Posted November 6, 2000

It is beyond my comprehension how anyone could have mistreated and abandoned this little cuddle bug, but I am so relieved that she now has the loving home she deserves. From the beginning of Bethany's fostering experience, it was evident that she wanted nothing more than to love and be loved, yet when she was dumped at a Maryland shelter with her sister, Ava -- who was also adopted -- both girls were in deplorable condition. 

It's hard to believe that anyone actually admitted to owning these two. They were covered with fleas and ticks, and they were quite sick. To quote their foster mother: "An entomologist could have done a study on all the different types of ticks indigenous to this area merely by examining the multitude on their ears." The tick count was quadrupled on their bodies. It was just plain gross.

Bethany's foster mother spent the better part of the first day she had the girls picking ticks off them and wiping the blood away. Their coats were matted, filthy messes. We don't think they were ever let inside, let alone ever given baths. And they had cherry eyes, a minor condition causing a swelling of the membrane in the eyelid. Bethany had it in one eye, and our veterinarian fixed it with a simple tacking procedure. There will be no long term effects. 

The only long term effect I want for this precious one is happily ever after in her Waldorf, Maryland home.