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After Rescue From 'Dungeon,' Henry The Poodle Finds A Home

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Henry, a 56-pound poodle, was rescued along with more than 80 other animals from a filthy garage.

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 3, 2009

TAMPA - Henry has a home.

New owner Miriam Faircloth, a retired nurse from South Tampa, snapped up the plucky poodle after Hillsborough County Animal Services pleaded for a dog-lover to adopt him.

"I always said when I retire, I'm getting a dog," declared the 69-year-old grandma of six.

She'll get to bring him home Wednesday.

Faircloth was supposed to attend a church meeting last Saturday morning, but she detoured to the county shelter in Brandon where she met Henry, one of 87 animals rescued last year from a "dungeon" garage filled with feces, sawdust and decaying carcasses.

Henry and 27 other dogs at the shelter became available Friday for adoption. By day's end, only Henry remained, leaving workers and volunteers – his ardent fans – surprised and saddened.

"He's the best of the bunch," said agency spokeswoman Marti Ryan.

But potential owners in search of the smaller breeds found alongside Henry – predominately Shih Tzu and Havanese – may have been intimidated by Henry's size, Ryan reasoned. He's a 56-pound standard poodle with plenty of pomp potential.

Ryan reached out to the local media for help and Henry soon was featured on TBO.com and The Tampa Tribune. Faircloth was first in line to fill out an application.

Her first encounter with Henry was brief. He quickly scampered off for a run on the shelter grounds. It was just enough, though, for Faircloth to conjure visions of a posh poodle 'do and glittery collar.

"He looks like a show dog," she said dreamily two days later.

Nope, no doggie beds for this canine. No shooing him off the furniture.

"I know better," said the former St. Joseph's Women's Hospital employee, whose mother owned plenty of this fancy breed known for intelligence and independence.

Henry, or maybe Sterling Silver, will have the run of Faircloth's tidy townhouse and spacious back yard and pool. Prince Sterling, another possible new name, can sit on the sofa if he likes and even sleep on the queen's bed if he prefers.

After what this dog has been through, no matter what his name becomes, he can pretty much write his own ticket, Faircloth said.

When investigators found him, he weighed only 36 pounds, couldn't walk and had chunks of hair missing. Animal services workers have spent the past two months fattening him up by a whopping 20 pounds and fluffing and puffing his full, cream-colored coat.

Since Faircloth has to wait for Henry to fully recover from being neutered Monday, he'll spend Wednesday saying goodbye to the folks who saved him.

"Henry should be leaving soon for his new "forever home!" Ryan emailed the Tribune. "I'm going to miss him, but I'm also anxious for him to get on with the life he deserves."

Another dog gets a good home, she said, but there are many more Henrys.

For more information about adopting a pet, call (813) 744-5660 or go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.

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