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September 10, 2008

Jerrod gets healthy again

Obese dog goes home after five months at The Paw

By Robb Murray

MANKATO — When we last saw Jerrod the dog, he’d just been surrendered to the humane society and was in the worst shape of his life.

His knees were locked into place, he was morbidly obese, and his hair had fallen out all over his body.

After hundreds of hours on an underwater treadmill at The Paw, adherence to a strict diet and more doses of love than he’d probably ever seen, Jerrod’s transformation has been remarkable.

His health has taken a dramatic turn for the better.

“It’s not just his life expectancy,” said Lora Bode, the veterinarian technician who has worked with Jerrod since April. “It’s quality of life. We’ve decreased his pain, his knees can function like they’re supposed to ...”

Along with working on the treadmill, Jerrod has also undergone regular regimens of stretching, ice packing and leash walks. Once he began to improve, he began working on climbing stairs — a task once impossible for him — and some light jogging. In total, he’s lost 32 pounds with about another 10 or so to go.

And although he’ll be on arthritis and thyroid medication for the rest of his life, he’ll have a nearly normal life with his new owners, Sarah and Adam Cowell of Arlington.

The Cowells picked up Jerrod — so named for the famous Subway sandwich shops pitchman who famously lost several hundred pounds — Wednesday morning. They’d seen him on the Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society Web site and, after one visit, knew they wanted to take him home. The day after meeting Jerrod, Sarah Cowell went to the humane society office and claimed him.

“I wasn’t about to let anyone else have him,” she said.

That was nearly two months ago. A few days after that, Jerrod had the second of two knee surgeries, both of which were performed in Faribault.

Since then Sarah has made regular visits to The Paw to visit Jerrod, and on Wednesday, she and Adam finally led him away to their car and off to Arlington.

Before they left, Bode went through all of Jerrod’s special needs, including his medications and diet. And as she did, Jerrod was anxious, happily trotting from person to person for affection. Five months ago the dog was lethargic, slow, fat. He was also very friendly, and that may be the one visible trait that remains.

Bode, who has worked closer with Jerrod than anyone, says she’ll miss The Paw’s longest-running guest.

“We’ve gotten to known him pretty well,” Bode said. “It’s easy for us to recognize when he’s having a bad day or a good day.”

Katherine Nelson, the humane society official who has monitored Jerrod’s progress, said bringing him to The Paw was a good decision.

“They took such good care of him. He was pretty spoiled,” she said as she watched Jerrod prance around the room. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Yes, but like his namesake, will Jerrod be able to keep it off?

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