It’s amazing the difference a day makes. Yesterday I left the shelter depressed and overwhelmed. Today I feel invigorated and filled with purpose.
One dog’s 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 the end of May. 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, Dr. Gebroe, 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 Spiro. 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.
Shady has found a new “leash” on life.