Nov. 10--Shedd Aquarium has added a fourth dog to its program that rehabilitates shelter dogs.
Peach, a 20-pound, 10-month-old dachshund-terrier mix, was found tied to a dumpster in the South. She wound up in a shelter and eventually was brought to Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society. Anti-Cruelty assessed her and thought she'd be a good fit for Shedd's program.
Peach joins Dory, a female shepherd mix; Marlin, a male Labrador mix; and Kobe, a 3-year-old male Dogo Argentino mix at the aquarium, which started rehabilitating dogs in 2013. Peach is the sixth dog to enter the program, and like her predecessors is named after a character in "Finding Nemo."
Peach has already shown promise. Despite large scars on her back, possibly from sun exposure or burns from being underneath the hot dumpster, Peach is sweet and interactive with people and playful with toys. Like her three program mates, she hangs out at Shedd's dog lounge, where daily training occurs. As is the case with all animals at Shedd, Peach will be trained through positive reinforcement.
A Shedd spokesman says Peach has shown a fondness for squeak toys, chew bones and tennis balls and is being trained in basic commands such as "sit" and "seat" and name recognition and is walking nicely on a leash.
She could end up in Shedd's "One World" presentations, which focus on the connection between animals and humans and encourages people to become rescue families.
bhageman@tribpub.com
