Pet Tales
Dog’s survival, rescue is true miracle
January 5, 2009 at 12:09pm
Jan DeCraene, town of Troy, River Falls Journal
Published Thursday, January 01, 2009
This is a true Christmas miracle. Oreo was rescued from a puppy mill in Iowa by Jewell Animal Hospital and was sent to a foster home in Rochester, Minn., to learn how to live like a family dog.
On Veteran’s Day she slipped out of her harness and took off down the streets of Rochester. She is terrified of people and anything new. Oreo had lived in a breeder's cage the last nine years of her life. It was all she has ever known.
Because she was so terrified of everything, she wore a harness and a collar when she went outdoors. She was wearing a collar with rabies tags and is micro-chipped for identification.
She was spotted in Elton Hills near Rochester where she had been hanging out for the past six weeks. We had live traps set to catch her, but to no avail. She survived subzero temperatures and even more brutal wind chills. She endured rain, sleet and ice storms along with recent blizzards. Oreo lived in a tiny cave in the woods.
How did she get caught? She fell into a window well at St. Francis Assisi’s Sanctuary. Maintenance men carried her to their boiler room to warm up, read her tags on her collar, and called the Jewell Animal Hospital in Jewell, Iowa. The rest is history! We are thrilled to have her back.
She went from 22 pounds to 16. Other than weight loss, she is in good condition.
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals! It’s a true Christmas miracle.
This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US Postal Service.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey died last month.
The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying that when Abbey got to heaven, God wouldn't recognize her, and could we send him a letter?
I told her that I thought we could, so she dictated these words:
Dear God:
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much.
I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her.
You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven...
Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps on the front of the envelope to get the letter all the way to Heaven. That afternoon, I drove Meredith to the Post office and watched her drop it in a letter box.. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I was certain He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed,
'To Meredith , ' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it.
Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope.
On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith:
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away...
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by...
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me.
What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love,
God
Charles was adopted on October 15, 2008. He was adopted from Cocker Spaniel Resources, Inc. a 501(c)(3) public charity. Charles now lives in Coon Rapids MN. I have attached a picture of Laura and Charles. Note: He wears sunglasses just to prove he is blind.
WHAT COLOR IS LOVE?
“Black dogs don’t get adopted,” thus black dog rescues exist, which specialize in caring for black dogs. We had not one, but 3 black cocker spaniels, which came into our rescue this autumn and each has found its perfect fur-ever home. Not so unusual you might say, but the reality is all three of these black cocker spaniels are blind and Charles is both blind and deaf.
Charles, larger black cocker spaniel, spent a few months in a shelter after he was found wandering the streets in a small west central town in Wisconsin. He was black, blind, deaf, and covered with skin infections.
He lay in the kennel not knowing which way he was facing and no one even slightly considered him for adoption. He became so depressed in his kennel that he would cry and whine for some reassurance that he wasn’t alone. The staff would walk him outdoors so he could lie in the sun. He enjoyed the sun’s warmth on his body. Uncertain where he was and why he was there, depression set in severely with Charles. He began to cry and whine constantly.
Cocker Spaniel Resources, a cocker rescue, was contacted about taking him. As soon as his picture went up on the website one of the foster families inquired about caring for Charles. He required daily baths with prescription shampoo, his ears needed cleaning daily and so did his eyes.
He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he had his left eye removed to eliminate the pain he was enduring. Laura, Charles’ new foster Mom, thought of ways to help Charles find his way around in their home. She put different potpourri scents in different rooms in the house. Charles always knows where he is now and has stopped being fearful of being alone.
Tom, Charles’ foster Dad, jogs with Charles when the weather is appropriate for him to go jogging. Anyone driving past on the street would never realize that Charles is blind and deaf as he jogs along with his new master.
Charles is extremely happy with his two cocker spaniel brothers and his home where he knows he is safe. He still loves to lie in the sun, but no more whining and crying for Charles.
Black, blind and deaf dogs can find perfect homes; Charles is living proof.
I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY
Author Unknown
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.
As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.
A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
