Animal Rescue Stories

The Tale of Wigglebutt

Sammie's life had gotten off to a rough start. He had been brought in to the Placerville County shelter as a cruelty seizure. Best guess is that he was bitten on the base of his tail by another dog so severely that his tail was infected and necrotic. It had to be amputated and reconstructive surgery was required. Typically, shelter resources would not have had the funding to do such extensive surgery. Sammie was lucky. If a Rescue group had could not come forward (Southern California Dachshund Relief), then Sammie would have been euthanized.

I saw a posting on Craig's list about Sammie needing transport to the Bay Area from Placerville. I jumped at the chance after seeing his picture and reading his story. Sammie was in my foster care for a week and then he flew privately with Pilot'N Paws to the Los Angeles area where he had a potential adopter. That home did not work out for whatever reason and I enthusiastically told Southern Cal Dachshund Relief, I would take him back into my foster care. The moment Sammie was back in my arms I knew this little boy was not leaving. He got along famously with my other dogs and cats and was "home."

Sammie is now is a cherished member of the family doing the "cha-cha-cha wigglebutt dance" when he greets you. He does Pet Therapy with children at the Pleasanton Library where children read to the dogs to improve their reading skills. He was the first ever Dachshund admitted to the program.

Sammie recently traveled to Delaware to visit one of his former foster friends - Huntley and Tammy's best friend Marla.

Tammy Rieser
PLEASANT HILL, CA

What is a puppy mill?

I was living in an awful place. It was small and dirty it was very noisy with lots of dogs barking all the time. It smelled really bad and I was always hungry. I only had wire to stand on and my feet hurt all the time! The only time anyone came to see me was to throw some food in a dirty pan and to take my babies from me! I don't know where my babies went and I'd cry for them. I was getting tired and older I was almost 8 yrs old when they came and took me they said I wasn't no good anymore! They took me to a place called a rescue. I dunno know what that meant but I was in a nicer cage and got good food in a clean dish with fresh water! I didn't have to stand on wire anymore but my feet still hurt. They promised they would find me a "forever home" they told me all about it and it sounded ok to me! One day a lady came to see me! She said she saw my picture on a computer. I don't know what that is but it must be good because she said she fell in love with me just seeing it anyway. The lady said she was going to adopt me! She said she was going to be my Mommy and she was going to give me a "forever home"! I was really excited the rescue place told me all about "forever homes." She also gave me a NAME; I never had a name before! She calls me Emily! She took me home with her and I was groomed for the first time; I had a pretty bow in my hair, it felt so good and I smelled so good too. My Mommy is the bestest ever; she bought a special bed just for ME! I go to the dogtor every year to make sure I'm healthy, she buys me pretty things to wear and the best food and treats, she takes me everywhere with her! She likes to take pictures of me; she said it helps other doggies like me because we need to tell people about puppy mills, and I love to dress up for her and have my picture taken! OH and Mommy celebrates what she calls my freedom and birthday July 5th! She bakes a cake for me and gives me presents. I never had presents before!! My Mommy brushes me and gives me kisses and says no one will ever hurt me again. At night I learned how to climb up the steps to this big bed; it's like sleeping on a cloud and Mommy gives me a kiss and rubs my tummy until I fall asleep! I still wonder where my babies are, and when I hear puppies crying I cry too because I miss mine. My Mommy holds me and tells me it's ok and that she'll love me forever .... I'm going to love her forever too!
Emily

Susan Thomas
CHAMBERSBURG, PA

Catching Bella

It was around 9pm March 25, 2019 I saw a post on Facebook about a dog who had been spotted in the woods near my house. I immediately set out with food and water to try to find her. Come to find out she had been dumped there about 30 days earlier. My heart was breaking for her. I was told there was something wrong with one of her eyes by someone who had spotted her. I HAD to get her!! I went every day before and after work with fresh water and food. Took and old tshirt of mine so she would be used to my scent. I wasn't going to give up on her!! She deserved more than living in the woods scared. I was going to succeed in rescuing her. I would sit a while and just wait. After about 30 days of repeating my routine I was getting worried. Then a volunteer from Amazing Grace Bully Rescue reached out to me through Facebook after reading my posts about trying to rescue this girl.
We set up a time and she game out and set up an AMAZING trap to catch her! It was actually an outdoor kennel bought and modified and then donated to the rescue by a sweet couple after Amazing Grace Bully assisted them in rescuing a dumped dog near their home. It was so humane and not scary at all. The door closed so quietly. Set it up in less than 20 minutes and we waited. About three hours later Bella just walked right in. I was so excited!! I FINALLY had her! When I went up to the kennel to see how she was going to react I was shocked! She was so gentle. Let me pet her right away and gave so many kisses. I like to think she was saying thank you.
I brought her home and put her in a kennel until I could get her to the vet on Monday to be scanned for a chip and examined. I also have other dogs so I needed to isolate her until then.
Took her to the vet. No chip. The vet told me she wasn't quite a year old. And her eye injury was from some type of trauma. It didn't seem painful and she had obviously adapted so we decided to just keep a check on it. After the required hold and posting about her no one had come forward to claim her. She was now mine!! Took her back to the vet for her vaccines and heartworm test (which was negative).
My dogs fell in love with her and now she's living her best life!! I am forever grateful to Amazing Grace Bully Rescue for helping me bring this sweet girl into my life!!

