Notes from Marybeth Harr.
I got Kenny's message @6:38am & knew something important was going on. After taking about 5 minutes to get my pack settled down to their morning routine, I called to see what was going on.
Kenny had been notified about a dog that was at a shelter here in NY & in pretty rough shape. Was I familiar with the shelter & was it anywhere nearby? Would I be able to assist in evaluating the dog & possibly fostering her until she could be brought into the rescue? Clancy James was certainly barking the orders on this one! What a "coincidence" that I had a Dr. appt. that very morning just 10 minutes from the shelter! This shelter has an incredible reputation in the community. They are located on several acres of land, complete with barns for livestock rescues, quarantine facilities, an army of Humane Officers, a gift shop, full-time veterinarians & a clinic.
As we sat in the corridor to the main building, several staff members walked by & made comments & offered treats, which she readily accepted. Since she had been segregated from the public, many of the staff were unaware she was even there. Her owners had been ignorantly blind to this poor girl's unmistakably disturbing condition. They had called the shelter to take advantage of their "Community Vet Assistance Program" because their dog had an "eye issue."
What the shelter volunteers witnessed in the back seat of the car was sobering...this dog was unable to lift her head or stand on her own. The pain from her bulging & ruptured eye was evident. She was covered in feces. Her white fur was stained yellow & she had urine burns on her paws. The nails on her back feet were untrimmed & curled into her paws, poking into the pads. The front nails were ragged, bloody & torn- an obvious attempt to free herself from whatever space confined her. The owners were given an ultimatum: surrender her to the shelter or be escorted by Humane Officers to a local ER Vet, where they would be responsible for all bills. They surrendered her.
Immediately upon admission, she was given IV pain medication, nutrition & rehydrated. She underwent surgery the next day to remove her eye. Her wounds were treated & she was bathed. Despite the care & obvious devotion she was receiving at the shelter, the environment was stressing her out & she began exhibiting the behavior common with Border Collies in high-stress situations- inability to settle, pacing, circling & vocalizing. Her "owners" had been making attempts to get her back. Being that the shelter had an "Open Adoption" policy, it was feared she would once again fall into the wrong hands. She needs to be transferred out & continue to rehab in a foster home. That's where Clancy's Dream entered the picture.
I got her settled in my truck on a bed & began the almost 2hrs drive home. I had decided to name her Whisper for her quiet, gentle demeanor & her clearly fragile condition. After a few minutes of peeking out the windows & then she curled up on the bed & fell asleep! It was probably the first peaceful rest of her young life. Speaking of age, the vets at the shelter originally thought that the condition of her teeth showed a dog about 7yrs old. However, upon spaying, her tiny uterus indicated she was probably only a year old. Malnutrition had stunted the bone formation & left her petite & delicate.
Upon arrival at my farm, I sequestered my 6 member dog pack to the fenced yard. This way, they could see & smell but have limited contact in case of trouble. My dogs are pretty used to seeing "new" faces, so after the initial "sniff & greet," they went about their business. Whisper showed no aggression, nor was she overly submissive. She was cautious but curious and watched everything that my dogs did. This was Saturday & chores had to be done, so noise was a constant...lawnmowers, tractors, power tools, etc. We had people drop in for a casual visit & through it all, Whisper sat quietly and observed. She found one of the dog bones in the yard & started gnawing on it. I wanted to test her temperament, so I softly spoke to her as I reached for the bone.
She readily gave it up with no adverse reaction. That night, I put her in the crate & she slept all night. The following night I repeated her bedtime in the crate, but @ some point in the evening, she managed to "escape," & I woke to her sleeping beside me! That was the last night she spent in the crate.
The transformation over the next few days was wondrous & heartwarming. She chose my pupper, Dashiell, as her playmate & there were no limits to their antics. Dashiell would pummel her & send her rolling through the grass, but it didn't phase her a bit. She gave as good as she took! Her intelligence manifested in so many ways, but especially her ability to mimic our daily routines & quickly adapt to everything around her. She never wanted to stray far from my side & within a few days, she was allowed free roam of the property & understood the boundaries. It was like she'd been here the whole time.
Such is the joy that comes from fostering. You take a dog that is hobbled by an unimaginable environment of oppression and watch them blossom into a REAL dog! Whisper changed so rapidly that it was comical at times. She commanded a huge space even though she was small. She would stretch herself out anywhere - the couch, dog bed, the grass - and relish in the feeling of freedom. That tiny body that had previously appeared fragile was now engineered by a dynamo! Her confidence was intoxicating.
Whisper still has a lot of recovery left, but she's prepared for what the rest of her life has to offer & ready to meet it headlong. This week, she starts the journey to Her FurEver. I will miss her so much. But, I am 100% happy in the knowledge that she is going to the best possible home this side of Heaven. So, thank you, Clancy James, for coordinating this rescue! The Dream continues...
Marybeth Harr is a member of Clancy's Dream and has assisted us many times, never saying no to helping a dog with a transport or, like in this case, dropping everything to help. Marybeth decided to name her Whisper for her quiet, gentle demeanor & her clearly fragile condition, and it was very fitting.
When border collies that need help come up, sometimes it's a relinquishment from a home, and time is not a factor. When we get notified about shelter dogs, they are placed in the front of our "to-do" list, and we immediately start working toward helping the dog. Sometimes, there is no waiting, and a dog needs help as soon as it can be arranged. One thing different about Clancy's Dream, we answer our phones 24 hours a day. And while this can be difficult because, in Google's search engine, we are usually at the top of the "rescue" list, resulting in calls about cats, goats, and many other critters but we have a list of most local rescues, we steer them to the right place. The only downside is the calls you get between 11 pm and 8 am.
Last Sunday, I decided to visit Whisper and meet her adopted family, which decided to adopt her. Usually, project dogs take a bigger part of your heart because there is much more interaction, love, and pain, but with triumph, the one you will never forget.
As I approached the home of Kim and Sandy Wade, I was eager to see Whispers as I pulled in the long drive. Even before I opened the door, I felt welcome because Koda, their GSD, approached my car. When I opened the door, he bounced in, licking my face while I scratched his ears. I was, in some ways, home because my GSD Levy does the same thing. Sandy, Kim's husband, met me with a hearty handshake and led me into the house to meet Kim and Whispers, who was shy and cautious of any stranger. After talking about Whisper's past and meeting her, I sat on the floor and often inched up to her within reaching distance. Talking is my soft talk; in just a few minutes, she approached my soft hand and ear scratches. Kim wanted to co-mingle Koda, and Whispers had been introduced but slowly. I ask her to bring Koad inside, and let's get started. As he came in the door, he was put on a lead, as was Whispers, both tails started to wag, and they were eager to see each other. Whispers bounced up and danced around Koda, and seemed comfortable. One of Kim's concerns was that Whispers would not be a farm dog and stay close. After some more talk, I said let's go outside which we did. Koda and Whispers seemed friends, and Koda even play-bounced, wanting Whispers to play too, which she did. Before I left, several walks were taken with Kim, myself, and two happy dogs interacting.
Sitting on their back porch, many world problems were solved through great conversations while
Whispers and Koda lay by our rockers. It was sad leaving their home, but I had to get home to my dogs, but I knew Whispers was home.
Many times, we see a dog that appears broken with little hope or future; it could be that it's emotional or physical, but the efforts to help the dog, it always pays off in many ways. Whispered originally appeared that "things were just too late" to be able to help, but things changed because of the excellent Vet Care at Lolly pop farm. Today, Whispers is part of our Clancy's Dream family and is on the road to a full recovery and has been adopted by Kim and Sandy Wade.
Ken & Whispers
