Injured dog gets help

As previously reported in The Acorn, third grade Lupin Hill Elementary School student Shyanne Roberts wanted to help a 1-yearold purebred Yorkie puppy named P-Nut that needed a $1,500 surgery to correct a birth defect. Even though Shyanne couldn't keep PNut, she raised the money for the surgery so that the dog could be adopted.

PUPPY LOVE-Shyanne Roberts, left, and her cousin, McKenzie, cuddle with P-Nut, a puppy with a birth defect that required expensive leg surgery. Shyanne raised funds for P-Nut's operation. A very lovely family has since adopted P-Nut, according to Joy Nadel of Rescue Me Inc.

"P-Nut has been recovering for the past week now from her surgery and is doing terrific," Nadel said last week. "She is looking very forward to beginning her new life with her new family, which includes a human mommy and daddy, three kids and a poodle for a brother."

Last October, while on her way to rent a movie at a video store in Calabasas, Shyanne saw P-Nut in front of a pet store. A woman from Rescue Me Inc. was with P-Nut, hoping to find a home for the puppy.

After a long conversation with the woman, Shyanne learned that the 4-pound P-Nut needed expensive leg surgery. Shyanne immediately began to collect the funds to pay for the surgery. Shyanne would love to have been able to adopt the dog herself, but she couldn't.

"Shyanne currently lives with two Yorkies, so adopting P-Nut was going to be difficult because we already have two dogs," said Tammy Roberts, Shyanne's mother.

Shyanne put together a mailer that asked for funds to pay for PNut's surgery. She gave the mailer to friends, family, neighbors and even strangers. Shyanne also put an ad in her school newspaper.

"I love puppies and I believe that every dog in the world has a soul and a spirit," Shyanne said. "I want to help them because they have feelings, and I don't think they should be tossed around like an old rag or something."

Shyanne's mother said that while her daughter wanted keep P-Nut, she's grateful for the opportunity to help the dog.

"It's been a wonderful experience for Shyanne," the mother said. "She received money from family and friends, but she experienced amazing generosity from strangers when she placed the ad in Tiger Tales (Shyanne's school newspaper). Families she didn't even know sent her money in the mail."