Animal Rescue Stories

2 year old doxie lost her owners

We had adopted several doxies over the years and still had one older dapple at home, and decided not to adopt more as we are retired and wanted to travel some before adopting again. Then we saw a rescue with a young chocolate doxie who had lost his home. He lost 2 1/2 pounds in a week; wouldn’t eat; was skin and bones and was in distress. We saw his picture and immediately knew we had to try to adopt him. Luckily we were able to bring him home 3 weeks later; the rescue had been able get him eating; he gained his weight back. We named him Corky. He is very loving little guy; needy; wants to be on our laps at all times and doesn’t like being alone; maybe because he is afraid of losing another family. Loves his daily walks and of course, we share our bed with both our doxies. Corky is such a well mannèred boy. Whoever had him before us trained him well. We are very lucky. With the coronavirus, we have been self quarantining, so it’s been a great time to add another dog. Can’t imagine our home without him now, and who knows when it will be safe to travel again. Nothing better than a dog’s unconditional love!

Jody Thorsen
OMAHA, NE

Waiting a Long Time to Heal

A couple of months after the passing of our beloved Shih Tzu "Mitzi" my wife began looking for a furry healer for our broken hearts. She found "Buddy" at our local shelter. He wasn't the "Shih Tzu" that the shelter had advertised, but she still wanted me to meet him. I went the next day with her to the shelter and I was intrigued. We still hurt from losing Mitzi, but the hour we spent in the shelter's Meet and Greet room was enlightening. Our little "Chewie" was obviously a broken soul. He only wanted to spend time with my wife, occasionally offering me a few short visits here and there. He would look out the glass window any time anyone walked by as if he was hoping they would take him out of the shelter. His fur was very matted and his aroma was not at all pleasant. My wife said that Chewie had been in and out of the shelter and foster for 3 years, since he was a puppy. I wasn't sure I was ready for a new dog and I could tell that my wife had reservations as well, but Chewie thought my wife was his mama. It was obvious. I decided that Chewie needed us as much as we needed him in order for all of us to heal. We took Chewie home that night. The next day we went to the pet supply store to get our newest family member cleaned up and looking handsome. A couple of toys and some new supplies later, we were on the road to recovery as a family. Chewie was a broken little boy and it took a long time for him to come out of his shell. We noticed him starting to follow us around the house. He would occasionally make eye contact, and the accidents in the house decreased. Then one day he wanted up on our bed. He had shown no interest in the bed before, so this was a new experience. Up he went for a spin around the bed. We knew he was coming out of his shell when we left the bedroom to finish up some chores and left Chewie up on the bed to get used to the new surroundings. A few minutes after we left the room Chewie gave a little bark. We looked at each other and asked the same question. "Was that Chewie?". We went to the bed room and sure enough, there was Chewie looking at us with that "Well...." look in his eyes. He has continued to grow and become a wonderful, happy little man-pup. It has been 5 years since our journey began and has been rewarding for us all. He is a bit of a couch potato, but that's just fine with me. He likes to sit with me on our chair and I enjoy calling "puppy paralysis" whenever I can. He is still not sure, about his sister but that's another story.

Kurtis Van Cleave
ROY, UT

No one would adopt her

We were ready to adopt our second dog. We always have two. When we got to the shelter we asked for the least adoptable dog they had. We were shown to a pathetic little dog leaning against the bars of a cage with several other dogs. She looked terrible. She had a Mohawk sticking straight up and a deformed right paw. They said, “We’ll never be able to adopt out this one.” Of course we took her. My Mother in Law even said, “you’re not taking that one are you?!!” We had her for 13 wonderful years. Our Luci. She turned out to be one of the best dogs we’ve had. And everyone fell in love with her.

Patti Rae
BELLA VISTA, AR

From Hoarder to High Life!

