ORANGE – Bubba, a Jack Russell terrier-Chihuahua puppy found high on methamphetamine in Tustin four months ago, is drug-free and has a new family.
The spunky, seven-month-old white and tan puppy bounded through a visiting area at Orange County Animal Care on Wednesday morning, chasing a small orange ball and taking treats from shelter staff and volunteers.
The pup had just been cleared for adoption.
“We just want a nice warm home with a heart for animals,” said Jennifer Hawkins, shelter director and chief veterinarian.
Bubba has been at the shelter since March after being rescued by OC Animal Care from a drug-infested motel room in Tustin – a rescue that made national and worldwide headlines and went viral on social media. Just about eight weeks old, Bubba was found huddled in a corner, listless and near death.
His owner, Joshua West, 40, of Mission Viejo, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia and booked into Orange County Jail, said Tustin police Sgt. Sarah Fetterling.
The pup was taken to OC Animal Care in Orange, where his unsteady stance and neurological issues prompted tests that revealed the pooch was high on methamphetamine and heroin, Hawkins said.
Bubba was put into treatment and given lots of fluids. He began eating and showing improvement immediately. Last week his test results came back clear for the first time, prompting the shelter to put him up for adoption, Hawkins said.
He has made a full recovery and is not expected to have medical challenges, she said.
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Before the shelter opened at 11 a.m. Wednesday, a father and son from Silverado Canyon came by to see the pup. They had just moved to a house where they could have a dog, and it was their first day visiting local shelters. When they stopped in at OC Animal Care, they heard the story of the rescue.
Noah Allen, 14, couldn’t wait to see Bubba.
“I want to get him,” he told his dad. “His troubled background makes me want to get him even more. It makes you feel good to give him a second chance.”
Father Jacob Allen said he lost a dachshund to coyotes a few years ago. He wondered if Bubba’s small size could make him more vulnerable.
“It’s an important decision, we have to think about this,” he told his son. “Having a dog is a big responsibility.”
Lt. Brian Frick, a supervising animal control officer, the first called to the scene at the motel, came by to wish Bubba well.
He recalled the sight when he was first called to pick him up.
“I walked in and saw all these drugs on the ground,” he said. “I said ‘where’s the dog?’ and walked around the corner and saw him lying listless. He was so cold and lethargic, I thought it was just that he’d been taken from his mom too soon. I never suspected he may have gotten into drugs.”
Frick, said he expected Bubba would be adopted quickly.
Just two hours later, a couple from Orange who had followed Bubba’s story since his rescue, showed up at the shelter excited that he was still available, said Katie Ingram, assistant director of OC Animal Care.
“They were a really nice couple and told us that Bubba would have a sister,” Ingram said. “Bubba bonded with them immediately.”
Shelter staff approved the adoption with the couple, who asked not to be identified. The couple took the Bubba home about 4 p.m.
“It made it more meaningful that they were able to help him out because of his rough start in life,” Ingram said. “We were happy they are home quite a bit. It’s what he deserves.”
Contact the writer: eritchie@ocregister.com or on Twitter:@lagunaini
