Animal Rescue Stories

Izzy Bear

One day the guy next door, who was mowing a lawn of a house that nobody lived in, came over to me and asked me if that was my puppy in his yard. I said my only dog is in the house right now. I didn’t realize it was a puppy I had been hearing for three days cry, thinking it was the neighbors behind me and that I wish that it would stop.

The Puppy was sitting in a kiddie pool, with a huge bag of regular dog food sitting upright next to it, and an empty bowl that I guess had water in it. I took the dog, and called my daughter to ask her if she would like it because she was at a summer college program. I knew she loved labradors and this one was not only just a puppy; it was soft and sweet, coal black with one spot under its neck.

I took the dog to the veterinarian the next day. We had just lost a dog that had been thrown in a ditch in the country near my home that died of Parvovirus within two weeks of us finding it. With that in mind, and because it was only about maybe 2 to 3 months old, off we went to the doc.

Come to find out it was approximately 8 to 9 weeks old max and already weighed 22 pounds! They said the size of the teeth is how they determined the age of the dog.

Today she is 13 years old and weighs 141 pounds after being on a diet for two months! Needless to say, my daughter did not take the dog, and I became a mother to another stray animal.

She does have arthritis in her hocks, hips, and backbone, but she really is doing very well for a dog her age and size. Her size is what got her the name of “bear”, because she is as gentle as Gentle Ben himself and a sweet is the day is long. I know her time is limited, but she’s been treated like a queen since she arrived here.

CRYSTAL
TERRE HAUTE, IN

Sugar Ray-Because he fought his way back!!

There was a knock on the door; it was my neighbor’s son. He had a box with a tiny kitten he found in the storm ditch across from their house. “Take it to Miss Loren…she’ll help that baby”

Eyes barely open, and a gravely injured front leg-so bad maggots had set in.

Called my vet, he met me at his office. The leg would have to be removed. Doc warned me it was risky due to how weak and young the kitty was, he might not survive the surgery and his after care. Through it all I prayed…bottle fed him every 4 hours for weeks.

They only charged me for the anesthesia…I love my veterinarian.

I named him Sugar Ray, after the fighter. With my care, snuggles and naps in my Dad’s lap and Ruby (a 1 year old rescue I had found near my home) deciding he was her kitten…he thrived!!!

He is almost 2 now and never knew he lost a leg. He did have a bout with PTSD, would cry to me when a storm was approaching like he was a barometer…and he would hide during storms. But he has become more social and plays with my new Russian Gray twins.(also rescues) In fact, those kittens have helped him loosen up and relax. He is quite a clown at times. He has brought a lot of joy to me. He is my champion!!!

Loren McKenzie Suits
DELTONA, FL

Mila and Lupi

I have had dogs since 1993 living in South Africa. At the end I had an all boxer pack and when I returned home to Switzerland, after my husbands death, I brought my last remaining boy, Zoro, back with me.

In 2014 l adopted an elder girl from a shelter in France. Fifi. When Zoro eventually had to cross the rainbow bridge in 2015 (just after my dad’s death) with multiple cancers, l adopted a few months later a 10 year old little girl with skew jaw and undershot teeth (reminded me of a boxer) and crooked leg from a rescue organization in Germany. Mila.

Fast forward to 2017 when Fifi passed by her own, and Mila was devastated, I adopted a small box, 6 year old boy from a Swiss rescue organization for her. After day 3, they were and still are one heart and soul. Mila turning, 17 and Lupi 11 this year (both according to their it passports). Both are still going strong, thank God.

Isabelle
Basel, Switzerland

Thrown away baby.

My hubby drives a garbage truck. I got a call one afternoon. He says “ I saw something and it jumped out of the back of my truck”. A few minutes later, I get another call. “ honey it’s a tiny kitten. She can barely hold her head up. I can’t get her to drink much water . I’m right around the corner, would you like to try to save her”?

He brings this tiny, dirty little kitten to me. She can’t hold her head up she’s so weak. The only way I could get water in her was to tap it on her lips with my finger. I have to get her clean. I mean she’s spent the afternoon in the nasty end of a garbage truck.

Well a few sleepless nights and becoming her “surrogate mom” she made it. I wasn’t sure at first , she was so very weak. We named her Baby and baby she is... but a bossy little girl.

That was 3 years ago and she has grown into a beauty. I don’t know how people can be so cruel because they threw her out in the trash. She is well loved and our treasure.

franwhite1968@yahoo.com
PALM COAST, FL

Maggie Mae

We promised each other that nothing that ate could live with us ever again. My husband is retired from a major airline and we had planned to travel after retirement. Then we adopted our grandson. He eats. He begged for a dog. Finally, I went alone to the local shelter to see what they had.

I walked all through the center and found nothing of the size that we could deal with. I decided to just visit with the cats for a few minutes. As I went in, I could hear a small little whine and bark. There, I fell in love. She was almost hairless and so very scared. I got her out of the cage and she held on to me for dear life. I knew I had found something else to feed.

