Shastina

In September, 2007 the Nebraska Humane Society asked for our help in placing a number of animals that had been confiscated from a backyard breeder nearby. They had 50 animals ranging from dogs, wolfdogs and a bobcat all in need of homes. Once the breeder was convicted, the judge signed over the ownership of all the animals to the Humane Society. They quickly arranged for transport and we took in six very low content Great Pyrenees-Malamute-wolf mix puppies from two different litters.

Most of the puppies were placed in approved, experienced homes rather quickly. Shastina and her brother Grand Teton had to be quarantined.

They had arrived with runny noses and heavy congestion. So off they went to a local veterinarian who thought they might be in the early stages of pneumonia and put them on medication. When they had still not gotten any better after two weeks of antibiotics we took them to our usual vet where we were told it looked like canine influenza. It took the better part of 3 months to get them healthy and congestion free.

Shastina is now strong and healthy and doing very well. About the time the pups were healthy enough to be adopted out Teton was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia and panosteitis so it was determined that he would remain at the center. Because Shastina and Teton were so heavily bonded during their months of quarantine it was decided that Shastina would also remain with us as Teton's favorite companion. However, as the pups grew up she became too much for Teton’s hips. She is high energy and lives to climb and jump on anyone and everyone. So today, Shastina lives with Suye’ta and the two spend hours playing each day.