We have some very EXCITING NEWS! Our Ollie will be starring in Puppy Bowl XXI! His stage name is “GUMBO”, and he is on Team Fluff!

Be sure to tune into the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet Sunday, Feb 9 at 2pm ET | 11 am PT to watch Gumbo and other shelter and rescue dogs compete for the Lombarky trophy!

Want to cheer Gumbo on during the Puppy Bowl in style? We have t-shirts and sweatshirts featuring Gumbo (Ollie), with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Shar-Pei Rescue of Virginia, available at https://www.bonfire.com/store/playing-for-gumbo-craving-cappuccino/

This little girl puppy, now named Zhen Zhen, was smart and brave enough to venture from her uncontained yard to her neighbor’s house when she was about four weeks old. The neighbors did the right thing and called animal control. When animal control went to the house where Zhen Zhen lived outside, they found multiple Shar-Pei living in horrible conditions.

Animal control seized three puppies around three months old, six puppies around five weeks old and three adult females who appeared to be the mommas. The director of the Foothills Humane Society contacted Shar-Pei Rescue of Virginia for assistance and transfer of the Shar-Pei.

The “littles” were very scared and hung out together in the back of the shelter run.

Zhen Zhen got to stay at the director’s house because she was so small. The three older pups got to hang out together in a run and seemed to enjoy the human attention. The three adult females were also hap-pei to have care and attention.

While transportation was worked out for the pups and adults, the Humane Society provided medical care to get the Shar-Pei well enough to travel. All but three of the puppies and one adult were transported by PilotsNPaws and volunteers from our rescue and the Humane Society. The first flight East needed two planes to carry the crates and dogs!

Oliver (Ollie) was on that flight. Little did he know he was on the way to becoming a STAR. Oliver (Ollie) aka GUMBO is in Puppy Bowl XXI!

Oliver, Zhen Zhen and Greta all headed for the same foster home in Virginia Beach after the flight.  Zhen Zhen stayed for a few weeks until she went to her longer term foster-to-adopt.  Oliver and Zhen Zhen are still buddies and get together with their Pei-rants.

This group of Shar-Pei has needed extensive veterinary care.   Oliver (Ollie) is no exception.  In September, poor little Oliver woke up with a fever.  His veterinarian started him on anti-inflammatory meds; and after two days of meds he still had a temperature of 105 and welts/blisters all over his body . He was admitted to the ER vet. The ER kept him overnight pretty much in ICU to bring down his fever and get him some steroids to stop the reaction and the rash occurring on his skin. Thankfully Oliver has recovered from this scary incident.

He will be neutered soon and will also need entropion surgery.

He has a wonderful foster family who will be adopting him when his surgeries are complete.