North Coast Doberman Rescue

Dogtime salutes Ohio's North Coast Doberman Rescue.

How did your organization get started?
Our organization was founded twelve years ago by Judi Pirozzoli of Rock Creek, Ohio. Judi has a deep-rooted love of the breed and started out by simply saving one dog and it bloomed from there. In March of 2007, Tateka Clark partnered with Judi and they became North Coast Doberman Rescue, a 501 C-3 nonprofit organization.

What is your mission?
Our mission is to rescue abused, abandoned, neglected, and misunderstood Dobermans, and place them into loving forever homes with people that understand their characteristics.

How do most of your animals find their way to you?
Our rescues come from shelters all over our region, and even some from the South. The shelters are just overwhelmed and pulling from these shelters and kill shelters are our top priority. Some are surrendered by owners that are just unwanted and some are from bad homes.

What happens to the animals once they are in your care?
Rescued Dobermans are provided immediate veterinary care. They receive a complete examination, vaccinations, heartworm test, spay/neuter, microchipped, and any medical care needed. Our rescues are kept in foster homes where they can be provided with everything they need, from potty training, house manners, good nutrition, and love.

Tell us about a particularly compelling animal or inspiring rescue.
We have had many dogs that have really touched our lives. The dog that touched the hearts of everyone at NCDR was a dog named Mira. She came from a South Carolina shelter where she was picked up as a stray along with her male running mate. She was in deplorable condition and very heavy heartworm positive. She was just coming out of heat as well, so they suspected of course she had mated with her companion, Fletch.

Well, upon arrival to Ohio, she was immediately taken to the vet. It was determined she was so heavy heartworm positive that we could not risk a spay at that time. She was emaciated and her little body just wouldn't survive the invasive surgery. Around one and a half weeks after the initial vet exam, we noticed a discharge; it was the dreaded pyometria (infection of the uterus). We had to treat her with heavy doses of antibiotics, etc.

Once the infection was cleared up, we determined she was not pregnant. We proceeded with her first heartworm treatment. About one week later she got the pyometra again. They had to do an emergency spay and remove all her female organs--all of them. She made it through but the next day, she was very ill and going downhill. They had to open her again and make repairs to some vessels.

Our little Mira didn't make it. She blew a blood clot to her lung as a result of the heartworms and passed over to the bridge. Her will to live, her love of life as it was, her inner beauty, and just her overall demeanor brought so much hope to all of us. She reminded us all of the real meaning of rescue. She was not the prettiest dog in the world, skinny, flat footed, deformed leg, and not the most Dobie looking dog, but what a dog she was.

Mira is the face of rescue.