Rescued from a chicken coop

2/5/2025

At an auction sale site, two puppies were found huddled together, abandoned in an old chicken coop.

The puppies were taken to a foster organization, Oh My Dog Rescue (OMD). OMD is a foster-based organization that saves abandoned or surrendered dogs, giving them a second chance at life.

The foster family for the abandoned puppies contacted Mitch and Missy Pattee and mentioned they had a dog for adoption. 

“Look at this cute dog,” Mitch recalled when seeing the pup online.

Mitch and Missy pondered adopting a dog. Their current dog, Oliver, is a 15-year-old miniature pinscher. They previously had rescued two greyhound dogs that passed away.

The couple went to visit the dog. They had discovered that Rooster, or ‘Roo’ for short, was named after being found in a chicken coop. Roo was just eight weeks old and weighed 10 pounds. 

“After we met Roo, we really connected with him,” Missy says.

The bond was immediate, and the pair began the adoption process and brought Roo home. They introduced them to Oliver. Quickly, Roo’s energy exhausted the elderly dog. 

“Roo wants to play all the time,” Mitch reflects. “A 15-year old dog doesn’t. After playtime, they snuggle in their dog beds together.”

Roo’s favorite activity is playing fetch.  

Mitch says, “He’d play for six hours if he could.”

As Roo grew, they were curious about his exact breed. A recent DNA test revealed he was 40% mountain cur, 22% American foxhound, plus a mix of husky, lab, Australia cattle dog and terrier. 

“He’s a super mutt. As he’s grown, some of the DNA totally makes sense based on his behavior.” 

Both Mitch and Missy grew up around dogs. Extended families bring their dogs to family gatherings. 

“Dogs are everywhere,” Mitch says.

They are training the dog with basic commands and want him to feel comfortable around people. 

“He’s an extremely smart dog. He’s fun to train and listens to commands at a young age.”

The Pattees have always had rescued dogs. Their greyhounds, Pip and Jackson, were rescued from Heartland Greyhound Adoption, an organization that promotes the adoption of retired racing greyhounds. Missy says rescue dogs are special.  

“People understand how important it is to have a better home for a dog. As a dog lover, you really want what’s best for the pet.” 

Mitch also understands many dogs are given up and come from a bad home situation. 

“A dog that is rescued is always going to have a better life.” 

He realizes all dog owners have reasons for their dogs, whether it is companionship or a dog to take hunting. 

“There’s nothing wrong with breeder dogs. We feel that rescuing is important. It’s rewarding. That is why we’ve chose this route. That is what we want for the dog — to have its best life.”

For more info about Oh My Dog Rescue, visit https://ohmydogrescue.org. ♦