If It Is To Be- It Is Up To Me

The last few weeks have been pretty crazy for me- tumultuous, busy, worrisome, you name it.  Somewhere in the past week I managed to work way too much overtime as a new PT, dog sit, host a baby shower, attend book club without reading the book, rescue a dog, and get no sleep.  Notice I did not say anything about training- that just did not happen...2 miles of running and 2 swims?  Yikes- unhealthy and rotten...so if you are looking for a training post to read, this will not be it.  

So, my greatest accomplishment this week has also been accompanied by internal and external struggle.  Many of you have already read about new dog rescue adventure on face book, and I will explain it a little more on here.  I definitely look forward to your comments, feedback, and support- I feel like I have been to a really dark place with humanity the past two weeks, and I definitely need some hope and happiness.  

Three weekends ago, our group was riding through Shelby Forest when we spotted a dog up ahead on the road.  We see TONS of dogs here in the south while riding- both stray dogs and dogs with owners....they like to chase our bikes quite a bit.  As we prepared to avoid being chased, we happened to see that the dog was starved, abused, ....and pitiful.  There was no way she was chasing us- she could barely walk.  She was basically walking into the woods to die.  We threw her food and went to the store to get more but could never find her again.  

I spent the next 2 weeks crying, not sleeping, and eventually driving/riding to that area to feed her.  I never saw her again, never knew if she got the food.   With the help of some friends on lookout, she was spotted and alive at a later time.  I could only hope that she was getting the food I had been leaving out- not the raccoons.  

What do I do?  I kept asking God to provide an answer- and a means.  Why did he put this dog in my path, and why did it hurt me so much?  I have really, really struggled.  I received some support from friends and rescuers, but I also received a lot of backlash from family and others.  There is a predominant attitude that "you can't save everything" and "it is not my problem."  At a time when I really needed help and solutions, I got a lot of reasons why I could and should not help.   

The only conclusion I can come to with all of this is that if those people had seen this dog on that day, they may have changed their minds.  While we can't save the world- we are not saviors, martyrs, or anything other than simple people, we can help out individuals.  

Well, after a gazillion phone calls, I finally realized that IF IT IS TO BE, IT IS UP TO ME (my mother-in-law's favorite 2 letter, 10 word phrase).  No one else was going to help this dog.  I borrowed a live trap, and with some help I was able to catch the dog.  (I was not able to catch her by hand...and when you see the pictures you will know why she was so scared).  

So...here is Shelby Angel.  I don't know much about her yet, but here is what may be true.  She has bad, bad scars around her neck.  Someone has chained her and tethered her.  She is only a year old, but she has probably had multiple litters of puppies. Put this all together and....you get a sweet angel that was probably used to breed puppies for fighting (even though she was not old enough for breeding).  When she couldn't produce any more or did not produce good puppies she may have been used for a bait dog or just completely discarded.  The scars from the chains really tell the horror of it.  The short of it is, this dog has been through hell.  She has been abused in the worst way.  Since she has shown no aggression, we guess that she would not fight and therefore got the worst of it from the people that had her.  Of course, we will never have the real or whole story- and maybe I don't want to know it because it may truly send me off of the edge.    

  
Right now Shelby Angel is staying at the vet.  I have paid for an examination, meds, boarding, shots, etc.   Right now her job is to just eat, rest, and try to heal.  She has so many infections and injuries- the vet said it is one of the worst cases she has seen.  People in the lobby just started to cry when I brought her in.  (And this is after 2 weeks of food- imagine her 2 weeks ago).  
I am exhausted just writing this post.  The ethical and moral battles I have had in the past week have really eaten me alive.  There is only one thing of which I am certain, though, and it is that I did to the right thing by getting her out of the forest and starving to death.  From here forward, I am just taking it day by day.  She is going to stay at the vet this week, and then we will figure out what her needs are and what kind of home will be best to meet them.  

Many of you have asked me how you can help.  Here is what I think may be helpful to her (Please do not feel obligated in any way to send anything- there has just been such a big response to this and lot of people have wanted ideas to help):

1.  A cute, girl dog collar and leash (hmmmm at least a medium...maybe large? I am guessing she will get at least up to 55 or more pounds depending on how her body responds to the abuse).  

2.  Treats/rawhide...and toys! (she is a puppy and has probably never had a toy!)

3.  Doggie blanket (Kathy bought a doggie bed for Shelby Angel- thanks Kathy!!!!)

4.  Other?  if you think of anything let me know

5.  A future foster or forever home (she is not ready to go home now, but sometime in the near future)- this will be the most important thing someone can do for her

6.  Prayers

7.  Teach your children kindness to all creation

8.  Just being a good friend and listening to all of my craziness as I figure out how to help her! ;)

Several people have asked about sending money.  I will let everyone know if she may need more care than I can provide financially, but right now we are doing okay with paying for her treatment.  If you are just determined to send money, she is at Northgate Animal Hospital and you could put it towards her account.  If you would like to send anything else for her, leave me your email and I will send you my address.  

She is going to be a great dog- someone's very best friend.  She will be the more grateful than you can imagine- indebted to anyone that gives her kindness and love.  We can already tell she has a kind soul- Dave was immediately won over by her and how cute she is.  Thank you everyone for reading.  I appreciate your friendship and support.  Hopefully next week will be more normal and more sleep inviting!