Diane Campbell of Flagler County is telling the story of how her family adopted two poodles just days before the out-of-state rescue they came from got closed down.
The two dogs were adopted at the same time. Diane and Dan Campbell told the founder of the rescue that they were willing to take in a special needs dog. One poodle, who is now named Poppi but was previously known as Sugar, was born without a left leg at the elbow. “My husband says she didn’t finish downloading,” Diane said.
The Campbells also adopted a second poodle, who is now named Chia but was previously known as Hera. Chia is a “blue-gray poodle” who Diane described as “an old soul who looks deep into your eyes.” Diane said Chia was featured in outfits and had possibly lost her owners because they were moving or because she is old. Poppi the apricot poodle was described as “a goofy girl who doesn’t even know she has only three legs.”
The Campbells chose to name the dogs after seeds because they are “small” and they now serve as mascots for the Campbells’ family business: “Poppi the Pirate Pup” and “Black Pearl Chia.” Diane said the dogs go everywhere with them, enjoying car rides, bike rides, and the pool.
Diane said the adoption was difficult. She claimed the staff at the rescue acted strangely, like a hoarder, with denial and didn’t want to take help with things that even volunteers could have done. Diane said both dogs had worms and were traumatized, making it hard to give them away. When Diane first met Poppi, she said she was more established in the shelter than Chia and was almost completely hairless, scrawny, withdrawn, and traumatized.
Diane claims that after the family secured and paid for the adoption, the rescue was closed down and the people behind it were arrested for 57 counts of animal cruelty. “We had gotten them out just in time,” she said, claiming that the dogs would otherwise have been entangled in months of court proceedings.
Diane said that the dogs now live a “semi-retired” life and have consistent, predictable routines and a home that they can move around easily without steps for Poppi. “They are a joy to have and love on,” she said.
The post Rescued Just in Time: Flagler County Family Adopts Two Poodles Before Out-of-State Rescue Is Shut Down first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
