Josie, an older flat-coated retriever mix, is a rainmaker of sorts.
The kind that brings in money.
Since the West Deer Dog Shelter took in Josie, the story of her plight is bringing in donations to help get the dog the care she needs.
So far, the shelter has raised $5,200, said Barb Pasquale, volunteer kennel manager.
“All the kind people that have donated to her — these people cared. And it was just overwhelming for me that there are a lot of caring people out there,” she said.
One donor, who chose to remain anonymous, donated $2,500 for Josie. Most donations are $10 or $20, Pasquale said.
McCandless police found the dog, abandoned and tied to a tree April 3 near Potters Pond in McCandless. Pasquale estimates Josie to be between 8 and 10 years old.
Josie has no chip or tags, and police continue to look for her owner.
At the request of the Allegheny County dog warden, the shelter is caring for Josie, who has several health issues that will require surgery.
Josie needs at least two surgeries to remove tumors, Pasquale said. The first is scheduled Tuesday morning to remove a “softball-sized” mammary tumor, repair an umbilical hernia, spay her and fix her teeth, Pasquale said.
The dog will get a month to heal and then will undergo thyroid surgery to remove another tumor.
“The thyroid is a very delicate surgery. Our vet will have to be extremely careful,” Pasquale said. “But right now, she’s a happy-go-lucky dog. She’s just a sweet girl.”
Pasquale estimates the surgeries will cost between $5,000 to $7,000.
“I am so appreciative and thankful to all the people who have donated,” said Pasquale, a 33-year volunteer at the shelter. “I’ve been doing this so long and I’ve dealt with so much sadness, that you start getting a little jaded and disheartened.”
Any money left over from Josie will be put toward the next dog needing surgery, she said.
“She is a good dog,” saidPasquale. “She is in really good spirits, and she’s got a really strong desire to live.”
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
To donate
People can donate to the West Deer Dog Shelter by mailing or dropping off donations to 109 East Union Road, West Deer, PA 15024 or via Venmo @westdeerdogshelter and enter 5519 for the phone number.