Hudson's new home in Schodack

@ Town Hall getting a license

The story begins with Rich and I watching the news of the three pups nailed to the railroad tracks.  We were horrified but glad that they were rescued by railroad workers and brought to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (MHHS).  All the puppies were treated for dehydration, malnutrition and infections caused by their wounds.   All the pups had severe wounds to their paws; one pup had a hole through her paw; the male pup's rear paw was completely removed; and the other female pup had two digits removed.  Sadly the smallest female pup with a hole in its paw did not survive.  Hudson, the puppy missing his back paw was fitted with a prosthetic paw at MHHS in November.  Hudson and Pearl were neutered and spayed and were now ready to be adopted and thus starts the happy beginning for Hudson and Pearl, "The Railroad Pups."

We read in the Times Union that MHHS was running an Adoption Essay contest to choose the forever homes for Hudson and Pearl.  (At this time both Hudson and Pearl were being cared for in a foster home and were doing very well).  Rich and I agreed that we would enter the contest in hopes to be chosen as candidates to adopt the puppies.  The essay had to be 300 words or less, applicants needed to explain why they believe their home was best suited to care for the pups.  

I just wrote from the heart and this is the essay Rich and I turned in:

"Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society

Hudson and Pearl

We would love to have Hudson and Pearl join our family.  My husband Rich and I have no children but have five (5) cats and one (1) dog all of who are rescues.  Our dog Sami is a pit bull mix, who was found roaming in Rensselaer when she was very young by the animal control officer who brought her to our vet.  We fell in love with Sami as soon as we saw her and adopted her.  We also take care of four (4) stray cats that when their human owner died they adopted us. 

Sami is our first pit bull and we are hooked on the breed.  We have wanted to adopt another pit bull, so when we saw the heart-breaking story of the pit bull pups; we said that as soon as they were ready we would try to adopt the pups that survived.   

We live in Castleton on Hudson, New York, on 2 and ½ acres of land in a fully renovated, 1700 square-foot farmhouse.  My husband is a self-employed general housing contractor, who typically works in the Capital Region Area and has flexible hours.  I am a self–employed health care consultant and I work from home.  Therefore, one of us is always home and we are both readily available to tend to all our pets needs including Hudson and Pearl.  Since we live in the Capital Region Area we can take Hudson and Pearl to their orthopedic veterinary surgeon in Pattersonville.  We will do everything it takes to make sure the pups receive the best care.  

We are devoted to our pets and Hudson and Pearl would only find happiness with our family.  We sincerely hope that you consider Rich and I.  Thank you!  Sincerely,  Rosemarie Nash"

The essay, which was Phase 1, and was initiated in an effort to whittle down all the calls to adopt the pups, had to be submitted to MHHS by November 11, on November 28, we were notified by email that we were chosen as candidates to meet Hudson and potentially adopt him.  My husband, my dog Sami and myself went to MHHS on Friday, November 30 to meet Hudson, and see if Sami and Hudson would be good together and to our delight they were great together!  Playing and running around you would never know Hudson had a prosthetic paw.  

We were notified on Saturday, Dec 1 that Hudson had found his forever home with us.  As you know we were part of the press conference on Wednesday, Dec 5 along with Pearl's adopted family.  

Hudson came to his new forever home and is doing wonderfully, even our cats are warming up to him!   Except for the prosthetic paw, which he will be requiring several until he is fully grown, we see no disability and he is treated as a regular pup.  We will be starting obedience training at MHHS in January and when Hudson is ready we will continue to take Hudson to hospitals and other facilities to visit with amputees, which is something his foster mom started with the help of MHHS.

My husband Rich will be creating a Facebook page for Hudson and will post his progress.

Please note that separating Hudson and Pearl, was the correct thing to do, it is not always a good idea to keep littermates together as they tend to bond more with each other instead of their adopters and family.  They are very different personalities and focus needs to be on their individual needs and training.  

We ordered a large kennel and intend on having play dates with Pearl.  

Rosemary and Rich Nash