Injured, neglected pit bull needs a foster home

Posted: Jul 12, 2012 6:59 PM by Kathy Kuretich, KSBY News
Updated: Oct 16, 2012 11:50 AM

A pit bull was found caught in a fence in San Luis Obispo County, apparently she was there for days.
Now, she desperately needs to find a home, because a rescue group says animals with injuries are often overlooked at shelters, especially pit bulls.

According to rescue group Shadow's Fund, the dog's owner is an elderly woman with no phone, no car, and no way to free the dog, so the pit bull, Fiona, was just left stuck in the fence.
But, a worker installing a phone on the property, saw the dog and called animal services right away.

Currently, she's at VCA Animal Hospital in Arroyo Grande.
She was brought in dirty, in pain, and with severe soft tissue damage to her leg.
Rescue group Shadow's Fund out of Lompoc is paying for her treatments, but they say, a pit bull, with an injury, is a tough dog to place, especially since most area shelters are full.
But she is a star patient.

"Even though she hurts so much, she's been just really nice to work with, she's very gentle, loves to give kisses she's just a really good girl despite everything she's been through," said Jenni Conner of Shadow's Fund. "When people hear pit bulls they think mean, vicious, fighting dogs. That's a myth and misconception. What they don't think of is they carry the name nanny dogs because they've been so trustworthy around kids."

After the fourth of July, shelters usually see a big upswing in strays due to fireworks.
San Luis Obispo County Animal Services said they're full, and they have been for a while.
Santa Barbara County said they're full, but not over capacity, meaning they'll double up on kennels if they have to.
They also said they rely, heavily on non-profits like Shadow's Fund to help foster injured dogs, because many times their injures are beyond the ability of the county.
Woods Humane Society said, they'll have some kennels opening up soon, and will try and get Fiona into their program.
But a foster home, is ideal.