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Five once-neglected dogs adopted Shelter cares for several more awaiting homes By SUSAN JAY Betty Carlton has a soft spot for pooches with sad eyes. Photo by Jim Craven Jonathan Hendrix, of Eagle Point, is helping care for Buddy, a 10- to 12-week-old puppy who was one of the neglected dogs taken from a Sams Valley residence. It wasn't love at first sight, however, when she first saw Boomer, one of the 70 dogs taken from a Sams Valley home a few weeks ago because of neglect. "But I just kept looking at him with those sad eyes, and he just kept looking better and better," laughed the retired Hornbrook resident. Carlton saw Boomer on Channel 10. She called and spoke to Boomer's foster parents, Michelle Coppola and Marty McGuire, who drove him down to meet the Carlton family. Boomer now sleeps in a special bed at the Carltons' home, and loves to be covered with Carlton's favorite terry robe. It's a far cry from the mud and feces and packs of dogs he lived with in Sams Valley. Carlton and her husband, Cecial, are among five families who have adopted some of the neglected dogs, taken by county officials from conditions that angered and saddened many Rogue Valley residents. The county animal shelter had to euthanize 58 of the dogs. Six adult dogs -- terrier, beagle and spaniel mix -- and four puppies are still living at the animal shelter, and one is living in an Eagle Point foster home. They all need special homes, said animal shelter manager Colleen Macuk. "We haven't been put into a position yet where other dogs have had to be put down in order to keep them," she said. Some of the dogs left are still frightened and shy of people, and need someone who is patient and can spend a lot of time with them, Macuk said. People who have the time and patience and would like to care for or adopt one of these dogs should call the animal shelter, 776-7035, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. As long as the dogs remain healthy and continue to adjust emotionally, the animal shelter will try to keep them for adoption. The five lucky ones all moved out of the shelter last week. Three black puppies were adopted by three friends who attend the same church, the Eagle Point Assembly of God. Two of the friends gave the same name, "Buddy," to their pups, and didn't even know it. "I think he's pretty well adjusted," Jonathan Hendrix, 19, said of the family's new furry member. "He's really silly. He doesn't know the difference between TV and real life. So when there's animals on TV he starts growling and barking." His friend, Angelina Kinnaman, and her husband also named their adopted puppy "Buddy" and said, "It felt good taking him home. He wasn't in the dirt any more and getting wet," like he was in Sams Valley. Macuk said the Sams Valley owner, Bonita Jones, recently took 10 dogs still living with her to the veterinarian for vaccinations and checkups, and has made arrangements for spaying and neutering. "We will be doing a followup on a regular basis to make sure that's done," Macuk said. They will also make sure Jones buys dog licenses from the county, and she will be fined for not licensing the dogs earlier. Macuk also said many more people have called the animal shelter since the incident, asking about the regulations for kennels and for people who own more than three dogs. "I think it's been a real eye opener that we're not immune to these types of situations happening around us, and that we all need to be aware and take actions to prevent it from getting to this level," Macuk said. The county building department also plans to visit the Sams Valley site next week and is working with the property owner. "We do believe there are additional code enforcement problems beyond the dogs," said Dale Bohannan, county building official. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA