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Smitten Orangeburg Vet Tech Takes In Emaciated Hoarding Case Dog

ORANGEBURG, N.Y. — Phoebe was malnourished and covered in sores when Orangeburg’s Vivian Wong first laid eyes on her.

Phoebe, formerly Dottie, with Orangeburg's Vivian Wong, 35, who met the pit-mix at work as a vet tech.

Phoebe, formerly Dottie, with Orangeburg's Vivian Wong, 35, who met the pit-mix at work as a vet tech.

Photo Credit: Special To Daily Voice
Ramsey's Ashley Gardenier when she rescued Phoebe, then Dottie, from a Louisiana hoarding case.

Ramsey's Ashley Gardenier when she rescued Phoebe, then Dottie, from a Louisiana hoarding case.

Photo Credit: Ashley Gardenier

But still, the Allendale Veterinary Hospital technician says it was nothing short of love at first sight.

She was weeks into mourning the loss of her last dog and wasn’t looking to adopt so soon, but when Phoebe came into the hospital from a hoarding case in Louisiana, Wong just had to have her.

“I don’t know how to describe her in simple terms,” said Wong, who also works at Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus. 

I saw her and just really wanted her in my life.

Phoebe, also known as Dottie, was rescued over the summer in the midst of the flood by Ramsey’s Ashley Gardenier of Ringwood-based Southern Paws. 

The SPCA was investigating the black pit bull-mix’s former owners, who used her for breeding among 16 other dogs, Gardenier said.

Wong adopted Phoebe last October and is working on getting her certified as a therapy dog.

“She’s amazing,” Wong said. “I feel like she’s there to make people feel better.”

“People spend so much time trying to find a breeder, shipping a dog over. Not that you won’t love them any more or less…

I just think people will benefit from trying to love something that didn’t have as much love as before.

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