Adoption of a Seventh Dalmatian Hits the Spot
Since she was 10 years old, Kelly Y. has loved and owned Dalmatians.
“Even though I’m not looking for more, I have friends who alert me to Dalmatians who need homes,” says Kelly, who recently adopted her seventh Dalmatian, Perdita, from the ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio.
“A friend sent me her photo, and I happened to be in Columbus for work, so I made an appointment to meet her,” says Kelly, who lives more than two hours away in northeastern Ohio.
“Just seeing her personality, I thought she would be a good fit with my pack,” says Kelly. “She wasn’t standoffish at all. She was playful and running around. I took her home that day.”
Perdita joined Kelly’s six Dalmatians — Gunner, Hershey, Ember, Bandit, Mr. Butters and Poppy — at the end of August. Kelly renamed Perdita “Blue,” for her one blue eye, and has since adopted Norman, a Bassett Hound, bringing her pack number to eight.
Mildly Fearful, but Social
Today, 5-year-old Blue is worlds away from her past as a breeding dog rescued from a Wisconsin puppy mill in June 2023. One of 90 dogs and puppies found living in unsanitary conditions, Blue was later cleared for placement and adoption through the CRC.
“We worked through her mild to moderate fear and separation distress behaviors,” says Jessi Henry, Senior Manager of Animal Behavior who worked with Blue daily.
In the meantime, ASPCA staff posted her photo on Petfinder, where she was noticed by Kelly’s friend.
“She sought people out for comfort,” says Jessi. “She was timid, but it was easy for her to get over novel people and mild fear because she was food-motivated and loved treats.”
Jessi remembers that Blue was social, good with other dogs and thrived in playgroups.
“She always carried around stuffed toys and would show them off,” says Jessi. “It’s like she was showing off her pups. You could tell she had been bred more than once. She wasn’t ideally socialized, but she had social behavior. She would melt in my lap.”
Other staff at the CRC, including Alyssa Wright, Senior Manager of Animal Behavior, and Hannah Reilly, Behavior Specialist, helped Blue get used to being on a leash and going for walks.
“I have fond memories of her silly personality and love of toys,” says Alyssa. “She was always excited to go outside and enjoyed spending time on the couch.”
“Blue always greeted me with a wiggly body and wagging tail, and I looked forward to our interaction,” says Hannah. “It was incredible to see the transformation in her behavior in the presence of other dogs. It took weeks for her to get comfortable leaving her most familiar place — her kennel — but her breakthrough came when familiar dogs joined her on walks to new places. I’m glad she has no shortage of dogs to continue to help her adjust in her new home.”
“Part of Our Pack”
Blue’s new canine housemates have helped her come out of her shell. They live in a home on five acres with a large, fenced yard.
“They helped her become the dog she’s meant to be,” says Kelly, whose dogs range in age from 7 months to 11 years. “Some things, like the hardwood floors, initially scared her, but my other dogs showed her that wood floors aren’t scary. She follows their lead.”
Like her housemates, Blue graduated from six weeks of confidence-building classes, with Poppy as her helper dog.
“She plays with everybody. All my dogs take turns sleeping in my bed and on beds on the floor,” says Kelly. “She’s part of our pack.”
“Blue was so sweet, I thought about adopting her myself,” recalls Jessi. “She stood out; she was special. And I learned from her. I gained patience with her as well as myself and built trust with other dogs because of my experience with her. After meeting her, you never forget her.”
Kelly couldn’t agree more.
“I wish I could adopt a dog like her every day,” she says.
By adopting Blue, Kelly joined what we call The Rescue Effect. When you adopt an animal from a shelter, you create space for another animal to get the care they need. The Rescue Effect is the impact that ripples through the entire shelter system, changing the course of multiple animals’ lives. And who knows, you may also just be changing your own in the process!
You can join The Rescue Effect by adopting or fostering a furry friend of your own! Visit aspca.org/TheRescueEffect to learn more about how you make a lifesaving impact today.
The ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center is one of many ASPCA programs across the country that helps transform animals like Blue into adoptable companions. For more information, visit aspca.org/adopt-pet.
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