CHUCK
THE CHOW was found by Steve Mcgarva while he was doing his rounds looking for newcomers at "Dead Dog Beach".
It took Steve a few weeks to win his loyalty due to his fear of humans. He became a true friend to Steve and even defended him
when some unfriendly men confronted Steve on the beach. Steve named him "Bear" because of his size and
look. He was later renamed "Chuck". He was tough to place but eventually we were able to find someone
who understood the breed and were willing to take him in and give him a forever home. His parents were quoted saying...
"My wife Mollie refers to Chuck as "The Supervisor". He oversees everything, and nothing goes on
in the house without his approval. When I am home he is never more than a few feet away, it was an instant
bond. You are doing a fantastic job and a wonderful thing."
~ Chuck and Bill
NINA AND NICOLE
were dumped on the side of the road near the entrance of "Dead Dog Beach". These two best friends were a purebred
Rottweiler and a purebred German Shepherd. When Steve Mcgarva found them living together in the jungle undergrowth,
they could barely stand, and both dogs looked like they might die that morning. Steve and Pam Mcgarva and fellow
rescuer Sandra Cintron kept Nina and Nicole alive through multiple daily feeding and medication. They kept the pair
away from other dogs because both needed all their strength for survival. In late October of 2006, Nina and Nicole were
taken from the beach and brought to Dr. Ramos. Nina and Nicole spent about three months boarding with Dr. Ramos, rehabilitating
from mange, fungus, parasites, and starvation. Fortunately, neither dog had heartworm, and when they were ready for
adoption, Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue (MAGSR) came to their aid. Nina and Nicole were greeted at the airport
with handmade blankets, sweaters and tears, and were adopted out shortly after their arrival receiving much love by MAGSR.
| Nina and Nicole AFTER rescue |
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JESS was dumped
at "Dead Dog Beach" after having had hot oil thrown on his back side and the side of his body. Steve Mcgarva
aided Jess as best as he could - the wound where the oil had penetrated his flesh was so deep that bone material was visible.
It took months and months to get to a point where it began to heal. He was always at risk of serious infection and needed
several bouts of antibiotics. Somehow though, Jess managed to thrive at the beach despite his circumstances and wounds.
In early 2006, Jess was rescued from the beach, and the difficulty of placing Jess began. Jess did not particularly
show well in the kennel, because he much preferred playing in open space. Jess also had a lot of energy (because he
wanted to be with people - always). His story flooded the internet... scores of people were rooting for Jess and passing
his story foreward. Jess is an extremely loyal dog, and we wanted to find him someone that would be just as loyal to
him. After four months in a foster home in Puerto Rico, Jess got his much needed break from a shelter in the Pacific
Northwest called Animals In Need who work with rescuers in Puerto Rico. Animals In Need found Jess his perfect family. He
didn't even have to go into boarding, his new family picked him up at the airport. Jess is now famous in his community.
He attends baseball games, sleeps on the couch, has a cat for a buddy, and recently had his first-ever camping trip.
Jess's new mom, Kym, says that adopting Jess was the best last minute decision she's ever made, and she says
she gets 20 e-mails a day asking how Jess is doing. We are grateful to Kym and her boys, and proud of them for embracing
Jess's "star" (scar).
LEO was
a large yellow lab mix that Steve found the first day he discovered dead dog beach. Leo was a gentle but firm leader
of the pack of 60 - 100 stray dogs. Leo would follow Steve around the beach and shadow Steve's
every move for two almost years, helping Steve to keep order within the pack. Leo's loyalty to Steve were put
to the test on several occasions. He was even injured protecting Steve and his pack from some men with machete's
who were threatening to harm Steve. Leo now lives with his loving forever family in New York.
Steve found ALICE at Dead Dog Beach hiding in the jungle with her
puppies while he was doing his rounds one morning. She was terrified and malnourished and it took Steve a couple of
days to win her trust. She allowed Steve to help her and her pups and begin their socialization training to prepare
them for their forever families. Once the puppies were old enough they were adopted out to families in the USA thru
the help of another rescue group based in florida. Alice was harder to place but eventually Steve introduced her
to someone from the USA visiting the island on vacation. They had contacted Steve asking for a tour of Dead Dog
Beach. Alice won their heart and found her forever family. She was later renamed Foxy and now lives in the
lap of luxury in the Boston area.
JOE was Steve's little shadow at "Dead dog beach" for the
better part of a year before he was adopted by Mary O'Connor and her girls from St. Hubert's North Branch shelter.
Joe is now named Cooper so there aren't two Joes in the family. Mary says Cooper's tail never stops wagging, he gets
to sleep on the bed and that he has added a lot to all of their lives. Cooper lives with Mary, her daughter, two cats and
two rabbits.
LADY was one of the first rescued dogs from "Dead Dog Beach."
She was found as a 3-4 month old puppy when Steve saw her owner throw her from his moving car. Steve dropped what he
was doing and chased the man in the car. Steve managed to catch up with him on a dead end road at the far
side of the beach. Steve had to restrain himself as he knew the dog was better off in his care than to live with a
person that would do this to an animal. Lady was fostered for a couple months before being sent to Tri-Boro Animal Welfare
in New Jersey for adoption. Lady now lives in the loving home of her adopted family, who recently adopted another Puerto Rican
dog from Tri-Boro named Sandi to keep Lady company (aka help tire her out.) Look how beautiful Lady is!
MAGGIE was one of those dogs that took Steve,
months of sweet talking and patience to get her to trust him. Steve's persistence paid off and Maggie was rewarded
with her forever family adopting her at the St. Hubert's Barkfest in May of 2007. Maggie was a shy girl, and didn't
do much in her kennel at Barkfest. She remained absolutely motionless. This young girl sat by Maggie's side for
over an hour and later pleaded with her parents to let Maggie come home with them. When the adoption was final, Maggie trotted
off alongside her new companion like they'd been together for years.
