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He was found in a field where he had been living for a week or two, surviving cold temperatures and little food. The male shepherd/sheltie mix dog ended up at the Humane Society of Fulton County, a small shelter in rural Canton Illinois, where he was given the name Sullivan. For the first couple of days he was a little scared, but Sullivan quickly responded to plenty of food, attention, and treats. He was a quiet dog, but friendly once he got to know the volunteers. They noticed that he seemed to fear men and acted like he wanted to get away when a man was near him. Had he been abused? Maybe his new Irish name would finally bring Sullivan a bit of good luck.
A trip to the vet revealed that Sullivan did not have his right eye. Either he was born without it or he was involved in an accident early in his life. Sullivan also tested positive for heartworm, a disease that if left untreated is deadly. Tough luck, Sullivan.
The volunteers at the Humane Society of Fulton County tried their best every day to save as many animals as possible but the shelter was located in a rural area where there were far too many unwanted animals and too few people interested in adopting them. The shelter was filling up, and Sullivan's chances for adoption were slim to none. He was put on the list for euthanasia. Sullivan's luck was running out.
Up north at Tender Loving Care Animal Shelter in Homer Glen, we were reviewing the petfinder lists on the internet for animals in need of help. A network of volunteers regularly made the long drive between several rural southern shelters and TLC, transporting animals whose time had run out up north for a second chance at adoption. Sullivan was just one of many in need of help, but we fell in love with his looks and plight - there was something about him that pulled at our hearts. If left in Fulton County, his chances were zero. But Sullivan needed eye surgery to sew his empty eyelid shut, and needed heartworm treatment, both expensive... We felt there was a good chance that TLC could adopt him out, but then we pondered what if we put him through a stressful drive north, surgery, and heartworm treatment, and people were put off by his missing eye and didn't want him? And where to find the money to pay for it all? Sullivan was going to need a lot of luck to pull this off, and some very good friends.
Would you like to help improve the odds for Sullivan and others like him? Volunteers will be transporting Sullivan to TLC Animal Shelter. Please consider making a donation for Sullivan's surgery and heartworm treatment to TLC Animal Shelter, 13016 West 151st Street Homer Glen IL 60491. If you want to help pay for special medical care for other animals at the shelter, consider a donation to The Bertha Fund. This fund was set up by TLC after the death of Bertha, a sweet little stray dog that died from a severe case of heartworm.
Sullivan will be keeping watch with his one good eye for that special person to adopt him and take him home. He wants you all to know that having just one eye is not a handicap - in fact, you can think of it as a permanent wink! Best of luck on finding that new home, Sullivan.
After this story was written, another detail was revealed about Sullivan's luck: The woman who first spotted Sullivan in that cold field had the opportunity to watch 3 coyotes approach him. The woman held her breath as she watched the coyotes approach Sullivan, sniff him, and walk away. For whatever reason, those coyotes chose not to harm Sullivan, an easy task for the three of them against one dog.