IF nothing else: Anyone that can walk through there and come out with out a heavy heart and with dry-eyes should not be associated with pets! Today was the hardest day I have had in a long time.
I went to pick up only one. A sable colored girl that is heart worm positive. They brought her out to us; it was love at first sight as with me and all huskies. We did a pet test, the first dog brought out didn't do well, it wanted to fight, and my poor husky was scared to death.
The second dog brought out was a pure Border Collie, that was identical to Nana on the movie Snow Dogs.. What a doll! She needed to be at home with several children! We were headed to do a 'cat scan' but then my rescue person in charge invited me to go with her on a tour. I walked on.
The first guy I met was a large staffie terrier. He was just lost! My heart ached for him. I swear I heard him whisper, "I'm doomed!" I asked my host how many bully breeds 'got out'. She frowned and said they would only release them to rescues, and the kill rate on them was 98 percent! With tears in my eyes.. I walked on.
There was a awesome hound dog with silky ears that deserved to be kissed. And a white husky mix that was just a love bug and wanted nothing more than a kind word and a petting. I wondered if I could just squeeze him in, it wouldn’t be too hard if I didn't have the foster long.. .. I walked on.
I thought that was it. But no, there was another room. More pitties, so sad, so scared, so lost... There was so many of every breed! Some were scared but willing to chance everything to get a pat or a kind word... I was dying inside.. But I walked on.
Another room we went through! These guys were different, I could sense it. The feel of the air was different. About halfway down the first 'cell block' we came to a black and white Husky. She was only about a year old, so painfully thin, and very high heart worm positive! I didn't walk on for a bit.
We got her out, photographed her. I knew I could come home, make a bulletin, maybe get some help.. I was thinking: "I do not have the resources to help this poor girl financially. But I got to do SOMETHING!" I had to turn my head so no one could see the tears.. And then, very slowly, I walked on.
It was the strangest thing; it was like they knew I was taking someone home. They all just begged for attention, barking and acting silly until I got to their cage, then they stopped and came to the door with those pitiful eyes, as if to say, "Can I please go too?"
On around the corner there was a huge Rottweiler, I think he knew he was doomed too. He was so sweet and was looking at me with pleading eyes. I just wanted to run away and not ever see and feel like this again! Inside I was screaming "WHY" "How can humans be so neglectful?" and yet, I walked on.
I finally made my way back to the front and got my girl Mia, still trying to figure out how I could help those other two poor huskies, and wishing I had the resources to take ALL of them home with me. I will not even go into the area of the puppies.. I just can not make myself. I walk on.
My rescue person is very good to me.. I feel she is good to all, for it takes a very special person to work in a place like that. I just love her and thank God that she is so easy to work with and she works hard to get as many out of there as possible alive. She doesn’t know it yet, but tomorrow morning I will be calling on her again, to tell her I am coming back for the sick husky girl, I have too, I can’t explain it, and I can’t walk on.
You see, after I left there, crying from Anderson to Clemson.. I decided to go straight to my veterinarian’s office instead of going home. We talked about heart worms and treatments, and money and rescue. Thank God he is a wonderful man, he even has his own rescue as well as his office, not to mention he will treat wolf-dogs and he’ll make a house call if you need him too. Nor does he charge an arm and leg for his services and medications, I love you Dr Ross!
We finally got Mia home, and so far we have learned: She is a hugger, she likes to kiss, she does not know what a stranger is, she does okay with cats and ALL other dogs. She will get in your lap, all 46.2 pounds of her. She loves a car ride, she behaves well in the doctor’s office, NO ONE could believe that she has just come from being in a shelter for three weeks!
While at the vet’s office two girls came in looking for the animal shelter. I gave them directions to Anderson and told them about “Nana” the little Border collie and a few others, and I pray they went on down and took her or someone home.
So while today started like any other day, it ended quite different. For I do not think I will ever be the same as I was this morning, still somewhat naïve and still somewhat “rescue green.” Several times today I’ve caught myself wondering about every person I come across, “How do you treat your pet?”
Signed, with a aching heart,
Becky and the Huskies R Us Gang