up in the high-kill shelter in Nogales, Arizona. He was set to be euthanized because he was not adoptable due to his fear of people.  Well he's not a senior but we couldn't let that happen. I figured a few months at the sanctuary and Timber would be ready to find his forever home. Timber is adjusting nicely and was just neutered. He LOVES all other dogs and is slowly warming up to people.  Tim has become the welcome committee for any new pup to Dogtree.  He loves his person (for now) - me - sleeps in the bed and rolls all over me in the morning.  He allows us to give him treats but still will not allow anyone to pet  him.  A love bug is in there you just have to bring him out. If you would like to meet Timber, please reach out.

Olive is a sweet, young (about 3 years old) who came to us from the streets of Mexico where she was used for breeding and then dumped, run over by a car and left to die. She needed to get to the States to get medical care of her or she will for surely die of infection. She had a broken leg and someone had taped the leg with masking tape that did nothing but make the infection worse. We got Olive to the states, performed surgery to repair the broken leg however the infection was so bad that a portion of her skin on her leg turned black and died. Olive underwent a second surgery to save the leg and add an additional brace to support her severely broken leg. Our vet bills were staggering. The Prescott Animal Hospital (PAH) team say that Olive is a staff favorite. She has been there for six months now healing from one surgery and then waiting for another surgery to be strong enough to have the metal rods removed from her leg. The vet was able to remove the blackened skin, remove one of the internal metal rods and to save her leg so far with only one more surgery. Olive is a sweetie. We think she was probably hit by a car as she was running to the car for attention. She loves attention and loves people and our hope is that she becomes someone’s special family member when she is officially released by the vet and successfully completes her physical therapy.                                                                  Est DOB 3.27.2022  |  Rescued 2.01.2024

Hi there, I’m a sweet 10-year-old Catahoula mix, and life’s been a bit rough lately. I was found as a stray, and now I’m looking for a foster and pledges for my medical care. I weigh 72 pounds, and though my body shows signs of the tough times I’ve faced, I'm still super sweet.

Medically, I’m dealing with some chronic skin issues. My skin is thick, inflamed, and has some hair loss. I have a strong odor, greasy coat, and the worst lesions are on my belly area. My ears are also affected, with redness and irritation.