On Saturday morning, I drove out to Springfield to Effingham County Animal Control to pick up a mom English Spaniel and her two puppies. I went to pick up 3, and left with 8. While I was in there, I found a young small breed mom and her three two-week-old puppies. Then I found a scared little Chihuahua girl who had unfortunately been kenneled next to two very aggressive ones. I opened up her cage and she darn near jumped out into my arms. No way I could put her back now. I got all 8 canines loaded into my truck and headed back in to pick up my paperwork. That's when I saw her.
Somehow, I had missed four dogs in outside runs. I later learned these are drop off kennels, where people can shove animals in when the animal control shelter is closed. I guess it is better than leaving them in the woods or on the street. Unlike the other dogs around her, she didn't make a noise. She just stood on her hind legs, poking her long snout through the chainlink as far as it could go. Her eyes showed so much sadness, but her little tail wag gave indication that she still had a little faith that someone could show her some kindness in her life. I walked over and looked her in the eye. She moved her head to the right, trying to get close to my hand. I scratched behind her ears and her eyes closed. Has she ever known how good that feels before? I could feel my eyes start to water. I've done this hundreds of times. I've said no so many times as well. I only have so much room, I'm only one person, my house is only so big. Then she got down, and I could finally see her full shape. Not one inch of meat on her body. One tear fell as my sadness turned to anger. How could anyone be so cruel? Next to her kennel was a green leash someone had left when they dumped a dog. As quickly as I could, I turned it around and made a slip lead so I could get her out of her kennel. She didn't understand what I was doing. I put it around her, then opened up the kennel door. She stood there. I gave a tug and out she came, legs shaking and head down. She had no confidence whatsoever. I walked her into the animal control office and began asking questions. I was told she had been left overnight and they had just logged her in. I begged them to let me take her, but the law says they have to hold for three days. I asked that if I microchipped her quickly, since it would be in the rescue's name if that would prove ownership and I could take her. It was farfetched, but I was willing to do just about anything to take her right then. Of course I was told no, and as I didn't really want to cause too much trouble, I agreed that I would be back the first thing on Monday morning. I handed her lead to a volunteer standing nearby and ran to my truck to get out a can of food for her. One of the other volunteers told me she'd go get more canned food and make sure that my little girl would be fed just that. I gave them the instructions, small meals more frequently so she wouldn't gorge herself, and was promised they would be followed. I knelt down beside my girl and wrapped my arms around her, put my face beside hers and whispered in her ear a promise that I would be there exactly when the doors opened on Monday to get her home. I'm sure she didn't believe me, why would she? No one else has bothered to care about her before.
It was hard to let go, but I had to get back and get to the vet appointments I had already scheduled for these animals. It was after 10 am now and we had a 45 minute drive ahead of us. And it wasn't a quiet one. I couldn't take my mind off my little hound girl, hurting inside knowing how lonely she must feel. I had the sounds of crying puppies and a slightly cantankerous mom in the back. Luckily for me, we have some of the most fabulous vets that work with us, and Dr. Hassan and her staff agreed to see everyone I had in the truck even though my appointment was only for three. It only took two hours for them all.
We got everyone in the truck, back to the ranch and settled. A couple hours later, I got an email from one of our volunteers about some dogs at Chatham County Animal Control. I agreed to take two Chihuahuas that had been a breeding pair and were dumped off by their breeder, the female of which was pregnant, and an older Chesapeake Bay Retriever mix female. What's a few more, right? But all weekend, I just could not stop thinking about the one I didn't get, and for once, Monday couldn't come soon enough.
So this morning, I was up at 10 till seven. I had to get as many of the dogs out and fed as I could before my drive. I wanted to be there right when the doors opened at 8:30 am. As it turned out, I was nine minutes later. And it was raining. How appropriate. But there she was, still in the same kennel where I found her as there was no more room inside the shelter for her. I walked up, reached my hand through and smiled. I had kept my promise. She wagged her tail. I walked in and waved, a huge grin on my face. "I'm back," I yelled over the sounds of barking from the other kennels. My paperwork was filled out and we headed so I could get my girl. I decided to name her Faith. I had the kennel manager video my taking her out. I wanted other people to see what it's like those first moments that we make a rescue. For me, it's a huge thrill every time.
We got Faith in the truck and gave her a little food for the ride. Then we were on the road. I kept looking in my rear view mirror to check on her, like a nervous new mom. She would curl up in a ball for a few minutes, then get up and move to another spot. She did that for about 20 minutes before she finally settled in just behind my seat. I smiled again.
So here I sit, writing the beginning of Faith's journey towards a new life. I have her in a crate in my office so she'll have a lot of interaction with me and learn what it is to have someone care about her. I have to keep feeding her small meals; she eats everything so fast, obviously worried she won't be fed again. That usually takes a few weeks or longer for them to learn. But now she's curled up in a ball, sleeping peacefully. At 4:30, we'll head to the vet. I'll bet it's her first time ever seeing one. I'll almost bet money that she has hookworms, tapeworms and heartworms. But at least it's all treatable. She's safe now, and that's what matters.
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