Shady {16 year old dog abandoned}
Posted on June 10, 2012
It’s amazing the difference a day makes. Yesterday I left the shelter depressed and overwhelmed. Today I feel invigorated and filled with purpose.
This face hasn’t left my mind since I walked out of the shelter yesterday.
Her name is Shady. She is 16 years old. She has been at the shelter since May 29th. She is despondent, dejected and lost. Her face has invaded every moment I’ve lived today. Driving to the Riverside shelter…she popped into my head. Photographing the dogs there…she made her presence known. Eating lunch…there she was again.
With every thought of her, it became obvious what I had to do. But I’m still somewhat sane and I knew that it was probably a crazy idea. And so I made a couple calls to some friends to get their thoughts on the subject. My question…Am I insane to pull a 16 yr old dog from the shelter? Turns out no one was around to talk me off the ledge. 
I continued to debate with myself about Shady.
I also sent an email to my contact at Carson to get more information about her. I knew that he probably wouldn’t get back to me soon, as he’s off on sundays and busy on mondays getting back into the swing of things. Imagine my surprise when almost immediately after I sent that email I got a response from him.
I thought Shady was a stray that found her way into the shelter. Turns out I was wrong. She is an owner surrender. My contact gave me all the info about her. Living her entire life with a family and then dumped because she was too old.
With this new information, her face haunts me even more.
My friends were still MIA. Probably ehjoying their sunday with family and friends. I really needed to talk to someone about Shady. The husband was out. If I brought up the subject, I’m sure he would say no way. But he is a softy inside and if I show up with her, he won’t be able to turn her away. (Yes, I’m sneaky like that)
I called my vet. (Who happens to be the best vet around.) He answered the phone with dread, I’m sure. I would never call him on his day off unless it was an emergency.
And so I told him about Shady.
“I have almost made up my mind and I know it’s crazy, but I can’t let her die alone in the shelter. I just don’t know what to do. If you tell me not to, I probably won’t listen.”
He knows me well and didn’t even try to talk me out of it. Instead he told me to bring her in to the office when I get her and he will check her out. See? Best vet ever.
I made one last call to a friend and fellow rescue type, Steve. He is very level headed and doesn’t act on impulse like I do. He asked me what I was going to do. In that moment my decsion was made.
I am going to pull her from the shelter and find her a home. I’m going to treat her eye and make sure she isn’t in any pain. We’ll see what happens. I have no idea how her health is…at 16 years old there could be so many things wrong. But I’m throwing caution to the wind. I think she deserves to spend the last days (or months) feeling loved.
I’ve set up a Chip-In account for her to cover her medical and pull fees. And of course lots of yummy dog treats are in her future.
Sunny today:
Shady has found a new “leash” on life.
Related posts:
- Shelter Visit
- Miss Sunny through the eyes of another
- S.T.A.R.T {One Year Anniversary}
- 2nd Year in a Row! Top Five of Best Photographers
Leave a Comment
If you need a permanent home for her we can fly her to Utah. She would be welcome here with open arms and hearts.
the world needs more people like you..
If only there were more people like this in the world
I will take her IN am in Riverside, Ca…..I called myself and was put on hold like forever…please contact me A
ASAP
i have seen her before,and like was so worried about her,glad yu are letting enjoy her last day in a home…are animlas give us there all,so at they ol-oge,shouldn’t we return tha luv they gave us?poor baby…
Where is this doll?
Awesome stuff, made me feel so good to contribute
You’re an angel for rescuing this beautiful dog so that she can live out the rest of her life in peace and comfort and love. I’m so glad to have been able to “Chip In” to help!
You are without doubt an angel on earth! Shady is the image of what my late precious Puppet would have appeared had she been granted 16 years instead of just 10 on this earth. Being in RI, I can’t adopt Shady, but I can pray for her to find a loving home, and Chip In what I am able after payday tomorrow. Everyone deserves to be loved and cared for in their later years, be they pet or human. I believe whoever gives her a forever home will be blessed beyond measure at the very point in their life they most need that blessing! I have no doubt that God blesses you!
You are a true angel.
hugs to both of you and thank you for your caring heart.
Just checking in, hoping that Shady is happier and knows that people out there love her! I just came home from Reno two days ago with two kitties. I adopted them from Feline Rescue of Northern Nevada, which is a feline sanctuary for cats with special needs. Tootsie is 2 months old and is in perfect health, she was just found tied in a plastic bag in a dumpster by an employee, that’s how she wound up there. And Parker is 11 months old and has a luxating patella. I couldn’t believe he would never have a family due to something so minor, I just had to take him home too! I am full of the most amazing feeling after adopting them. How people can just dump their beloved pet at a shelter or in a trash can is beyond me. Shady, I hope you are finding your happiness again!
[...] to the wind. I think she deserves to spend the last days (or months) feeling loved.” – Lori’s Blog It will come as no shock that Lori and her husband adopted Sunny (the renamed Shady) and brought [...]