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4PUPs rewrites future for dogs with specialized needs
As dogs go, Erni has very particular needs.
She was rescued from a hoarding case in which a woman in Indianapolis had about 100 dogs.
Against this background, Erni likes to have her own space, unlike many other dogs.
“Erni is special,” dog trainer Jessica Gosline said. “She doesn’t want to be touched. She doesn’t like to be snuggled a lot.”
In fact, things were so crowded that the original owner didn’t even know what sex Erni was.
When she came to People United 4 Pets (4PUPs) near Putnamville, it was with the belief that “Ernie” was a male. Then it was discovered that she went to the bathroom like a female. Furthermore, it was noticed that she actually had male and female parts.
As part of the process at 4PUPs, both sets of parts have now been fixed.
While Erni’s case might be unique, she is just the sort of case that 4PUPs hoped to take on when it was founded in 2018.
Joseph and Scarlett Cmiel founded the organization with the assistance of Gosline out of a desire to help dogs considered “unadoptable” by other organizations.
The organization is guided by the motto, “Changing dogs’ pasts by rewriting their futures.”
Pets at 4PUPs may be blind, deaf, missing limbs, have a chronic illness, need to be an only dog in the home, need a home without children, need a home with no carpet or with carpet, need a fence or an energetic lifestyle or any number of other issues.
“The bottom line is our pets are unique and each comes with its own set of challenges that will require patience and understanding on the part of our adopters,” the organization states on its website, www.4pups.org.
As such, the foster-based program, isn’t looking for just anyone to take on the dogs, but those who can devote the special sort of care that these dogs need. Some are surrendered by owners who can’t care for them, others pulled from shelters, still others from a sanctuary in Southern Indiana.
Some fosters require specialized medical care, others need socialization and training. 4PUPs will provide for all of the foster’s needs — food, veterinary needs, crate. The foster volunteers provide the love and a temporary home until their forever family finds them.
The organization, located at 6100 S. CR 25 East, Cloverdale, recently received a $500 donation from the Greencastle Walmart Supercenter that will help it in its mission.
It’s an online process through which non-profits may receive support from their local Walmart stores, with approval from the store manager.
And on this day Erni, along with Gosline for the presentation, at least tolerated being held, traveling into the store in Gosline’s arms and being held by Walmart associate Lora Wood for the photo opp.
To learn more about 4PUPs, including applying to become a foster home, visit www.4pups.org or contact them at info@4pups.org or 317-899-8797.