A rescue canine disadvantaged of puppyhood and now residing a younger canine’s dream in a West Hartford home, has been named a high 10 finalist in People Magazine’s World’s Cutest Rescue Dog contest.
Jillian Gibbs, mother to canine Poppy, is hoping Connecticut residents will forged a vote for the household’s 1-year-old combined breed canine weighing in at 40 kilos.
The journal narrowed the sector to 10 out of what Gibbs was advised have been 8,500 contestants. The winner will probably be chosen by fashionable vote. Voting ends Sept. 22.
“When she came into the house she was timid. She didn’t know how to be a puppy,” Gibbs mentioned. “After a few weeks it was so rewarding to see her transformation.”
Gibbs, an advocate of adopting reasonably than looking for dogs, discovered Poppy by way of Petfinder at A New Chance Animal Rescue out of New York.
Gibbs fell in love with Poppy as a result of she appeared similar to she and husband Jon’s different rescue canine, Lemon, 3.
She mentioned the again story was that Poppy had been picked up on the streets of North Carolina and brought to a “high kill shelter,” as a result of circumstances may be so cramped within the south.
It was obvious, Gibbs mentioned, that at lower than 1-year-old, Poppy had already birthed a litter. She guesses that whomever owned Poppy dumped her after they obtained the puppies.
She was rescued and flown to New York. Gibbs mentioned when she Jon and Lemon went to fulfill Poppy, she didn’t even know the best way to play with a canine toy.
“She’s been through some things,” Gibbs mentioned.
Today, she has a fenced in yard, plenty of toys, will get to snuggle on the sofa, attends doggie daycare at Planet Bark and is “best friends” with sister, Lemon.
“She gets to be they puppy she should have been a year ago,” Gibbs mentioned. “They have all the cookies they ever want and all the love too.”
The couple, who don’t have kids but, adopted Poppy in April. Gibbs mentioned an advert for the People Magazine contest saved popping up on Instagram, so she lastly entered, sending a photograph and quick bio on Poppy.
“She has a sad back story and she’s so darn cute,” Gibbs mentioned.
The prize for first place is $1,000 – which she’ll donate to Poppy’s rescue, Pedigree pet food for a yr and a photograph shoot with the couple and their dogs.
Even if Poppy doesn’t win, Gibbs mentioned she’ll really feel good that her lady helped carry consideration to rescue dogs.
“I also think I would like to show people a rescue dog can be just as cute as ones purchased from a breeder,” she mentioned. She is a volunteer at Dog Star Rescue in Bloomfield.
Gibbs mentioned they rescued Lemon, additionally discovered by way of Petfinder at 4 months outdated, from the organization, “No Greater Love.” She too got here from the south – Alabama – however doesn’t have a outstanding historical past that they know of.
The resemblance between the dogs is uncanny. Gibbs mentioned DNA checks confirmed Poppy is a mixture of 14 breeds and Lemon, a mixture of 16 breeds.
Gibbs mentioned they named Lemon as such as a result of it’s cute, completely different, they usually selected Poppy as a result of it sounded good with Lemon. Gibbs is an inside designer and likes to purchase the dogs lemon and flower themed equipment.
She mentioned individuals wish to joke they’ll get a 3rd rescue and name it, “Muffin.”