Carolyn Lovejoy
NAVARRE, FL

Bozz in the house!

We found out on a Friday our Sylvia Joy had kidney failure. By Sunday she had also had a stroke and we had to say goodbye. It broke our hearts and we placed her in a favorite spot in the yard. A couple days later we went to a shelter for some kitty love and met Bozzey. He was not too happy being with other cats. We ended up going back a few days later and adopted him. He had horrible fear aggression for the first month but eventually his true personality came out. He is a weird, wacky, funny guy with more energy than ought be allowed! Totally different than our Sylvia. Now six months later we are happily enjoying our lives together...even the crazy, annoying things Bozz does.

Michelle
SPRINGDALE, AR

From Trash to Treasure

We just had two dogs pass in 3 weeks; 10 year old from bone cancer and 11 year old from a massive stroke. We were just devastated.

We were informed about a male German Shepard at our local pound that was running out of time. I went to the shelter and adopted him sight unseen. When the Vet Tech brought him to me from the infirmary, I just about fell over from shock. Here was an 18 month old GSD that weighed 40 lbs and had over 38 bite marks on his head and neck. One ear was shorter than the other and the vet could see the bite marks on the scar tissue. Obviously Cody had been attacked as a puppy and again right before he was dumped at the pound.

The first two months was very difficult. Cody had numerous medical problems and he would not eat. I cooked so many home made meals it became routine. After about 4 months, we started to see Cody’s real personality. He started eating but was still uncomfortable with basic situations. Riding in the car was a real challenge. He would glue himself to the floorboard.

After several months we rescued a rottie girl and that helped Cody gain the confidence he has today. Our fur babies are very bonded. Cody weighs approximately 100 lbs and does not worry about his past. Riding in the car has also changed. When it is bye-bye time, it is a race to see who get in the truck/car first.

It was a ruff start for Cody. However, he has become the most loving and loyal fur baby. His little sister, Rayne Marie, is very bonded with him.

It was an upward climb, but it was totally worth every challenge and trial we went through with both dogs. Our fur babies are healthy, happy and very much loved. There is a saying that someone’s trash is another person’s treasure. Our treasures are named Cody and Rayne.

Marlaina
LANCASTER, CA

Backup plan needed

A few years ago I found Tyler, a sad cat huddled at the back of a small cage at the local shelter. He was there because his former owner (who had him since kittenhood – for 10 years) had gone into a nursing home. No one had a better idea for the poor guy’s next move than sending him to the shelter. He was very quiet and withdrawn, and I could understand that. Worst of all, it was avoidable that he became a rescue cat.

Now Tyler is happily home with me and my other cats, and he has an important request for all pet owners: Please plan in advance for your pet’s possible future without you – they depend on you now, don’t let them down later.

I am so glad I found Tyler. He became very bright, affectionate, and incredibly loyal, following me everywhere. He was obviously depressed for about a year after I adopted him, but with steady encouragement – and a lot of gentle advances by another cat – one night he suddenly dove into the dinner he had always ignored. He wanted to live! We all cheered.

I wrote an addendum to my will, with full care details, and discussed this with family, friends, and my vet. I do not worry – I know who will take them in (with an alternate choice).

You would do the same for your animal companions, wouldn’t you? Talk to your vet, family, and friends. Write your wishes in detail, and make sure everyone has a copy. These precious lives are in our care, and we owe it to them to provide for their future even if we cannot share it.

Lois Rem
SIOUX FALLS, SD

Too many puppies...

