Poodle That Survived Mountain of Trash Gets a New Home

NBC Bay Area ^ | Thursday, Jan 30, 2014 | Joe Rosato Jr.

[nickcarraway]

A tiny apricot poodle who survived a harrowing journey through mountains of San Francisco trash, is going home to life that will, in contrast, smell like a rose. On Monday, Patricia Aleman picked up Gem, as she was named, and whisked her off to a new life in her Potrero Hill home, complete with a yard.

“I can’t wait to take her home and just play with her,” Aleman said. “I’m really, really excited. I feel lucky to have her.”

In late December, trash sorters at the Recology Recycling Center spotted the poodle’s head poking out from a bag on a conveyer belt. A few feet more, and she would’ve plummeted into a lethal ravine of garbage. She had already survived days in a trash bin, rides in the scoops of heavy machinery, and a violent trash shaker.

She was nursed back to health at San Francisco Animal Care and Control. The agency received 250 applications from people across the country offering to adopt the tiny dog. It whittled down the field and eventually picked Aleman. Aside from a yard and her love for dogs, Aleman had another intriguing qualification – she works for Recology.

“One of the rescuers, Greg Foster also put in a letter [of recommendation]” said Animal Control Director Rebecca Katz, “saying it would be really meaningful for them to be able to spend time with her and see her.”

Co-workers will get to see plenty of Gem in the future; Aleman said her supervisor gave her permission to bring Gem to work.

“With me she doesn’t just have one family,” Aleman said. “It’s the 800 families that work there are also her family.”

[verga]

Ping worthy

[Innovative]

Happy ending doggie ping

[Innovative]

There is also a video at the article link:

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Poodle-That-Survived-Mountain-of-Trash-Gets-a-New-Home-242857891.html

Adorable doggie!

[rusty schucklefurd]

That was sweet! Thanks for posting.

[caveat emptor]

I lived on Potrero Hill in early 90's when I last worked in San Francisco, but on the wrong side from where Gem likely lives. Down the hill from me was an Amish housing project in the Mission District that I had to pass by every afternoon when walking home after getting off at the nearest BART station. I never had a problem, but every night there was gunfire till late in the night.

One trucker did have a problem though. He was delivering fresh fish, made a wrong turn into the project and was stopped and beaten by a mob. I decided to move down town closer to where I worked.

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[Monkey Face]

That is SUCH a good story! Thank you!

[Monkey Face]

Fangs, Joe!

[djf]

What the fudge is an “apricot poodle”?

Sounds like some half-rotten gunk you’d find stuck on the bottom of your climbing shoes!

No self-respecting dog I ever owned would tolerate being called “Apricot” whatever!

They try to give everything these squishy, feel-good names. I’d just name him Stuntd.
Or Lameus.

[Perdogg]

Some Freepers would have just shot her - why she is pooping some where and refusing to kill her is the same as elevating her to human status.

[Jane Long]

I love apricot poodles. I love ANY color poodle...for that matter. Thanks for posting ;)

[yldstrk]

sick f8cks that threw the pup away

[Baynative]

[freekitty]

They have been around for years. All breeds have different names of colors for their breeds.

[Innovative]

“A dog’s last will and testament”

How sweet. Thanks for posting it, I have not seen it before.

[Innovative]

It has sort of an apricot type coloring, go look at the video. Really cute and the name fits. :)

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Poodle-That-Survived-Mountain-of-Trash-Gets-a-New-Home-242857891.html

[rawhide]

You are right. Very cute looking dog.

When she was found:

Today:

[rawhide]

[Innovative]

The poor baby, apparently she was in really bad shape — glad it has such a happy ending.