nozero
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| Stray dog story with a happy ending
We've had a stray black lab in the neighborhood for what seems like a couple of years. Over Thanksgiving, I saw her out across the street in a vacant lot. It was cold and wet and I felt badly for her so I took a can of dog food and a bowl of water out to her. I could only get about 20 feet or so close to her. I think she perhaps had been abused.
A friend loaned me a kennel and a tarp to put over it and we put it in the front yard hoping she would seek shelter in it. Didn't work. She'd bob her head in to grab food and treats I put in there, but she always left to go to "her place" at night.
Over time (months), with lots of patience, I gained her trust and she got close enough to sniff my hand. I can't express in words how good it made me feel, but it was nothing compared to how I felt the first time I got to pet her and give her a good scratching, about 10 days later.
I was not the only one feeding her, there were a couple of women who would stop by and feed her on their way to work and a couple of neighbor too. She was well fed for sure.
Here's a shot of her in our front yard taken through the window and screen.
Here's a shot of her in "her lot" across the street.
I recently switched to a 10 hour day 4 day work week and I don't work Mondays. One such Monday about 2-3 weeks ago, I went over while two of the women who had been feeding the dog were there. I asked if either of them were interested in adopting "Oprah", that was the name the friend who loaned me the kennel had given her. One of them, like us, already had two dogs but the other lady said she'd love to have her and make her an inside dog.
I kept feeding Oprah and it got to where she'd be waiting for me in the mornings or if we missed each other then, in the afternoons when I got home from work. I only missed feeding her a couple of times, food was out but the weather was bad.
Weekend before last, I decided it was time. I took a leash hidden in my back pocket and when out to see Oprah again. She let me pet her again and after loving on her a bunch I slipped the metal clasp of the leash under one front leg and up and around and over the other shoulder and ran it though the handle. Cinched it up and said c'mon and she let me lead her into our back yard. I sat out there with her for an hour or so while I enjoyed a fine cigar and she got to look and sniff around and get settle a bit. Then I called the lady and told her I had her. She was at the store, but came by about an hour later and I introduced them in the back yard. The got along well so I helped her get her into her car and they drove away.
Her name is now Sadie (much better me thinks) she lives about 3 blocks away and we share the same vet. I've been to see her once in her new home and will get to see her again when we deliver the wire crate we're giving her so Dianne can have her kennel back.
Here's Sadie in her new home.
Sadie tested positive for heartworms and is being treated for them. That will cost $700.00! Deb and I kicked in a hundred and Dianne $50.00 to help out. Knowing this, I'm glad I acted when I did and that she's getting treatment now. Other than that, she had a clean bill of health!
Isn't she absolutely adorable! I'm sooooooo happy. I would love to have kept her, but our Rockie is dog agressive except for Zoe and even so, they still get "into it" now and then. I'm sure Sadie is now where she belongs, though I do miss seeing her on her hill across the street.
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PeteC2
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|  Would that more folks take such an attitude...and make such an effort! Sadie looks pretty healthy, heartworms aside, and is without a doubt in a much safer, better environment. Not only that, but now that nice woman (she must be) now also has some fine companionship!
Not that you did it for any such reason...but nozero, I hope that there is a bunch of good karma in this for you!
Two-thumbs up! 
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nozero
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| Thanks.
I forgot to mention, she's been evading the Arlington Animal Services for two years. They even closed off Green Oaks Blvd last year had cops and two of their trucks and could not catch her. She's VERY smart and "street wise" too. She even looked both ways before crossing the street and even looked in the correct direction for both lanes.
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Every moment is another chance to turn it all around.
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Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale. |
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Dominokat
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Boothbay, ME
clubs: | reply to nozero
What a great story.
What wonderful hearts you and the ladies have. And you, with the patience and dedication to her.
But most of all, the lady who gave her a home!
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BUGZILLA 57
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You're too cool, my friend. That tale brought a tear to my eye, and my lab, Barbara, would like to express her gratitude as well.
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opus74
Deep Thought
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Coello, IL
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| reply to nozero
Way Cool !!
Excellent deeds by all of you !!
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Vtblues
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Brookfield, VT
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She looks very content, like she's found a good home and knows it. |
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nozero
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Thanks! My eyes welled up pretty badly when I put Sadie in the car and they drove away. I swear I had a lump in my throat for an hour afterward.
Give Barbara a hug for me! |
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nozero
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Thank you. |
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nozero
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That's what I hope she feels... |
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dandelion
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| reply to nozero
Around 12 years ago we found a dog similar. It took a whole box of ginger snap cookies to get her in the car after letting her get to know us for a few days...hence the name Ginger. She immediately was brought to the vet who picked off about 100 ticks. She was brought home and finally when settled in threw up her ginger snap cookies yet never ONCE tried to go in the house, she was thoroughly housebroken. She spent the first few months following on someone's heel so much flipper shoes couldn't be worn or you would wind up stepping out of them with her foot on the back. She is "tolerant" of the cats yet reminds them to stay away by a very low growl she hopes we don't hear knowing we wouldn't like that. 
Sadie looks well and happy.. it is so nice to hear of a good end to a story.
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woogie
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Re: Stray dog story with a happy ending.
Kudos to you my friend. |
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Valkyre
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Re: Stray dog story with a happy ending
What a wonderful story. Sadie will never forget what you did for her. |
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nozero
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| reply to dandelion
Sadie only had one tick that I know of, it was on her right ear. She did have stiches though, which we all thought was quite odd. I found them the first time she let me scratch her belly. The vet removed them on her visit, said it was likely from being spayed. I wonder if she escaped from a vet or during transport to or from. We also thought it's possible that she belonged to somebody who let her have free run.
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Every moment is another chance to turn it all around.
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Cigar Asylum
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Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale. |
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nozero
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Re: Stray dog story with a happy ending.
And my thanks to you my friend! |
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nozero
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Re: Stray dog story with a happy ending
And I will never forget what she did for me.
Thanks |
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nozero
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| reply to nozero
Thanks for the thumbs ya'll. But honestly, I could not have done anything but what I did and I only did what felt right to me.
I almost lost it one day when I looked out and there was an Animal Control guy in the lot with a dart gun. And another day when (I think) the same guy chased her across the lot in his truck and into traffic. I got on the City's web page and wrote them a complaint. They replied telling me they had received complaints on the dog. I told them she was no threat to anyone. And if they'd leave her alone long enough I might be able to capture her. Then my friend who is a volunteer for Animal Services and runs chow rescue got ahold of them. That's when the backed off and left Sadie alone, but told my friend that we needed to act as quickly as possible. My only fear was that I may only have one chance. I didn't want to blow it.
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Every moment is another chance to turn it all around.
--
Cigar Asylum
--
Change your thoughts and you change your world. Norman Vincent Peale. |
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BUGZILLA 57
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| Yeah, it was nothing, You big lug!
That's why no one here likes you!
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signmeuptoo
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| reply to nozero
Good for you, animal lover! We had a second stray come by here but we couldn't get her to adapt to us, and she took off one day and remained running around the neighborhood. It broke my heart, but hopefully she's found a home because I no longer see her around.
I never saw such a fearful dog, too. She'd follow me but refused to come up. We managed to get her in the house one time and fed her and all, but then she took off again. I've felt guilty ever since.
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rfhar
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Buicktown,Mi
clubs: | reply to nozero
Beautiful dog and a great story. I'm sure that you will always be glad you did it. |
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