Happy Animal Tales: Foxy

Foxy Before

“When I went to the ASPCA on March 5, 2010, I wasn't looking for the most adoptable puppy. I wanted a dog who was going to be more of a challenge—one that had had a really rough start in life. That's what I found with Faye (now Foxy),” says Sloan Von Spiessbach.

Foxy, an underweight American Eskimo mix with bald patches, anemia, 10 missing teeth and GI problems, came from a puppy mill from Holly Springs, Mississippi. Foxy and more than 90 dogs in deplorable conditions were captured by ASPCA team.

As a puppy mill survivor, Foxy was unused to basic doggy activities like walking on a leash, running and stretching, and experiencing new sights and sounds. Because of that background, Sloan discovered, Foxy’s “physical issues were nothing compared to her paralyzing fear. She was literally frozen stiff and would ‘hit the deck’ if you moved too quickly around her. She didn't even know what to do when given a toy.”

A Very Happy Foxy Today

Ten months of love and encouragement later, not only does Foxy know what to do with a toy, she keeps dozens. “The furious squeaking of her toys can be heard all day long,” Sloan says. “At night she collects all of the toys strewn throughout the living room and carries them back to her room one by one. She puts them in her bed before jumping into bed with me. She has to have everything in order.”

Foxy is flourishing with her new family, including her 80–pound “boyfriend” Walker. (“It was love at first sight!” Sloan jokes.) A true clotheshorse who owns tons of sweaters, Foxy splits her time between New York and New Jersey and enjoys meals cooked specially for her each day.

Source:ASPCA