FOCAS Dog becomes PETCO "cover girl"!
Jun 10, 2009
This sweet dog went from stray to star, and recently was lucky enough to be featured in an article in the Union-Tribune. Her story is below:
Abbey, once a stray dog found in Santee , is now the model for Petco's new dog auto safety vest packaging.
Former shelter pooch now leading model life
By Diane BellUnion-Tribune Columnist
2:00 a.m. September 17, 2009
From homeless to “cover girl” . . . that's the story of a stray dog found in Santee and turned over to the Department of Animal Services last year.
For five months, the 8-year-old shepherd-mix, nicknamed Julep, sat quietly in a Bonita shelter as prospective adoptive families passed her over time and time again. Her name was changed to Miss Julep to emphasize her laid-back, queenly demeanor. Still no takers.
The Friends of County Animal Shelters, which helps find homes for strays so they won't be euthanized, took on Miss Julep's cause and added her photo to its adoption Web site. She was starting to lose weight and interest when, at last, a woman who works for Petco's corporate office offered to adopt her.
A Petco ad campaign photographer spotted Julep, now re-named Abbey, with her regal behavior and unusual ridge of hair resembling a mohawk. He suggested she compete to be on the cover of Petco's new dog auto safety vest package. Sure enough, Abbey beat out eight other pooches in the photo contest, and her picture now graces the harness package for medium-sized dogs and is in Petco stores nationwide.
“She got overlooked, but she's having the last laugh now,” says Kathy Hensley, relocation program director for FOCAS. “Her story demonstrates that there are some great gems at the shelter.”