Susan Daffron talks to Cindy Hewitt from Miami-Dade Animal Services. about a three-year old white bulldog named Fred who is available for adoption. Miami-Dade is an open-admission shelter that receives 30,000 animals every year. Fred was a stray who unfortunately had a lot of ticks when he was brought in. Although he's tick-free now and looking much better, Fred did test positive for a tick-borne disease called Ehrlichia, which is sadly fairly common in the area. Fortunately, it is extremely treatable with antibiotics and (sometimes) corticosteriods.

Fred does not seem to have an advanced case of the illness and Cindy expects him to make a full recovery. Personality-wise Fred is a bit reserved. He's not boisterous and walks beautifully on a leash. Instead of pulling, he is a gentleman who walks along with you nicely, simply taking in the surroundings and observing what's going on. Like many dogs at shelters, he's just waiting for the right person to come along and see his potential. That lucky person will be rewarded with a wonderful companion for years to come.

Questions or Comments? Send them to: SusanD@petliferadio.com.