Ivy- allergic to everything green

by Angie
(Pennsylvania)

Ivy came into our lives about two years ago, when she was just beginning her adolescence. I have an extensive history helping bully breeds become more socialized in shelters, and more able to slither their lives into the loving hearts of new parents. We wanted a playmate for our adolescent pug, named Pandora.

We walked into our local SPCA, and I found Ivy. There she sat, with her ribs and pelvic bones sticking out, ears back, her tail between her legs, her nose down, gazing at us with her big brown eyes, scared out of her mind. She wasn't barking like the rest of the dogs... as though she was trying to hypnotize me into taking her home. I thought 'what a shy, timid little girl, perfect!'... we spent a few minutes with her, but she was so very scared, it didn't reflect at all her true nature.

We went to pick her up after she was spayed, and she seemed to know she was going home. She was happier, though still shy, and eager to be out of the noise of the shelter.

When she got home, I led her around the house, showing her the rooms she was allowed in. I introduced her to the cats, which she cared very little about, then I introduced Pandora. They hit it off right away, and they have been inseparable ever since. Pandora cleans her face every night, like a good mommy. When they play, and things get a bit rough, Pandora tells Ivy in a quick way that good pit bulls play nice.

For a while things were rough. The shelter explained to us Ivy had been on medication for kennel cough when we first saw her. When we first got her she was a completely different dog, and the typical teen- crazy active, pushed the limits, and, unfortunately, had a raging urinary tract infection that led to the need to pee (inside or out) every 10 minutes for six months.

She has developed an allergic response, itchy muzzle, ears and paws. We had her tested, and apparently she is allergic to a dozen types of plants (beginning to see the irony in the name 'Ivy'?), and household dust. She is on injections every three weeks, and 6 Benadryl a day all spring through summer into the fall.

However, Ivy has put on (more than enough) weight, and has become very comfortable in her forever home. She loves cuddling, and sleeps outside our bedroom door every night to watch the house. She is the perfect little pit.