Contact Fuji's Caretaker/Foster Directly: Martha Schiffer (marthaschiffer@yahoo.com), (407) 402-2860, (407) 402-2860

Sponsors: Fuji is being sponsored by Wade of Torrington Connecticut. He learned about her from friends in Palm Bay! Thank you, Wade, for your long-distance support of Fuji!

Description:
This is Fuji, a senior pet with a story that you have to take the time to read. I think I will just let his rescuers tell you themselves:
Hello everyone, This is the story of "Fuji"....a beautiful, loving, sweet old girl, who just wants someone she can give all that LOVE to.....and maybe, get some love and care in return! My husband and I were on our way home from dinner one night recently, just laughing and reminiscing on the great evening we had just spent together. Never in our worst nightmares, did we ever expect to see, the horrific and heartbreaking sight of poor little "Fuji", aimlessly wandering alone in the middle of one of the busiest streets, in East Orlando. The street is very poorly lit and my Husband didn't even see her...all he heard was my voice, screaming at him to stop the car!! He pulled over and I jumped out of the car and ran back to where I saw her. She was very weak and EXTREMELY skinny....she could barely support her own weight. As I approached her, I carefully stretched out my hand towards her, so she could pick up my scent and hopefully realize that I wasn't going to harm her. She carefully sniffed my hand, began wagging her poor little skinny tail and started to walk towards me. As she took the last couple of short steps towards me, she collapsed. It was like she knew I was there to help her so she didn't need to struggle on any longer. She was so exhausted and weak, her poor little legs just couldn't hold her up any longer. My husband and I picked her up and put her in the car and continued on home. We knew that there was no way that we could keep her ourselves but, there was NO WAY we were going to just leave her in the street...alone....waiting to die. When we got her home, we immediately made up a bed for her and made her as comfortable as possible. We fed her, what was probably the first good meal she had received in months and tried to give her as much TLC as humanly possible, until morning. Once morning arrived, we took her to our regular Vet, who gave her a complete work-up. After 3 long hours of blood tests, skin tests, ear swabbings, teeth and gum cleanings and a million other check-ups, to our astonishment, our vet told us that she was in very good health internally, and was completely free of disease. She of course was very malnourished, dirty, has lost some of her hair due to malnourishment and age, and has a minor ear infection that we are continuing to medicate but otherwise, she was good to go!! It was the BEST news we had ever heard!! Both my Husband and I are convinced, that there HAS TO BE a loving FOREVER HOME out there somewhere, for her. God, could never have put this beautiful creature on this earth, watched her as she struggled through her horrible lonely life for so many years, only to stand by and watch her die.....alone and unloved. That is not God that we all know....he has a plan for this amazingly brave old girl.....he just needs someone out there, to help him fulfill his plan... he needs a loving and kind person, family or Animal Sanctuary, to bring little Fuji home....FOREVER! She DESERVES a second chance.... I Pray, that his plan for Fuji, will be realized very soon. If you can help Fuji, or if you are interested in making Fuji your new forever friend, please contact me ANYTIME.
And now you know. Do you have room in your heart and home for Fuji? She has no vision in one eye and shadowed vision in the other, yet finds her way around the house with no problem. It is just indicative of her wonderful spirit! She qualifies for our Seniors for Seniors Program too. Please, let us find the most wonderful home for this girl!!!

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, despite the misleading name, the Australian Shepherd is not Australian at all, but was developed entirely in the U.S. to work as a herding dog on ranches. It is possible that the name was derived from one of the dog's ancestors. The breed's principal forebears were most likely Spanish dogs that accompanied the Basque shepherds and herds of fine Merino sheep exported to both America and Australia in the early days of the colonies. At some point it probably crossed with Collie stock. It has only recently gained recognition as a distinct breed. Its many talents include, retrieving, herding, watchdogging, guarding, police work, narcotics detection, search & rescue, agility, competitive obedience and performing tricks. Australian Shepherds are easy going, perpetual puppies that love to play. Courageous, loyal and affectionate, they are excellent children's companions that are great with active children. A devoted friend and guardian, for they are naturally protective. Very lively, agile and attentive - they are eager to please, with a sixth sense about what the owner wants. Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and easy to train. Though aggressive when at work with livestock, the Aussie is gentle with human friends. Australian Shepherds needs lots of exercise and a job to do, as the breed is very intelligent, active and easily bored. They can become nervous and destructive if left alone too much without exercise. They are naturally suspicious of strangers, so they should be well socialized as puppies. Working lines of Australian Shepherds may be too energetic to be suitable pets. Some like to nip people's heals in an attempt to herd them. They are quiet workers, unlike some breeds, which are bred to bark constantly at livestock. This breed is not usually dog aggressive.