I was found in the Lick Run Road area of Clearfield Pennsylvania.  I obviously have been on my own for a very long time.  The pads on my paws are actually falling off which makes walking very difficult.  My mouth is full of ulcers which make eating painful.

Karen Walstrom the dog officer for Lawrence Township came and picked me up after I arrived at a camp and scared the owners.  Guess they never saw such a skinny dog.  She took me to see a nice doctor who examined me from head to toe.  He feels that with lots of tender loving care I will be fine.  My feet will heal and with alot of care I will eventually look like the proud and beautiful creature I should.  Dr. Herring also said he thinks I am about 1 year old.  Because Dr. Herring felt I had lived on berries and roots, I  have been given the name of BooBoo.   Unfortunately my time has not been spent in Jellystone Park.

Right now I am recuperating at the SPCA.  I have a whole room to myself, regular meals, lots of attention and a nice soft place to sleep.  I will eventually be available for adoption.

Actually Keisha/BooBoo is doing quite a bit better.  It has become somewhat easier for her to eat and she is enjoying her regular meals.  She is currently being treated for infection in her feet and they are starting to heal.  They still make it difficult for her to walk but her curiosity seems to drive her around the shelter.  She loves to meet new people and seems to be taking every advantage of being a celebrity. 

We have found out that Keisha/BooBoo has fairly severe hip displasia.  She was x-rayed in July of 1997 and as of then there was no arthritis.  This will probably be something any adopter will need to deal with in the future though. 

She gets along well with well behaved children but small children who scream upset her.  She is also not fond of medium to large size dogs.  She apparently had an unpleasant experience with a larger dog when she was a youngster.  In the shelter she likes to watch the bunnies, guinea pigs, and kittys.  She shows no aggression but seems fascinated by them.  She stands or sits quietly and watches our office bunny. 

We are currently accepting inquires from people who are interested in adopting Keisha/BooBoo.  If you are interested, please use the email icon below to tell us about yourself, your current and past pets and where you are located.  Please include a telephone number and time you may be reached. 

Anyone wishing make a donation to help with Keisha/BooBoo's recuperation may do so by mail.  Please send to: 

Clearfield County SPCA 
RD #3, Box 86 
Philipsburg, PA   16866 
Please mark your donation BooBoo

During the past week Keisha became a TV star.  She appeared on every WTAJ TV 10 news broadcast from 6 p.m. Tuesday through 5 p.m. Wednesday.  We have received a tremendous outpouring of concern and generosity from people.  This beautiful baby has touched a great many hearts. 

The people responsible for what has happened to Keisha were charged with cruelty to animals as follows: 

David A. Visnofsky, age 23 of Clearfield was charged with failure to provide veterinary care.  Mr. Visnofsky pled guilty and was fined $750 plus costs.  Mr. Visnosfsky was Keisha's owner. 

Mr. Keith Shively, age 26 of Clearfield was charged with abandonment.  Mr. Shively pled guilty and was fined $750 plus costs.  Mr. Shively was the person who took Keisha out in the woods and abandoned her. 

These fines represent the maximum fine under Pennsylvania Law.  Both men were charged under PA Crimes Code, Section 5511, Subsection C. 

We are currently in the process of talking to the many people who wish to adopt Keisha.  She has improved so much over the last week.  Her appetite has grown as her mouth has healed.  She now can hardly wait for her food to soak so she can dig in.  Hopefully we will be able to announce Keisha's new family when we update this page next week.

We had many requests to adopt Keisha from some very loving and wonderful people.  This was a very difficult decision for us but we feel that, for Keisha, this is the perfect home. 

Each week has brought an emergence of this wonderful girl's personality.  She is soooo curious about everything.  Her toys are very important to her and she has quite a collection of them.  She also has three beds which have been donated by caring people. 

Keisha's biggest adventure this week was her first trip into the big outdoors.  She still wasn't sure she wanted to poke her nose outside but with a little persuasion she gave in.  Once outside she was interested in everything.  Lots of new sights and smells to investigate even if she had to wear those silly socks.  Although her feet are much improved, we don't want to take any chances. 

Monica's Heart, a local Greyhound Rescue organization sent Keisha a wonderful new coat and other goodies.  You can see her modeling her new outerwear.  She is certainly getting used to her celebrity status. 

