AR-News: (FL - US) Aging Chihuahua Pooch jets to new life

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Pooch jets to new life
By <A HREF="mailto:mterry at chronicleonline.com">Michael Terry</A>
<IMG  SRC="http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/articles/2004/03/11/news/news01.jpg" WIDTH="300" HEIGHT="342" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="9447">    
Gregory Chapman gets some licks recently from Slurpy at his Citrus Hills 
home. The Chapmans adopted the aging Chihuahua from Abandoned Pet Rescue in Fort 
Lauderdale. Slurpy was flown by Learjet from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando where 
the couple picked her up. BELOW: Dianne Chapman sits with two other dogs the 
couple adopted from Abandoned Pet Rescue. Bugsy Malone and Peppercorn have 
several health problems and the Chapmans have nursed them back to health. <A HREF="mailto:dsigler at chronicleonline.com">DAVE 
SIGLER</A>/Chronicle     
    
    

    

Abandoned dog hops flight from Fort Lauderdale

It wasn't long ago that Slurpy, a rail-thin, white-haired Chihuahua, was 
wandering the streets of South Florida with no place to go and no one to love.

Broward County animal control had recently plucked the bug-eyed stray off its 
streets.

Given her advanced age, anywhere between 13 and 15 years old, and lack of 
teeth, Slurpy was labeled unadoptable, a classification which often meant certain 
death.

The clock was ticking and Slurpy was destined to be put down like many of the 
abandoned pets before her.

However, Slurpy received a last minute reprieve when the founder of Abandoned 
Pet Rescue based in Fort Lauderdale caught sight of the ill-fated pooch as it 
was cowering in a nearby cage.

Karen Judge took in Slurpy, dripping tongue and all.

She then contacted a Citrus County couple who recently moved from Fort 
Lauderdale and had volunteered at the shelter.

The rest is history.

In a matter of weeks, Slurpy was onboard a Learjet destined for Florida's 
Nature Coast to live the high life at the Citrus Hills home of Gregory and Dianne 
Chapman.

Barry Ellis, owner of Hop-A-Jet air charter service and vice president of 
Abandoned Pet Rescue, made Slurpy's flight possible.

Over the years, the charter service has taken more than 20 abandoned pets to 
new homes throughout Florida.

Slurpy arrived on Feb. 24 at Orlando International Airport where the Chapmans 
greeted her with open arms.

Two weeks after she first arrived, Mrs. Chapman says Slurpy has become part 
of their family.

A family that includes seven other dogs, many of them also courtesy of 
Abandoned Pet Rescue.

"She's doing just fine," Mrs. Chapman said Tuesday. "She had her first trip 
to the vet yesterday."

"They say she has a good life ahead of her," Mr. Chapman added, as he gently 
stroked Slurpy's head.

"She likes being held," Mrs. Chapman said, "and she loves giving kisses."

While her given name is Slurpy for obvious reasons, Mrs. Chapman said she 
doesn't respond to that name.

"We want to rename her Pricilla," she said.

The Chapmans' learned about Abandoned Pet Rescue five years ago while Mrs. 
Chapman was helping a friend search for a dog.

There she spotted a small white cartoon-faced Pomeranian in dire need of some 
love and attention.

Overlooking his multitude of ailments, which included a broken jaw, rotting 
teeth and a recent bout with testicular cancer, Mrs. Chapman adopted the dog 
that she later named Bugsy Malone.

Since then, the Chapmans' have offered homes to other hapless pooches with 
nowhere to go.

The Chapmans even have their very own doggie geriatrics ward complete with 
ramps so the older dogs can climb onto the couch and bed with ease.

Mr. Chapman said his wife treats the dogs like they were her children.

"It's a wonderful life," he said. "I've often said that if I die early I want 
to come back as one of her dogs. Sometimes I think they get more medical care 
than we do."

The Chapmans encourage anyone searching for a loving companion to give older 
dogs like Slurpy a second look.

"These pets need loving too," she said.

With the addition of Slurpy, Mrs. Chapman said they have no more vacancies.

"We plan to take care of them until the day we die," she said. "And if 
something were to happen to us we know they will be taken care of."

"Our children will take them and do what needs to be done," she said. "It is 
our belief that when you take a dog you take it on for life, and that's what 
we plan to do." 

    
 
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