Itchy puppies get a fresh start

Sinastra and her three siblings were very itchy from mange when they arrived at a Virginia animal shelter.

A skin condition caused by mites that results in itchiness and hair loss, mange is treatable. But it can take time, and not all shelters have the staff or resources for treatment. Fortunately, a nearby rescue group, SFC Virginia, was able to take the puppies in and get them the care they needed.

SFC Virginia participates in Best Friends’ Rescue Roundtable program, which helps rescue organizations and shelters work together to save more cats and dogs. “We take in medical cases all the time,” says Ryan Barker, SFC Virginia’s executive director.

No-kill is about doing what’s right for each individual animal, and this kind of collaboration can be a lifeline for animals who might otherwise be out of options. For the itchy puppies, it was the fresh start they needed.

The first stop was SFC Virginia’s headquarters to begin treatment. It also, perhaps, was the pups’ first exposure to the joys of animated television.

With a couple of weeks of parasite treatments, antibiotics, and medicated baths ahead of them, the puppies were set up in a space with a TV that’s usually set to soft, soothing music. But these young’uns didn’t want naptime tunes; they wanted cartoons.

Dog with mange goes from stray to snuggle buddy

“They were on a rotation of Bluey, Paw Patrol, Land Before Time, and FernGully,” Ryan says. “They seemed inclined to pay the most attention to Land Before Time, so our techs tended to put that one on repeat during the day.”

Soon, Sinastra and the other puppies were well enough to take their TV time to a foster home, where they could continue recovering and learn all about life in a home.

Marykate Cardelli and her husband were newly married and new to Virginia when they popped into a local PetSmart one day for supplies for their dog. They met some adoptable puppies at the store and came out ready to dive into fostering. The couple has been taking in foster puppies from local rescue groups, including SFC Virginia, ever since.

“I usually just ask how many there are and say OK,” Marykate says.

When they got the call about the group of puppies recovering from mange who needed a temporary place to stay, Marykate and her husband didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Puppies go from flaky to floofy with TLC

The first thing the four puppies did when arriving at Marykate’s home was zoom around the yard. “They all immediately were hopping and jumping and sprinting,” she says. “They were so happy.”

Between all the romping around, Marykate continues to give the pups baths to help their skin heal, and they have plenty of one-on-one time with their devoted foster people.

And when it comes time to settle down, the puppies still like to watch their favorite animated children’s shows. “I have to keep it age appropriate,” Marykate says.

The puppies’ fur has grown back; their spirits are joyful. And when they go to homes of their own, Marykate and her husband plan to say yes to the next ones who need a safe, loving place where they can be taken care of — and watch cartoons — for some bit of time.

“It feels good. It feels good to make a difference,” she says, “I think that part of our job as human beings is to help these animals.”

Ryan is thrilled to see the puppies thriving, thanks to so many people saying yes and stepping up for them.

“I hope it inspires others to realize they can also do this work,” Ryan says.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.