We went by PetSmart on the way home for a bed, blanket, toys, a collar and leash and food. Our son was nearly ecstatic and has said that it was the best day of his life! That was ten years ago. Our little 7 pound ShiPoo, now a robust 25 pounds, runs our household.

Our traveling in retirement didn't happen. Instead, God sent us a wonderful, beautiful blond haired, blue-eyed 5-year-old to love, then a wonderful little fuzzy Maggie to help us raise and love him, as well.

That 5-year-old is now a fine 20-year-old young man still at home with us. Maggie is still helping and supervising us every day. We could travel now if we wanted, but we did get to do a good bit of seeing all that we really needed years ago. We are quite content to stay around here and enjoy this best time of our lives.

T James
DOUGLASVILLE, GA

Christmas boy

I've been fostering for our local shelter for several years and have had many dogs. (198 so far) One of my very favorites was Christmas, a chocolate lab/pittie mix. He was dumped at our shelter on Christmas day 2009, hairless, scabbed, and itching.

I started fostering him, got him meds for the skin issues, and fell in love with his sweet personality. He was about 4 years old then. He was the most gentle boy, always happy, loved squeaky toys, and the only dog I've fostered that didn't ever get into an argument at the dog park.

His hair finally grew back, his itching subsided, and his split ears healed. It took about a year before he could shake his head without blood spattering on the walls from the splits in his ears from the scratching and itching. Many people thought he had been a fighting dog due to the splits and scars.

Because he was a pittie, and because of the skin condition and cost of his daily meds, no one came forward to adopt him. That was fine with me! I had him as a foster for about 3 years, then just called him mine until 2021, when he was 15.

He started having puffy jowls, and I thought it could be from all the meds he had taken for so many years. The vet did tests, and said his lymph nodes were infected. They did more tests and gave him antibiotics while waiting for further results.

The vet called to say he had lymphoma on May 10, 2021, and said he could have about 6 more months with meds to keep him comfortable, or 7-8 months with aggressive chemotherapy that would make him miserable. Since he was 15, we decided to just love him and make sure he was pain free and knew only love for however long he had left.

He passed on May 27, 2021, only 17 days after diagnosis. We miss him every day.

Linda Gillespie
LOGAN, UT

Babee Cakes, 14-year old toy poodle, weighing 5.7#

Through United Animal Friends, I saw this little baby needing a new home. Her owners needed to re-home her due to their health problems. We had just lost our female 12-year-old Shih tzu and had a male 13-year-old toy poodle. We wanted an older female dog to rescue to be a playmate for our other toy poodle.

We had looked for a couple of weeks to no avail... then we saw a picture of this little girl on Petfinder. We applied for her. Right away, they set up a meet and greet, and we adopted her the same day.

We have been so glad and happy to make her part of our family. She sleeps with us and is completely at home here. She is full of energy and runs fast for her little body. She has a bad patella on her back left leg so she hops when she runs, but it doesn't bother her.

David & Caro l Lester
PAULDEN, AZ

Molly, the survivor

Molly's life began as a guard dog in an East African capital. We do not know much about her first “family”, but we do know that when they were moving back to their homeland, they threw Molly out on the street.

From that day onward, she faithfully sat in front of the house that used to be hers, but no one came for her. Street life was hard for Molly, as she was too sweet to defend herself from people who threw stones at her. She also struggled to feed herself, and to care for her puppies which inevitable came. Still, she kept waiting by her “family’s” gate, sad and confused, but also always willing to love on any human who was kind to her.

Her perseverance didn’t go unnoticed, and some kind neighbours alerted a lady who managed a local dog rescue network. And so, one day, she was finally able to pull Molly off the streets and get her into foster care. Shortly after, Molly got to meet her new family - a Swedish family who had been living with their three kids in Ethiopia for a few years. They could not resist her beautiful eyes and big smile - yes, Molly can really smile!

As soon as they saw her, she ran up to them, lifted her paw as if to say hello and immediately asked to be scratched and patted without interruption. And so Molly was happily adopted! Her family was totally in love with her, as Molly really was an amazing dog, in every way. Sweet, responsive, and cuddly! Gentle with every living being she met, humans, children, or other pets.

She became a security for her children, as well as for the children in her community. Molly also helped her family take care of many other dogs that they have fostered, while looking for permanent homes for them.

Molly has also become a loyal friend of many anxious people (many who lived with severe PTSD), which her family supported through their missionary work. Molly helped them to relax and open up – just like a true therapy dog!

Molly and her family have survived several large and small setbacks. Among other things, they were hit by a terrible flood in August last year, which tragically killed eight of their neighbours. Molly and her family were left homeless but were incredibly lucky to have made it all alive - especially Molly who used to hang out exactly where the waters hit, but fortunately was not there on that day.