All of us who have been involved in Keisha's story would like to thank everyone who  has sent donations and expressed interest in her recovery.  Your notes have meant a great deal to all of us.  We are so happy that she is going to such a wonderful home and will live the life she is entitled to, but there will be much sadness when she leaves the shelter.  Watching this poor starved, sick dog turn into the beautiful, loving creature she is now has filled our hearts with joy.   

The next update will include pictures of Keisha going home with her new Mommy.

After much excitemenet on Friday morning which included posing for newspaper pictures and hamming it up for the TV camera, Debbie and Keisha hopped into the car and headed for her new home. 

Upon arrival, she proceeded to awe her new brothers, Timmy, Dale, and Buford, by her large size.  Once they got used to looking at this large creature friendships were established.  Buford and Keisha have been enjoying play times and competing for Mom's attention.  

Saturday she went on an outing to meet her new vet.  Her weight is now 80 lbs and although her feet are doing much better they still have a ways to go.  Keisha is still sporting her socks for outside adventures. 

New toys were added to her already huge collection.  Her desire to emulate her sheltie brothers has led to some predicaments under the bed.  Debbie has not really gotten a full nights sleep yet.  Her introduction to the horses produced a before unheard  bark.  

As you can see life is full of new adventures for this beautiful girl and she is enjoying each and every one of them. 

Everyone who cared for Keisha at the shelter also  fell in love with Debbie.  It was apparant immediately that this was a match made in heaven.  So although we were all sad to see  her go, the happiness at the wonderful life she had ahead of her outweighed any sadness. 

The next update on Keisha will include pictures taken in her new home.

Keisha has moved into her proper place as Princess of the Household.  I am not sure poor Debbie gets much sleep anymore though.  Her first nights Keisha seemed to have a problem with the bed.  She wanted to follow the shelties under it and ended up hopelessly stuck.  Mom was quick to the rescue.  After a couple nights of that Keisha figured out the answer was to sleep on top of the bed.  This way when her cover slips off she can wake Mom to replace it. 

She and her new brother Buford the coonhound have become fast friends and playmates.  I think Debbie said their favorite game was "Mommy Bowling".    We have no pictures of that game though, guess the photographer had a hard time taking pictures while toppling over. 

Keisha can also be seen sporting one of her new coats.  We should all have such wardrobes.  No need to worry about this girl ever getting cold again. 

As you can see her weight has improved tremendously just since she arrived in her new home. Good food and the love of many people have brought this beautiful sweet creature back to her noble self.

Debbie reports that Keisha has been attending Clicker training and having a ball learning.  She has been keeping up up to date with pictures of Keisha and her new friends.  As you can see she fits right in. 

Our biggest concern is Debbie.  Sharing a bed with a Great Dane who likes to breathe in your ear and kick can't be conducive to getting a good  nights rest.  Maybe we should have Debbie send a current picture of herself to see if she is looking haggard. 

Keisha's weight has dramatically risen to 102 lbs.  Although we didn't weigh her when she came in I think we can safely guess this is double what she weighed then. 

All of us at the SPCA would like to thank everyone who helped in the rescue of Keisha and the prosecution of the people who did this to her.  The Clearfield Progress, WTAJ Altoona PA, Dr. Herring and Dr. Martin who helped treat her, everyone who sent donations, the Great Dane Mailing List for all their support and everyone who kept Keisha in their thoughts and read about her here.  She has touched so many lives in one way or another.  She richly deserves the happy life she has now. 

This page will be here in it's entirely for at least a month.  After that time it will be condensed and used as the first spotlight on a new page entitled "Happy Tales".  This page will feature alumni of the Clearfield County SPCA in their new homes, telling their happy stories.

It is with great sorrow that I am updating this page.  Keisha has gone to Rainbow Bridge.
We tried to do our very best for her but in the end all the people in her life have let her down.  

We were brutally honest when trying to place her.  Both about her health problems and her issues with children.  Although she had never bitten a child, she had a definite aversion to little girls.  We felt that because she had never bitten or offered to bite that with proper supervision she would be safe.
Something broke down somewhere and she attacked a little girl.  She has now paid with her life.  

Although there have been many what ifs and maybes, nothing will change the fact that she is gone and will be mourned by all of us at the shelter who knew her and loved her.

Our hope is that she is now playing on Rainbow Bridge and nothing and nobody can ever hurt her again.  She will no longer need to worry that her trust will be be misplaced in a human.