Shelties dumped at Warren County park ready for adoption

WARREN COUNTY, Ohio (WKRC) - Several Shetland sheepdogs who were dumped at a local park are ready for their forever homes.

In January, seven Shelties were dumped at Ceasar Creek State Park. Five were rescued and brought to the Humane Society of Warren County where workers have been caring for them.

"Our wardens were able to go out and rescue five of them. Unfortunately, two had already been hit by cars," said executive director Joanne Hurley.

The dogs had behavioral issues. Hurley thinks they may have come from a backyard breeder.

"They don't get social time out. They're in those cages from almost daylight 'til dark, which causes them to start almost pacing and circling, and it becomes almost a muscle memory," she said.

Now that they're better, one of the dogs has already been adopted. On Thursday, a second Sheltie, Rosebud, got a new family.

Local 12's Paula Toti fell in love with the dogs after seeing the story.

"I was reading the story, and I looked over and I thought my dog Cassie was on TV because they looked so similar," said Toti. "And then, of course, I was completely horrified that anyone could do this to any animal."

Toti owned two Shelties: Cassie and Harley.

"So, Cassie passed a couple of weeks ago, and we had already had this appointment to come in and at least look, but the selling point was Harley. After spending some time here the other day, they got along beautifully, and after about a half-hour, Rosebud untucked her tail and was wagging it and we all went, 'OK, that's a match," said Toti.

Hurley says everyone who wants to adopt a Sheltie has to come in person to see them, and the families have to be a good fit.

"We spent a lot of time with them. We watched them interact. We watched Rose interact with them. We watched Rose interact with Harley," Hurley said. "And each person that comes in and puts in an application, we'll go to the same lengths for."

What started as a news story, turned into a way to help a friend, and a mistreated dog has a new life.

"People know I love animals, and they write me when their animals pass, and I will always say, 'I hope you can love again,' and I meant that for ourselves as well," Toti said.

Toti and Hurley are hoping the three remaining Shelties will find good matches too.

The Humane Society is still looking for information on the person or people who dumped the dogs.