Friday, November 2, 2012
And it started with Meeghan....
For my close friends on Facebook, and family, you all know that since moving to Charlotte J and I got involved in a rescue organization called Dog Days of Charlotte.
For those of you who don't, I am a huge dog lover. Pretty much all animals in general, but dogs hold a special place in my heart. They have their own personalities, quirks and mannerisms. They love unconditionally and get their feelings hurt, just like you and I.
The thing that dogs don't do? Dogs don't hold grudges....
They love you when you scold them, when you play with them and when you love them. To me, it's the purest kind of love.
This is how we acquired our dog, Meeghan. I say acquired because it really was a Foster 101 FAIL. She was our very first foster with this group and it was something we had never done before. We volunteered to take any of the dogs the group was pulling that week and they placed us with Meeghan. At the time, she was 7 months old and completely petrified of everything.
 | |
| Meet Meeghan. This was taken on her Euthanization Date Also the day that she was "pulled" from the shelter and placed in our home...where she would stay FURever |
See this foster group pulls dogs from shelters here in the South that are considered "High Kill", some of the shelters down here still gas dogs. And if that isn't written in plain enough text, they put the dogs in gas chambers until they die, sometimes it takes multiple times...feeling sick yet? I'll get on to the happy part...
Meeghan chose us. She was supposed to head up to a rescue in Pennsylvania...the demand for dogs is much higher in the North and they have "No Kill" shelters. This group places dogs who we can't find Furever homes for, in rescues knowing that they will find amazing homes for these amazing animals.
Her transport came and went and for whatever reason, Meeghan stayed behind every time. She was the type of puppy who cowered in the corner, balled up as tightly as she could be. We picked her up to take her outside {thankfully in our fenced in back yard} then picked her up to bring her back in because she was so petrified of people that she froze...dead weight with all limbs tucked firmly underneath her shaking body.
Every night J carried her up to our bedroom and placed her at the foot of our bed where we would shower her with attention and kisses hoping that she would allow us in to her little world...to just love her. I tear up writing this post because it makes me sick to think about where she came from, what her story could be. My heart broke for her every time someone stood up too quickly or raised their hands for a high five, what kind of person would treat an animal so poorly that someone standing made her petrified?
When her last transport finally came, she had just chosen us. She finally was making progress and letting us in slowly but surely. She could finally go out side on her own...but only if we opened the door and went into the other room. She never had accidents, never misbehaved, never chewed...and when the time came for us to coordinate a meet up to drop her off J and I cried like babies. Knowing that she had come so far and she would have to start all over with someone else...maybe someone without other dogs {she was so attached to Diogi and Noli, our other 2 dogs} and maybe with a family who didn't have the patience to let Meeghan love them the way they wanted in the time they wanted.
We spent hours crying, I can't even count the hours of discussion. The next day I called the group....and I said those words....I can't give her up. She has to stay with us....
 |
| Told you she liked her toys! |
Today she is almost 3 years old, loves people, her toys, walks, playing fetch with her ball, and sleeping side by side with her brother, our husky Diogi. She no longer cowers in the corner or shies away from people wanting to pet her, we have a designated cuddle time every day when I get home from work where she hugs my neck and puts her head under my chin so I can give her kisses at the notch where her nose meets her face. We take her to restaurants where she lays contently under my feet on her leash waiting for a handout because I'm a softy. If you ask anyone in our family, she has made a 400% improvement, I oftentimes hear "This can't be the same dog" or "She is a completely different dog!"
This is why the group does what they do. So that dogs like Meeghan who would have been put down because she was "Shy on intake" got a second chance....we were her second chance...
I'm posting this link so if you can't foster but would like to contribute, it's here. Every little bit helps. And if you are in the Charlotte area and would like more information on the foster program, you can visit their website or their Facebook. The group provides you with everything you would need to foster, a kennel, collar, leash and even food. In turn they also take donations of these items! So if you're looking for a GREAT cause...there is none better...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment