(Photo's of the rescue courtesy of Kim Bradshaw)

A woman whose dogs were seized in July of 2009 pled guilty to charges of animal cruelty in front of District Judge Sherry Burnett. Blanche Crisman, who owns Blanche’s Dog Grooming in Hot Springs, pled guilty to 10 charges of animal cruelty.

Crisman was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay $240 in fines. As part of her probation, Crisman is not allowed to own any dogs during that one year period; however, she is allowed to continue her pet grooming business.

On July 23, 2009, Stop Animal Cruelty of Hot Spring County, along with an HSC deputy, seized 34 dogs from Crisman’s residence at 525 Red Dog Lane in Rockport.

Many of the dogs were in bad health due to their living conditions, and several were covered in urine and feces. The dogs were kept in small cages that were, stacked to the ceiling in several places in the residence. The animals ranged from 8 weeks to 16 years old.

The rescue group had a warrant that had been signed by Judge Burnett, but Crisman surrendered the dogs when the group arrived at her home.

The majority of the dogs were taken to Fletcher Veterinary Clinic in Hot Springs, and several of them underwent various surgeries due to their poor health.

(Photo's of Rosies rescue courtesy of Kim Bradshaw)

Update on Rosie one of the poodles rescued from Crisman:  As Belinda Holden goes about her day to day business, she is followed around by a two-year-old poodle named Rosie.

It’s not unusual for a pet to follow its owner around, but in Rosie’s case, it is a little difficult. Rosie does not have the use of her back legs and therefore has to drag them behind her everywhere she goes. She was one of 34 poodles rescued from a home in Hot Spring County recently.

Rosie was born with luxating patella, which causes the kneecap to slip and makes walking difficult, if not impossible. This ailment is more common in animals that have been inbred. It is also a very treatable condition through proper care and early rehabilitation and training. Rosie lived most of her life in a cage with no way to exercise, causing her back legs to grow almost upside down. Most of the animals that were with Rosie at the time of her rescue were taken by a rescue group in Houston. The group was unable to take Rosie because the surgery she needs is very expensive.

Belinda Holden has been working with rescue groups for about a year. When she learned about Rosie and her condition, Holden not only invited Rosie into her home, she teamed up with Mary Ann Taft of Stop Animal Cruelty to try to find Rosie a cart. Cart’s are made for animals who have normal strength in their front legs and shoulders, but need assistance in the rear. Carts are sized by a dog’s weight, age, activity level, and exercise terrain. Optional stirrups are available for dogs with neurological deficits that cause foot dragging or knuckling and can be upgraded if necessary to cope with increasing levels of disability.

While researching Rosie’s condition, Holden begin communicating with a rescue group in Wisconsin. Mary Palmer, with the North Central Maltese Rescue Group, started asking question’s about Rosie and wanted to know if she was going to get the treatment she so desperately needed. Holden explained to Palmer that financial limitations would only allow her to buy a cart for Rosie.

The more Palmer learned about little Rosie, the more she wanted to help. Palmer informed Holden that if there was any way she could get Rosie to Wisconsin, the North Central Maltese Rescue Group would get Rosie the surgery she needed. The NCMR group works closely with Dr. Ray who has a high success rate performing this surgery. After the surgery, the NCMR will also give Rosie all the rehabilitation and training needed to ensure an active healthy life.

Holden was beside herself when she learned there would be a possibility that Rosie could receive a second chance at life. The only problem was getting her to Wisconsin. As luck would have it, Holden’s stepdaughter was coming for a visit and would be returning to her home town of Chicago at the end of this week. Holden’s stepdaughter agreed to transport Rosie to Chicago and meet with a member of the rescue group who would then take Rosie the rest of the way to Wisconsin. Holden said “It is a miracle. My prayers have been answered.” Through the help of so many different people all over the country, Rosie is finally going to get the help she needs.

The surgery needed to repair Rosie’s legs is very expensive. To make a donation to this cause please visit the North Central Maltese Rescue website at http://malteserescue.homestead.com/MalteseRescueHomePage.html.

For those who do not have access to the internet, donations may be mailed to Mary Palmer NCMR, 3601 Wright Ave., Racine, WI 53405.

Update 9/24/09:  Puppy mill survivor heading for surgery, prosthetic legs.  Rosie, the miniature poodle rescued from an Arkansas puppymill, is getting a new pair of legs. Artificial legs, that is, following surgery to amputate part of her useless, deformed rear legs. Northcentral Maltese Rescue's directors decided that it's worth taking the rare step of having prosthetics made for this minuscule poodle.

  (Photo courtesy of Mark Hertzberg/Journal Times - Douglas Reichert, left, and Dr. Brian Ray of Belle City Veterinary Hospital, discuss treatment options for Rosie)

The group's president and founder Mary Palmer said there were numerous reasons, despite the fact that Rosie can wheel around in a small cart that hoists her rear legs. The dog can't find a comfortable sleeping position in the cart; she can't climb steps in it; and she cannot urinate or defecate without soiling herself, among other reasons. Also, "From the knee down is pretty much useless for her," Palmer added.

Dr. Brian Ray of Belle City Veterinary Clinic will perform the surgery Monday [Sept. 28, 2009]. Palmer said Ray will leave enough of a stump below Rosie's knees to attach her artificial legs.

Doug Reichert, a licensed prosthetist with Reichert & Kelsey in Kenosha, said he will donate the prosthetics. It will be his first time making prosthetics for a nonhuman. Reichert said Rosie will start with "stubbies," then graduate to a longer pair so she can get used to the new legs gradually.

Palmer said Rosie will always have the cart as another mobility option, even if her new legs work out fine. And if they do, the next step will be putting her up for adoption. "Eventually she will need a home," said Palmer, Rosie's current foster mother. "Eventually she will be up for adoption, and it will have to be a special home."

Update 9/28/09:  Rosie underwent surgery to amputate part of her deformed rear legs.

  Dr. Brian Ray of Belle City Veterinary Clinic operates on Rosie.  Dr. Ray amputates part of her useless deformed rear legs in preparation of Rosie getting artificial legs.

Dr. Ray called it successful afterward. He left about a 1-inch piece of each tibia, or shin bone, so that Rosie may be fitted with prosthetics that will clamp to each stump.

        (Photo's courtesy of Northcentral Maltese Rescue, Inc - Rosie is getting her first casts for her new legs. It will take a week or two before she goes for the first actual fitting)

        (Photo's courtesy of Northcentral Maltese Rescue, Inc - October 27. 2009 Rosie today getting fitted for her first set of prosthetic legs. She will go back in a week for one more inch to be added. Thanks to Doug Reichert CP, LP for all he is doing for Little Rosie)

     (Photo's courtesy of Northcentral Maltese Rescue, Inc - Rosie getting fitted for her cart and her first attempt at using it)

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