Chevy aka “Doc” joined our family in March 2008. We had seen a horrific story on the news in February: “Today 85 dogs, 20 cats and 2 birds were rescued from an animal hoarder in Ohio”. The pictures were horrendous of the living conditions and the condition of the animals. This was way too close to home and my husband and I decided then we were going to rescue one of the dogs. The local humane society needed a couple of weeks to process and evaluate them; all malnourished, many with mange or worse. My first visit to one of their Adopt-A-Thons, I broke down in tears, how could anyone do this to these poor dogs. After spending over an hour visiting with them, the “right one” was not here. I spoke with one of the volunteers and she said that they would be having another Adopt-A-Thon the following weekend with more dogs; this coming up group needed an additional week of care and nourishment. So off I went with our rescued fur baby, Beamer, the following weekend. This event was held at a PetSmart and they encouraged bringing in your existing pet for compatibility. In we walked, looking in the cages at all the unsure eyes of precious scared fur babies. Beamer quietly sat next to a cage as I looked around. The volunteer said “I think she has chosen her friend”. I turned and peered in, way in the back of the cage was this thin, black and “tan” baby, trying to make the world go away. The volunteer got him out of the cage and he sat quietly in my lap, careful not to make eye contact, nothing but skin and bones, his hair stained by urine and feces. Beamer and “Doc” connected, the deal was done. Renamed Chevy (as he was thought to be part Cavalier King Charles ~ for those that remember the “Chevy” Cavalier), he clung to his sister and began to trust me, but he was scared to death of my husband. We surmised he had been abused by a man, as both of his canine teeth were broken, probably by being kicked, and his lip was scarred & puckered. After a few months of love, patience, snuggles, and FOOD, he started to settle in. To watch a severely abused animal blossom into all that they can be is amazing and heartwarming; we couldn’t have been more proud of him. Happy months turned to happy years, but in December 2018 reality hit our happy, perfect family: we lost his sister, Beamer, and were devastated. We picked up the pieces and became a family of three, forging new roads, spending as much precious time and travels as we could together. Then 2020 came along, we had managed through the large bladder stone surgery in 2019, but now we had irritating skin growths that needed to be removed, done. March came with a diagnosis of Cushing’s disease, he took that in stride too, then along comes April… inflamed gallstone. Due to his Cushing’s he needed a specialty Dr. for that surgery; he must have decided he had had enough surgeries, as he crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 30, 2020. We are beyond devastated, but know that he had the BEST life ever with us and we are better humans for being his parents. Please adopt, don’t shop, as there is no truer love than from a rescued fur baby.

Linda Johns
OAK HARBOR, OH

Old Parker

Went to local shopping centre, as we had run out of flowers for a wedding one Saturday. While there, we noticed this little white dog scrounging for food and nearly being run over; but as soon as we got close it started hurrying toward the main road. A car watch noticed me trying to tempt him with bread and that he was now moving toward the said main road, so he quietly moved towards him and made a grab. For one so small he sure could wiggle. He shouted for me to open my car door, and we quickly put him in the back - to the surprise of the passenger in the back seat who had been asleep. I found him in the parking lot; hence the name. When I got home I left him in a spare bedroom as he was still scared, and tried speaking every hour or so, and put enough food and water down. Realised by his reactions that he must have been abused, as he would duck and hide when I put hand down with his food or came towards him. Took a week before he learnt to just stand and watch. Vet at time said he was about 6, and it's now another 5 years On. Shaky a bit on his legs now, don't think he is seeing to well any more, still dodges sometimes and needs help to get on the bed, but definitely a much happier and certainly loved dog.

Catherine
George Western Cape, South Africa

Addiepants

Our beloved golden had passed away and my son was crushed. He wanted a puppy. We went to see some puppies who had come all the way from NC to NJ. They were a fox hound and husky mix with beautiful blue eyes. We did the puppy test and picked out a puppy which we named Adelaide. We couldn’t take her home because she was to young. We received a call several weeks later that our puppy was ready to go home. When my son and I got to where the puppies were we heard this horrible noise coming from the bath area. We were worried about our puppy but they said she didn’t like her bath. It didn’t sound like our puppy. When they brought us our puppy we immediately realized it wasn’t our Adelaide, it didn’t look anything like her. We were told that this was the last puppy that they had from the litter. I wasn’t sure we should take her but my son started crying so what could I say. We couldn’t call her Adelaide so we changed her name to Addie. In her first six months we almost lost her twice because she got so sick. I think we were meant to bring her home because she might never have survived without us. Our Addiepants will turn 13yrs August!!! We are so glad we decided to bring her home!

