Diseases Contracted in a Kennel Can Quickly Turn the Joy of Pet Adoption into Sorrow

Last weekend my husband and I adopted a dog from the Maricopa County Animal Control shelter. They had a huge bus parked at a local festival showcasing some of their adoptable pets. In a wire enclosure in front of the bus was a little brown/black Cardigan Welsh Corgi mix that was adorable. He didn't move around much or try to capture anyone's attention the way the other dogs did. He merely laid down or stood quietly on his short little legs with soft brown eyes pleading for a good home.

Of course my husband and I were hooked from the minute we saw him and petted him over the top of the cage. He was exactly the type of dog my husband was looking for and also reminded me of my dearly departed Sandy, a cocker spaniel mix who died two years after giving us the ultimate in love and affection for sixteen years. Along with our mutt, Colby Jack, a 60 pound big lug of a dog who has been our traveling companion since he was only two months old, the new little Corgi seemed like a perfect addition to our family.

We drove home with our new little acquisition and my husband decided to name him Yogi because he looks like a little a furry little bear. Colby Jack welcomed him by slobbering on his neck and playing tag around the yard. Yogi fit right in - eating the gourmet dog food I cook at home from scratch, tentatively getting to know our curmudgeon of a cat, Hannah, and sleeping in our bedroom at night.

Unfortunately, 24 hours later all that would change.

The following night Yogi woke up coughing and hacking and left evidence of a bout of diarrhea on the floor. By the next morning, he was listless, lethargic and showed no interest in food of any kind. I called my vet's office and got an appointment that day.

By the time I got Yogi to the vet, he was doing worse. There was a green discharge coming from his nose and every time he coughed there were great globs of mucous left all over the floor. His gums were white and his eyes had lost their pretty shine. Yogi was a very sick dog.