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| -Updates on Stories from the Winter PAW STREET JOURNAL-
Updates on Steel & Arina
“Steel" is a handsome one-year-old Australian shepherd mix who got his name from an injury sustained in the fall of 2007. The  young canine, who was already malnourished, wandered onto a Trimble County property with a steel trap attached to his right hind limb. The home owner contacted KHS, and a rescue officer rescued Steel and brought him to the main campus in Louisville, Ky. for medical attention.
The veterinary team removed the trap and examined the deep  laceration on his right hind leg. The severity of his injury concerned the staff veterinarian. But, in hopes of avoiding amputation, the team treated the wound and placed his limb in a cast.
Steel was place in foster care at the KHS Eastpoint Pet Resort in Middletown, so the staff could monitor his progress and ensure that he received plenty of love and attention.
 "All the staff loved having Steel around," said Susan Oppel, KHS Pet Resorts Director. "He's got such a great temperament and is such a happy, easygoing dog. We really wanted to be sure that he went to a great home."
And that he did.
While recovering in foster care, Steel met his future owner- KHS Board President Rick Maynard.
 Before walking into a meeting at KHS, Rick saw Steel, who despite his injured leg, was wagging his tail and smiling. As Rick leaned over to pet him, Steel immediately rolled over, requesting a belly scratch. “It was love at first belly scratch,” shared Rick, who works for Yum! Brands.
Today, Steel is living the good life with Rick and his wife Gina, along with his two canine siblings, Junior and Cotton.
"He's a wonderful, loving, funny dog and he has brought a lot of joy to our home," said Rick.
In Rick's own words about Steel:
Steel was a very lucky dog because the Kentucky Humane Society  was there for him -- to rescue him, care for him, tend to his injuries and foster him until he could find a forever home. But as lucky as Steel was, we are even luckier to have found him.
A lot of organizations would have looked at a dog like Steel and said, 'This one is going to be too much work to save.' Fortunately, it was KHS that found Steel, so that was never an issue. And after hanging out with Steel for a couple of months, I can assure the KHS staff that they made the right call. This was definitely a life worth saving, and Steel and I will be forever grateful to them.
Steel has been a great romping buddy for our eight-year-old border collie mix, Cotton. They play until they are exhausted, take a nap, and then get up and do it all over again. And Steel is very gentle with our 13-year-old dachshund mix, Junior. He seems to know that Junior's prime romping days are behind him, so he gives him his space, other than swinging by for the occasional drive-by kiss."
KHS wishes all the best for Steel and his new family!
In December 2007, KHS volunteer Zoe Herald found a young feline wandering a Germantown street with an injured limb. Seeking help for the stray cat, Zoe brought "Arina" to KHS, where the  veterinary team promptly examined her injury. A KHS veterinarian determined that her left front limb was so badly broken that amputation was necessary.
After surgery, Arina was placed in temporary foster care, but the Herald family couldn't stop thinking about her.
"She looked so much like our cat, Quest," shared Karen Herald. "They both were injured as young cats, rescued by KHS and had the same leg amputated."
Karen felt like it was fate that Arina came into their lives. So, soon after Arina initially recovered from surgery,
the Herald family adopted the one-year-old petite cat.
Now in her new, permanent home, Arina has adjusted to life as a
three-legged feline. She also has become good friends with Quest and their family dog.
 "We're so thankful for KHS' help," said Karen, who works for Louisville Public Media. "Arina and Quest play all the time. She's doing great and seems really happy."
Congratulations to Arina and her new loving family!
Look for updates on other rescue stories in upcoming KENNEL CHRONICLES issues!
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