Dee Dee, the “puppy who cheated death,” has a new home and a new job – “superintendent of postal operations” at the Newington Post Office.
Postmaster Debbie Helwig, who lives in Statesboro, adopted the celebrity dog and plans to bring her to work frequently.
The black, mixed-breed pup with white markings was featured in a page-one article in the May 6 edition of the Sylvania Telephone.
The puppy was born at the Screven County animal shelter and was a few weeks old when she sneaked away and hid while her mother, five siblings and 17 other dogs and cats were being euthanized.
She was found hiding beneath a piece of carpet a few hours later, after the euthanasia was over.
After the newspaper story about “the puppy who cheated death,” Friends of Screven County Animals rescued her. She cheated death a second time when she contracted parvovirus from the county’s outdoor shelter, which consists of barrels overturned on dirt floors that can’t be sanitized against disease.
Sylvania vet Dr. Pat Dyar treated the pup, and soon she was able to go home with Friends’ volunteer Joy Evans. She fostered Dee Dee for about six weeks, nursing her back to health, training her and all the while sizing up potential new homes. The puppy is named after the 95-year-old grandmother of Christy Campo, Friends’ shelter committee chairman. Campo said her grandmother is “still a fighter.”
Evans already has six dogs of her own and didn’t have room for another. She fell in love with the spunky, independent puppy and wasn’t going to let just anyone adopt her. Evans lives in Newington and spoke with the postmaster several times about the special dog she was fostering.
Helwig has a small, 16-year-old dog named “Rush” and a cat named “Little Girl,” or “Your Highness.” She didn’t want to upset her dog by bringing in another dog. But when a friend’s dog visited and her elderly dog perked up for the visitor, she decided a new puppy might not be such a bad idea.
Evans sealed the deal when she filled out an application for Dee Dee to become assistant postmaster. She said Dee Dee was “determined, fearless, joyful and willing to learn.” She cited references including her foster mother, Dr. Dyar and a number of Friends’ volunteers.
She got the job. Dee Dee will travel to Newington frequently and will spend many weekdays working at the Post Office with Helwig.
“She’ll come with me to work until my boss finds out and tells me to stop,” Helwig said, joking that she could retire anytime if her choosing to have a Post Office mascot becomes an issue. She’s been postmaster in Newington for 10 years.
The office has one carrier who’s gone most of the day and a cleaning person who comes in twice a week. Otherwise, it’ll be Helwig and Dee Dee and the customers.
At her new home in Statesboro, Dee Dee will have the run of a house with a doggie door, fenced yard and swimming pool. She will be able to chase ducks in two nearby ponds. Helwig said Dee Dee will have small children to play with, courtesy of her friends.
Where will she sleep? “Anywhere she wants,” Helwig said.
It’s the kind of household where the current dog gets carried down the steps because he’s getting older and maneuvering steps is difficult.
Don’t worry that Screven County will lose its celebrity dog just because she’ll spend nights in Bulloch County. Helwig said she’ll be glad to bring Dee Dee to special events such as the dedication of Screven County’s new shelter, if she’s invited.
Helwig said she likes to travel and Newington reminds her of a quiet Scottish village, with “outrageous personalities and interesting people – just a wonderful place.” She said she is at the center of activity. “I’m like the village pub. I hear everything first. Every pub has a dog.”
Dee Dee is one of the few puppies to survive having been at the Screven County animal shelter. The count of animals euthanized at the shelter in the last three weeks: 81, 61 and 40, including some adult dogs and cats but many puppies and kittens.
Adopting an animal from the county shelter costs $5. Friends charges $100 per animal. The fee includes spaying or neutering and initial shots.