I heard about Yuka almost 2 years ago. The woman who had her had an unplanned litter and ended up with 11 of them. She was having trouble selling them, and decided she was going to dump them on the side of the road in 7 feet of snow and -40 degree weather. I waited until she left and scooped up the 8 pups that were left. I cared for them and found them all wonderful loving homes, but Yuka just fit in with me and my rabbit rescue. She's so kind and loving, and protects the bunnies. I couldn't imagine life without my dear girl.

Stormy
HAVRE, MT

Struggling to survive.

We rescued this black beauty with her 4 siblings - all black as well - over the solar eclipse of 2017. It took 3 days to catch all 5 of them. The vet estimated they were around 9 weeks old and weighed from 2 lbs up to 2.8 lbs. It did not take long to tame them down and find them homes, and we decided to keep Labrea Argentium as she was the first one caught. She is a big girl now and a total beauty.

Krisann ellis
GILLETTE, WY

He went for a swim!

Mom cat had given birth on our neighbor's side of the wood fence in their woodpile, and the three kittens would come to our side through a hole the fence for sunshine and food. Mom was "Polly" (she was poly-dactyl; 22 toe-beans), Smitten for his mittens and Tortitude-yeah, she was a tortie. Then there was this little tabby boy--I told him he had his choice of names: Sneaker, because he would sneak through the fence first for food, or sneak right next to "Polly" for food. Or Glutton, for the same reasons!
My plan was to catch the kittens as soon as I knew they were weaned and take them to the shelter, then spay and release Polly as she seemed stray/semi feral. One night, about 2 a.m. I heard a wallering outside my window. Polly was there, but when she saw me she ran away. This happened about 2 more times, until I went outside - she ran, I followed... down to the in-ground pool. "Oh no," I thought, as I looked around with my flashlight and only saw 2 other sets of glowing eyes. I looked in the pool, didn't see the water moving and thought the worst. Then I heard a faint, gurgled meow. The tabby kitten was on a little ledge of the skimmer. I reached in, pulled him out, yelled up to my brother to bring me a towel and said "NOW what am I going to do with you?" I woke my mom up; she sat in a recliner rocking "Sneaker", wrapped in a towel. I knew he wasn't going anywhere! He was an unexpected 9th addition to our clowder.
Within the next couple of days I caught Smitten and Tortitude, and took them to the shelter (I didn't dare let my mom do anything but LOOK at them, or we would have had #'s 10 and 11!), and they were adopted within days. I caught and TNR'd Polly (now Molly-that's a whole other story!)
Eleven years later, a few medical problems, a little grumpier than glutton-y, and Sneaker (also a poly - 24 toebeans) is my Bud. I can't imagine my life without him.

Trudy Goertz
MOUNT VERNON, WA

All Alone

I found my cat, Buddy, when I lived in my first condo. One night I came home and parked outside, and I heard a quiet meowing. I called "kitty, kitty," and out he came. He let me pet him, so I assumed he had been someone's cat. Turns out he had on a collar with his street address, which happens to be at least two miles from that condo complex. I brought him some dry food and water and placed it in some bushes where he could eat and be safe. A few days later, he came out and meowed again, and I called to him. He came right up to me and let me pet him again. One day I saw him run into the basement across from my building, getting in through a broken window. I thought, well, at least he has a warm, dry place to shelter. I already had two cats, Gus and Max, and didn't think I should take in another. I took him to the Humane Society and they said they'd try to locate his owner. I drove by the address on his collar and noticed a building permit in the window. The tenants may have been forced to move out and perhaps couldn't take Buddy with them. I hoped they hadn't dumped him in my complex, but I can't imagine how he could get across several very busy downtown streets into my neighborhood. I try to think that they were taking care of him in their own way by leaving him where they did.

The Humane Society said they couldn't locate his owners so I said I would come and get him. For nine months, he wouldn't get close to me; he would sit in the hall near the living room and just look around. He was terrified of plastic bags, aluminum foil and anything else that rattled. One day he appeared at the foot of the couch and jumped up on my lap. Now he would live on my lap or in my arms like a baby if I let him. He has a very sweet nature, considering what he's been through. When I took him in, he had lost part of his tail and part of it was degloved. One of his eyes won't constrict completely, so he may have incurred some head trauma. He is now 15, has lost quite a few teeth, and takes two medicines a day. But he's happy and well-cared for. He and Max (my orange tabby) don't always get along, but when they do, it's a good day for everyone!

Marcia Peck
MADISON, WI