Sheba, a lovely and sweet tempered 7 year old blue doberman, a breed with one of the most sensitive skins, sustained third degree burns all over her back along her spinal cord. The wounds measured eight (8) inches wide and 2.5 feet long! As you can imagine, her suffering was horrible. Her owners, Scot and Jolinda Berman, were shocked and horrified to see their beloved dog in such pain.

Sheba wants all dog owners to know her story so that her suffering will not be in vain and no other dog has to suffer like she did.

June 9th noon, 108 degrees in Phoenix, Scot Berman takes his three dogs to a local boarding kennel while a new home is set up. The boarding kennel manager insisted upon a tick and flea treatment before allowing the dogs to be boarded.

At the boarding kennel’s directive the dogs were not allowed inside the office, but placed outside the kennel’s office in full sun for nearly an hour. The poor dogs’ sensitive backs and thin skin easily sunburned. While still out in the heat the boarding kennel applied a popular tick and flea pesticide product. He did this inappropriately by scraping Sheba’s sunburned back using the rough edge and sharp applicator tip. The man applied the toxic solution beginning at the shoulder all the way back to her tail and back up the other side. According to the directions, the product must be stored and applied under cool conditions. The instructions clearly say that the entire contents must be applied in a single spot between the shoulder blades on to the animal’s skin.

June 15th morning - Six days later Scot went to pick up his dogs. What he and his wife, Jolinda, found was shocking and emotionally painful (see photos). Sheba suffered 3rd degree burns all over her back along her spinal cord and spent the next two weeks under veterinarian intensive care. The Bermans’ other two dogs, Nick and Marley, also had 3rd degree burns, but since they jumped around during the application, their injuries were sporadic. Sheba’s burns were much more extensive and severe because she stood completely still while the pesticide product was applied. After spending two weeks in the veterinary hospital, Sheba was then transferred to ABC for more intensive care. She currently resides at ABC until she is well enough to go home to the loving and caring arms of her owners, Scot and Jolinda Berman.

Sheba, the Bermans and the Animals Benefit Club want to educate pet owners on the dangers of misapplying tick and flea pesticide products. This should never have happened to Sheba or any other pet. We hope you will help us get this message out to pet owners Valley-wide. We have just learned about another case and are waiting for the particulars.

Thank you for helping us spread the word so no other animal has to suffer like sweet Sheba!