In November, the civil war came closer to their city, and they were forced to quickly evacuate the country. They thought Molly's paperwork and passport were in order, so she accompanied them home to Sweden. But to their despair, Molly was stopped at Stockholm airport because a date was wrong in her vaccination records. Molly’s home country does not use the same calendar as European countries, so her veterinarian had made a mistake when counting the days between her rabies vaccine and her blood test, and - amid all the chaos - her family didn’t realize.

The family could choose between putting Molly down, or placing her in a four-month quarantine (which would cost several thousand dollars). The family could not pay that amount themselves, so things were looking gloomy, but then Molly’s story took another surprising turn! The lady from the local rescue network which had rescued Molly all those years ago started a fundraised to pay for Molly’s quarantine costs and so a community of generous people got together to save Molly one more time!

It is heartwarming to see how many people - from different parts of the world - came forward to support Molly (https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-molly-by-contributing-to-her-quarantine-cost).

Now Molly is sitting in quarantine in Stockholm airport, where she continues to charm everyone (even the staff of the quarantine facility has donated to her fundraiser!). Despite her numerous ordeals, this sweetheart has never lost faith in people, and never lost her smile! She is a survivor and a role-model. We cannot wait for Molly to get back to her family and live the life she deserves: Swedish green forests, lots of love and new adventures!

Eduarda Cardoso
Stockholm, Sweden

FREDDY THE GIANT WITH A SOFT HEART

FREDDY : THE GIANT WITH A SOFT HEART

Freddy, what can I say about him? All I can say is that he was the most soft-hearted, cuddly Saint Bernard I have ever met.

People normally react with astonishment when they hear the word “Saint Bernard” they relate it immediately to a fierce, aggressive stay way from pet …..but that is a misconception.

I first met Freddy when I was working with Wildlife SOS in Delhi, I had just come back from a rescue call and I encountered Freddy the Saint Bernard. He was with Mrs Geeta Seshamani, the founder of Friendicoes Seca, who was very patiently and lovingly patting him on his head while Freddy sat patiently enjoying it.

The moment I entered he turned his head and looked at me. I felt an instant contact with him, something moved within me as if we knew each other somewhere sometime, and I just went and hugged and kissed him.

He was all skin and bones, body full of mange, tick-infested and as usual was another sad case of pet abandonment. He was found roaming the market of Greater Kailash on a hot summer afternoon, and Friendicoes was informed by a well-wisher. They rescued him from the streets.

It was obvious that his owners had abandoned him due to mange, other diseases, and age-related problems, and left him to die in the streets…..but I guess he was destined to come to Friendicoes and become a part of our big family. He must have been around 8-10 years old.

Over the next few weeks, he regained his strength and his mange also improved. He would follow me like a lamb all over the office, and his favorite place was next to my feet on my work station. He was very protective and possessive and would not allow anyone else or let any other dog near me. He would give a gentle warning first, which if ignored, would lead to a bark that keep all at bay.

Freddy was with us for some months and was becoming the darling of all who met him. He was now an indispensable part of our large extended family and loved, pampered by all. But I guess just when everything was settling down well one cold winter day, he developed a bad cough, which aggravated despite of all the medications and care.

I can still recall the last day with Freddy. It was evening around 7 pm and we had just brought him back from a walk. After making him comfortable and warm, we decided to treat him to some hot chicken soup. He had a few spoonfuls with great difficulty. We could see he was in lot of pain and discomfort, but his love was always present in his eyes, gentle wagging of his tail, and gently laying his head on your lap.

No one felt that it would be the last night Freddy would spend with us. With a heavy heart, we covered him with a warm blanket and left for home, hoping he would have a good night’s rest and sleep and we would see him wagging his tail and barking when we came next day….

But it was not to be. Early, around 5 am, I got a call from Geeta Mam that he was no more; he had crossed the rainbow bridge in the wee hours of the morning, leaving us all devastated and broken hearted.

With heavy hearts and sobbing eyes, we took him to our centre in Gurgaon and laid him to rest along with his other friends. His presence is still felt and remembered by all in Friendicoes, and his coming into our lives was a blessing for us. We love to remember the giant with a soft heart, welcoming smile, wagging tails and shining mischievous eyes.

BHAVANI
DELHI, India

Our silly cat April

After church one Sunday, my husband and I picked up some lunch and went to the local campground to eat. After we had eaten our lunch, I saw a kitten and reported it to the park officer. He said they had been trying to catch her, but she would not let them get close. I knelt down, held out my arms and said, " come here baby." She ran right into my arms.

I gave them my number and called the vet and shelters and started the 10-day notice. I listed her on all the lost and found pet sites and took her to the veterinarian. She only weighed 5 lbs and was not chipped, but an X-ray showed she was about to have 5 kittens at only 6 months herself. So, I took her home and gave her a nesting box, which she loved and settled down in to wait for babies.

She was the most unusual thing, constantly wanting her belly rubbed. Two weeks later, she gave us 5 healthy kittens, and 8 weeks later she went back in heat. Since she wouldn't feed the babies anymore, we went ahead and had her spayed.

Annie Quinn
BEULAVILLE, NC