Everyone knows it Marlow!

The story started like this.

5 puppies abandoned near Hubbertville with no mother, cold temperatures and too young to properly eat. They were picked up by the Shelter on a neighbor’s tip but they would not survive.

Members of Fayette Friends of the Animal Shelter are at the Shelter, when it is open, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Our members were there when the puppies came in.

The Shelter director and Vicki Fowler agreed that the puppies would die if not given personal, intensive attention. That turned out to be true but neither knew just “HOW” true it was.

Among the members of FOTAS Vicki was chosen to take the puppies first. She organized a place in her home that was warm and could be easily cleaned and observed to monitor the puppies. She began a bottle feeding program and also took the puppies to see Dr. Kimbrell. They all needed worm medicine but otherwise did not appear to have health problems.

Regular, frequent feedings and individual attention seemed to be working, until all five became visibly stricken with something. It was assumed that the puppies had Parvo. Parvo is a dreaded infection and usually fatal for puppies. Vicki rushed the puppies to Dr. Will (Kimbrell) but he was gone for the day. The internet was consulted and everything that was suggested that might give them a chance was provided. “Everything” included syringe feeding including Pepto Bismol and water. That treatment was given all night in 30 minute intervals but not without suffering the loss of 3 of the puppies.

It was gut wrenching to try so hard and still have one after another of them die. The next morning the remaining two, Marlow and Petey, were rushed to Dr. Will. He said they had Giardia, a lesser known parasite that sits mostly dormant and suddenly explodes into a violent attack on the dog. Marlow and Petey were treated and, while it was sad to have lost the other three, there was joy that Marlow and Petey may have escaped.

Marlow and Petey seemed to be improving and growing a bit stronger when, as before, they took a massive and sudden turn for the worse. This time, without delay, they were taken, again, back to Dr. Will who said they now had Coccidia, another less well known parasite that also appears with little warning with devastating effect. Again the two went on a regimen of 3-a-day syringes of medicine fed orally. What could possibly go wrong next??

Well, after the first day of treatment for Coccidia, Marlow and Petey began to show real improvement. They were becoming more playful as long as they had warm, comfortable naps in between. They were showing the signs of being extremely smart and, while no one expected them to never use the puppy pads, they would reliably address their “physical needs” when placed out in the grass.

As you can imagine the emotional attachment between Vicki and husband, Steve and the puppies was beginning to be strong. She knew that it was time to aggressively seek good, permanent homes for them. She took Marlow to the Fayette Old Fashioned Christmas. Walking around with Marlow held in her arms, many people came up to her and said “Is THAT THE FACEBOOK PUPPY?” Of course it was. Many showed signs of interest but no firm commitments were made to adopt Marlow. Marlow and Petey had also been listed on Petfinder.com. Facebook posts were made, public appearances and phone calls were made and there were people who seemed to be prepared to adopt but Amy Rhudy made the first commitment.

Amy named Petey when we asked for name suggestions before they were able to be adopted. (See FB posts on Nov 16 2024) She was patient and when told Petey was ready, she came promptly and picked him up. They both had had all of their vaccinations including Parvo so all Petey needed was love and attention. The picture of Petey in the sweater tells it all.

Now for Marlow. The Petfinder.com listing showing Marlow and telling his story struck a chord for Jeff and Karolina Holloway. They had recently lost their beloved Chesapeake Bay retriever and Marlow reminded them of that dog. They contacted Vicki and made an appointment to come to Fayette and adopt Marlow. Since the Holloways were unknown to Vicki she was prepared to decline to let him go if the family did not show signs of offering a good home.

Jeff and Karolina came to Vicki’s home on Sunday afternoon. As they drove into the driveway it was obvious that Marlow had a forever home. They lived south of Tuscaloosa. Jeff is a supervisory officer in the Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s office and Karolina is the coach of the U of A Wheelchair Basketball team.

Karolina is a double amputee and in a wheelchair herself. She was injured in an auto crash in her native Lithuania that killed 11 including her mother. Karolina’s career playing basketball seemed over but she became a stand out “wheelchair” athlete. Now they were here to put a bow on the story of the five puppies.

If Marlow could write, I am sure he would be sending notes every day and posting his adventures on his “Doggy Facebook Page”. Since Marlow doesn’t qualify for a Facebook account, he depends on adopted dad, Jeff Holloway, to send us little messages, photos and videos of himself and adopted sister Luna. Here Luna takes the protective pose of big sister keeping little Marlow safe.

We said that Jeff and Karolina (and Luna) seemed to be perfect for Marlow. After a couple of weeks in his new home, Jeff sent this video of Luna and Marlow coming back to the house after a walk in their fenced yard. Jeff obviously is patient and encouraging of the pets and you can see, even so young, Marlow seems to be adapting and even learning to follow Jeff’s instructions.

There have been numerous success stories as a result of FOTAS members going out of their way. We intend for the stories to continue.

Fayette Friends of the Animal Shelter is a “Force Multiplier” for the Shelter and the County. We cost the County nothing. All of the services we provide the pets and the County are provided at our expense. We raise money and we donate substantial sums from within our membership. We do that to make Shelter life better. We do that to make more success stories like that of Marlow. We pay for vet visits. We pay for supplies like medicine, puppy pads and numerous other things. We will soon start organizing spay and neuter procedures and help, when financial need dictates, to pay for having pets “fixed”. Only when we slow down the number of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens can the flood of arrivals at the Shelter be abated.

The first “Next Thing” we want to accomplish is to have the Shelter open some Saturdays. All Animal Shelters report that Saturdays are, overwhelmingly, the best day for pet adoptions. It is unwise and a missed opportunity to have the Fayette Shelter closed on Saturdays and all holidays when people are available to adopt. FOTAS is offering to operate the Shelter on Saturdays at our expense with mature volunteers. We need permission and cooperation from the County officials. We ask for your continued support which may include a donation, purchase of a coffee mug or participation in our activities. Don’t miss an opportunity to advise your elected officials, especially the County Commissioners, that you support the idea of having the Shelter open on Saturdays and using the civic-minded members of the Fayette Friends of the Animal Shelter to make it happen.

Thank you. Have your pets spayed or neutered. Lead by example. If you don’t know how to best have your pet fixed, contact us. We must stop having pets dumped in our Community. It is inhumane and a violation of Alabama law.

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