Week # 1 for Shelby Angel

Doggy Life:  Week #1 with Shelby Angel has been good.  She is putting on a pound or two, and some cuts and infections on her are starting to heal.  We are starting to really focus on getting her feet healthy so she can walk without severe pain and one day play!  

Here is my sister, Bekah, meeting Shelby Angel for the first time.  Shelby came out of her kennel wagging her tail and gave Bekah some big kisses.  It is amazing how big her heart is, despite everything she has been through.  Bekah agreed that she is cute beyond belief- the pictures do not do her justice!

She got her first bath (probably ever) this week.  She was so calm- I wish she could teach my dogs how to act!

Here she is!  So fresh and so clean, clean!  

Shelby Angel patiently allowed us to soak her front paws for 15 minutes, and then her back paws for 15 minutes!  We are really trying to get them clean and healthy- they are infected all the way to the bone.  But, they really are starting to look better.  I would love to see her be able to walk without pain.  

I hope to give you some more good updates later this week.  She has really appreciated your prayers and caregiving.  I even put a teddy bear in her kennel on Saturday (a gift in the mail from a kind donor) so she would have her very own toy and snuggle buddy.  

Training Life:  I continue to battle my knee injury and compounding frustrations as the summer moves on.  Today I planned a run in Hot Springs.  Here are all of the reasons why the run was going to be perfect:

1.  I hadn't run since Thursday (3 miles) and before that, only one other time this week (which was 2 miles).  Rested legs.  (I mean honestly, they have really been rested since March, huh?)

2.  I did Bikram on Friday- legs are nice and loose.  

3.  The weather was gorgeous, and the scenery was even more beautiful in Hot Springs on the lake.  

It was so far from perfect- so far from that run I am craving.  I want to run WITHOUT PAIN.  I want to run without having to stop after 1, 2, or 3 miles.  I want to have a healthy knee.  I don't want to walk home, dejected and crying like I did (AGAIN) today.  I cannot understand why this injury is lingering.  It doesn't seem to matter how much time I take off from running, how much I stay off of the bike, how much I cross train/strengthen/stretch.  Everyone keeps reminding me to hold on, be patient, and don't give up.  So, I will try to start the week with patience and hope.  This has to pass- I don't know how or why, but I have to believe it will eventually get better at some point so I can get part of my life back.     

Congratulations to my Ironman Kentucky friends.  I wish I could have been there with you.  I am always so proud of your grit, determination, and accomplishment.  

Super thanks to everyone!  All of the comments have been so kind and supportive- just what I needed!  I don't really think what I have done is anything great, but I do think what you guys have done for the puppy is more than great.  From messages, to phone calls, to gifts for Shelby Angel, it is amazing how nice, good spirited people can really come together.  The other day I had a box on my porch from North Carolina- the next day, a letter from Minnesota.  Dave asked me how I knew the senders...I had to explain that I don't technically know them, but I read their blogs!  Ha!  It just sounds so crazy, but there is definitely a connection of like-minded people around here and I think it is awesome.  

I will post pictures and updates for Shelby Angel this weekend.  I just wanted to quickly say thank you to the donations and gifts.  I really underestimated what her cost of treatment would be, especially now that she is gnawing at her infected, damaged feet and bones.  It is as though she is trying to chew them off (half of them are missing anyways) because the infection is hurting her so much.  Anyways, just when I think I am in over my head, a donation appears and things are covered!  Amazing how every little bit has helped.  Thank you guys for seeing the need before I even realized it would be there.  (BTW-She is now wearing an e-collar and on some other serious meds, so we are working to save her little feet.)  

Just FYI- I got my first Shelby Angel kisses Thursday.  Yep! Kisses. I was so excited!  Her tail is out from between her legs...and she wags it now!

And in the other world, I have made my big grand entrance back to the dreaded 5:30 am swim- but at a new pool.  It has been hard to motivate myself to get there, especially since my next race is...oh....8 months away?  Does anyone else swim to avoid sucking- as opposed to getting better?

The running and cycling are not even worth mentioning right now.  Does anyone have a November race near them?  Something to motivate me- yet far enough away I can actually attempt to train for once this year?  

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!