THE NEW BARKER 55 www.TheNewBarker.com Rescue groups seemed to work better together at one time as well. Perhaps if the community effort between rescue groups improved, more work could be done to save dogs. Breed-specific groups have a particularly difficult time raising money with their limited audience versus an all-breed rescue group. A sense of community - like taking the extra effort to recognize there is another way. Maybe everyone is too stressed and overworked. Maybe compassion fatigue is making people not notice. Maybe the constant intake of strays and owner-surren- ders becomes too much and those in rescue stop looking for alternative outlets. One person speaking up can make a difference.“A few years ago, an employee at HCAS was holding a dog as someone else prepped it for euthanasia. Just as the needle was about to go into the dog’s leg, the young man looked up and said, ‘I think this is a Standard Poodle. Can we call Florida Poodle Rescue first?’ which they ended up doing,” said Tricia. X-rays would show multiple bruises and contusions on the dog’s abdomen where she had been kicked. “We nursed her back to health, physically and emo- tionally. She ended up being adopted by a family who had a blueberry farm in Arkansas. I had hoped they would name her Blueberry,” laughed Tricia. “But, she was cream colored, so they named her Buttercup.” Rescuing a dog requires some people to step outside their comfort zone. A Standard Poodle was brought in to a veterinarian’s office and diagnosed with Parvo. The family didn’t have the funds to treat the dog and requested humane euthanasia. Without thinking things through, Jordan, the vet tech, acted and said she would take him. Within 24 hours,Jordan realized that,not only could she not afford to treat the dog, she didn’t have the time needed to properly care for him. She called Florida Poodle Rescue and drove the dog to meet with Tricia at one of Florida Poodle Rescue’s veterinar- ians. He was treated and remained there for five days. Soon after, a family adopted the dog and named him Jordan, after his rescuer. When asked whatever happened to the breeder from the dog confiscation bust, all those years ago, Tricia did not want to go into detail, other than to relay this: The woman received a slap on the wrist and continues to breed dogs. The Hillsborough County breeder has been in the news for selling a sick puppy to an unsuspecting customer, as recent as June 2017. Tricia likes to remind prospective adopters that Florida Poodle Rescue is not the place to come if you’re looking for a lap dog. “But, if you’re looking for your next child, we’re the place for you,” she told us. From Flea Market to Wine Country While shopping the Lecanto Flea Market, a woman came upon a booth selling Poodle puppies. She tried to ignore the situation, but one of the puppies caught her eye. She swears that Poodle’s eyes were begging her to get him out of there. She plopped down $20 for a purebred Standard Poodle and took him home. After working with him for three weeks, she realized she needed help and called Florida Poodle Rescue, who took the puppy. “He had not yet been seen by a veterinarian, was very under- weight and frightened,” said Tricia. After vetting and working on his manners, the puppy was ready for adoption.A couple who wanted to meet Buddy were told that he did not get along with men. But, when they arrived for the meet-up, Buddy looked at them, walked towards the husband and sat down next to him. Hours later, after the adoption was final, the wife took a pic- ture of Buddy and her husband, fast asleep, together on their bed. Buddy lives with the couple half the year in Gulfport, Florida.The rest of the year is spent in SonomaValley, California walking the vineyards and watching his favorite human, Jim, make wine. Joie de Vivre, sweet boy. Jordan Tristan came back to Florida Poodle Rescue after his 93-year-old owner passed away. He was a senior with issues and lived with Tricia for another three years. “In spite of all of his issues, he never stopped wagging his tail.” Jim and Buddy FloridaPoodleRescue.org info@FloridaPoodleRescue.org Facebook @FloridaPoodleRescue Puttin On The Poodle, Lunch and fundraiser, November 5, 2018 Michael's On East, Sarasota U Y