Charlyn Dougherty
HOLLY SPRINGS, NC

Lil'Bette a Christmas surprise

After reading in a neighborhood chat site about a tiny black feral kitten seen in a nearby canyon, I was intrigued and worried for its safety. We have many coyotes where we live. A request went out to help trap and hopefully foster this little baby.

I wasn't able to help to trap the kitten but I replied with an offer to foster. I got the call 2 days later asking if I was still willing to foster since the kitten had been caught. Without thinking I said "Of course!" The very next morning I realized what I had done while this little one was hissing and spitting at me. It was a week before Christmas and I wasn't sure this was going to work out.

I called my vet and got an appointment for the day after Christmas. I explained the kitten was feral and I needed to make sure it was healthy before I could think about introducing it to my other two cats. I decided the best place was my bathroom, and every day I would go in every few hours to sit and try to connect with this little spitfire. Low and behold on Christmas morning this little baby let me hold her! The next day we went to the vet to check everything out. I had warned the staff when I called that she was feral so to expect the worst. Boy, were they surprised that after just one week they were able to handle her with little trouble. I found out she was a SHE :) and barely 2 pounds but that EVERYTHING checked out beautifully.

Of course by then I knew I was going to join the "Foster Failed" club. It's been almost 6 months now, Lil'Bette is about 6 pounds. She still owns my bathroom but has managed to make friends with 1 of the 2 dogs and my 2 cats, and of course has stolen my heart. Goodness knows I wasn't looking for another cat, but I'm so happy she's here!

M. Miller
POWAY, CA

The Dog that I DIDN"T want

I had just lost my 2 family pups after over 10 years of their unconditional love. I missed it. I convinced my husband to let me get another dog and he agreed. I went to the local shelter knowing what type and look I wanted in a new family member. Black and/or white, long hair and NOT a pit bull breed. I walked into the shelter and all I heard was barking. Then I heard it, a faint whimper. I followed the sound looking at all dogs along the way. Finally I found the whimper. A skinny, brown short haired pit bull mix!! The person in charge of that area asked if I would like to give him a treat and of course I did. I put my hand into the opening and he took the treat with, not his teeth, but with his tongue! So we went outside so we could get to know each other better and all he did was give me kisses. Of course that sealed the deal for me! Then came the bad news. He had just been turned in the day before by a person who found him wandering the local street so I had to wait 10 days before I could bring him home. I called every day until I finally got the OK to pick him up. He is the sweetest dog I EVER had and he thanks me every day for choosing him and I thank him every day for choosing me. He is the love of my life and I would do anything to keep him from harm. I just love him so much as does my husband.

Alice
MONROE, MI

Saving Daisy May

It happened in Sept of 2015 when we scheduled a meeting about 2 hours away from our home to pick up an Australian Shepherd Terrier, who needed a new home as it was discovered her owners had developed allergies from her fur. We saved her from going to a shelter, as she had been raised for the prior two years with this family. I had always cared for large dogs (inherited as grandpups), but was ready to take on a medium sized dog before we were too old. It was rough at first; she was afraid of everything, and since the prior owners were all women, she was especially suspicious of my husband. Loud noises still make her jump or run, but she has learned to accept the city life (she was from the country); only motorcycles still affect her. Her name was Daisy May and we kept that. Once her fear subsided, she became a loving and attached pet. We did discover she does not like other dogs, but has since accepted an aged Malti-Pooh as a companion (another saved creature). Never shop, always adopt...

Elaine Haggenbottom
PALM HARBOR, FL

Four-Pound Yorkie Couldn't Understand Why Her Human Left

When Little Luci was eight years old her world was turned upside down when her human mom died. That was her person - that was her world. She stopped eating, and her human dad was afraid she was going to die, so he took her to their vet and said find her a home. The vet called the local rescue in Indiana. That rescue worked with my local shelter. The shelter called and said, we a have a yorkie that needs you. We drove to Ft. Wayne, IN, and picked up Luci. She was so tiny. She was only three pounds and skin and bones. She didn't eat for me the first three days, until finally she knew she was safe and loved and I quickly became her "person," and now she is connected to my hip. She is sassy, bossy, and very demanding. She circles to get your attention and if that doesn't work, she adds a little jump to it. She is a little DIVA. She just turned twelve and I am so happy that she has found her second person to love her the rest of her life.

Kathy H Patchel
LANCASTER, KY