|
by Linda Olson
It happened again. Another story, one which I never thought I’d be
writing about, found me. This one needs to be told.
My first introduction to Pooh Bear and Piglet was via the PetFinder
website three years ago. They were residents at the Humane Society
of the Palouse in Moscow, ID. The yellow lab and little dachshund
were best of friends and inseparable. There was just something about
them that reached out and grabbed my heart. I decided to feature
them on the bulletin board at the Partners 4 Pets Adoption Center
which was then located in the North Town Mall in Spokane, WA. Their
story and pictures created quite a stir.
They had been turned in as “strays” in April, 2002. After awhile
they were placed in a foster home to await adoption as it was taking
longer to place these seniors together. Their foster mom was so
impressed with them that she gave their information to the local
newspaper that ran a front-page story. A young couple saw it and
decided to adopt both Pooh and Piglet.
A woman from another town (Pullman, WA) saw that front-page story
and called the Humane Society telling them they had been her dogs
and that she and her husband were divorced and he had kept them. The
Humane Society then asked for her ex-husband’s name and, sure
enough, it matched the name on the in-take form for stray dogs. He
just didn’t want them anymore. So, he lied about being their owner
and dumped them at the shelter—with no information, no health
records, no recommendations, no history, nothing. . .
But now, in 2002, as a result of that front-page story, Pooh and
Piglet had themselves another home and things looked pretty good
again and they were part of a family once more.
Then, last summer (2004) the Humane Society got a surprise visit
from the young woman telling them that she and her boyfriend had
separated and that he was keeping Pooh and Piglet. Well, ok. That
happens.
In fall (2004), during a really big windstorm, Pooh once again found
himself at the shelter. . .but, without Piglet. The story at that
time was that the door had blown open and he had decided to take a
little walk and check things out. He looked good at that time.
Piglet had decided not to go out in the wind and stayed at home.
But, that old yellow lab just had to go see what was going on out
there!
Then in April, (2005) the Humane Society Director got a call from an
animal control officer in the field about two dogs that had just
been picked up on campus saying that they looked really bad. In
fact, she didn’t think the little dachshund was going to make it.
The Director got a really big lump in her throat and could barely
ask, “What does the other dog look like?” The officer didn’t know at
that time.
The dogs were immediately taken to the Humane Society. The animal
control officer came to the Director with the same report that the
little dachshund was in bad shape and she didn’t think he would make
it. The Director slowly repeated her original question, “What does
the other dog look like?” This time she got the answer, “A yellow
Lab.”
The Director jumped out of her chair and ran to the back room where
her worst fears were realized. . .there was Pooh Bear and Piglet,
just barely hanging onto life. The tears came. There was no holding
them back. Three years ago, these two had also touched her heart and
if she could have taken them home with her at that time, she would
have done so. To her knowledge, they had been in a happy home all
those 3 years. But, today, she was viewing two friends struggling to
hang on and the decision of whether to put them down immediately or
give them another chance at life was hers to make. They apparently
had been abandoned for a long time, without food or water, and were
very close to death. Piglet weighed in at only 9 lbs. and Pooh
weighed in at 74 lbs. She decided to give them another chance at
life.
Piecing the story together, it appears that they had been left to
die in that apartment. The young man probably gave them a final pat,
turned around knowing full well that he would not return, and closed
the door. I wonder if Pooh and Piglet were worried and for how long
they waited at the door that first night for his return. How many
days/nights did they wait wondering what was happening and where was
their person who was supposed to love them and take care of them?
Where was their food and water? Why didn’t they get to go outside
anymore? Where were their doggy beds. . .their toys. . .their
leashes? Why did no one answer their cries for help? Why didn’t
someone know what was happening to them?
Somehow, Pooh in a valiant attempt finally got the door open and
they escaped, saving both their lives. It is believed that Piglet
would have been dead in a few more days. It must have taken all his
strength to get up and follow Pooh out the door. This time he did
not stay behind. Somehow he knew that he had to follow Pooh.
An arrest warrant was issued for their former owner, Jason Reynolds,
on animal cruelty charges, but the police only found an abandoned
apartment. Best guess is that after the human relationship blew
apart, things went downhill really quickly. Jason’s whereabouts is
unknown.
Today, both dogs are recovering at the Humane Society and are doing
quite well. Piglet has now added 4 lbs. to his body and Pooh has
added another 20 lbs. to his. They are safe again and in good
health. Both have had dentals. Pooh lost one tooth and Piglet only
has nine teeth left (breed characteristic). Piglet now has a slight
heart murmur which may have been caused by poor nutrition and lack
of food. Pooh is getting a little stiff and laying on the shelter’s
cement floors sometimes makes it hard for him to get up. He needs a
nice soft bed!
They still eat together out of the same bowl and sleep together.
They share everything and are completely devoted to each other.
These two guys have had many adventures together over the years.
Pooh is now 11 years old and little Piglet is 16. The sun is setting
on their lives and those of us who have been touched by them are
holding hope that there is someone who will give them one last
chance at a permanent home full of care, respect, safety, and love
for their retirement years. There is still life left in both of them
and if it had been their time to go, Pooh wouldn’t have found a way
out for himself and Piglet—the Humane Society Director wouldn’t have
given them another chance at life—and, I wouldn’t have found them on
the PetFinder website.
There story just isn’t finished yet. They’ve paid the price of
non-committed and irresponsible owners—TWICE. It’s time they found a
home that really values them, respects who they are, and loves them
unconditionally as they love. . .someone who will give them the
retirement they have earned. It was not God’s will that they perish.
There is still more to come. Do you have the home, the commitment,
and the heart they are waiting for? It will take a very special
person/persons to adopt/foster them from the shelter this time.
If you are that special person and have what it takes to care for
these precious seniors, please contact:
Humane Society of the Palouse,
Moscow, ID
(208) 883-1166 e-mail
hsop@moscow.com
This is a no-kill shelter (meaning that as long as there is room, no
adoptable dog will be euthanized). This shelter is nothing like the
Clarkston Animal Shelter. This Humane Society is caring, loving, and
willing to work with rescue groups, adopters, etc. I have found them
to be very concerned about animals in their care, honest, helpful,
and sincere. This time around, they will be even more careful about
placement of these two very special doggy friends.
I speak from personal experience with adopted seniors when I say
there is nothing quite like it. They know they are vulnerable, not
quite like they used to be, and not as desirable and cute as the
younger dogs. But, when rescued, they will love you like no other,
they know they have been given another chance, and they will notice
and appreciate everything you do for/with them. The traumas of their
past lives will fade away as they love and love and love you back.
Someone had seen beyond the outer physical shell and saw the beauty
within. And, when they finally leave their physical bodies, I
believe that they leave knowing that they once had been thrown away
but were chosen again, loved, and that someone from the human
species had finally figured it out that each had within themselves
the same God energy and drew love from the same source.
Giving precious senior animals a secure and loving retirement home
is a commitment—physically, emotionally, and financially.
Fortunately for these two, their teeth have already been cleaned and
fixed (a big expense with older dogs). If you take them, please
don’t give Pooh Rimadyl. Do your research. I did. I found that
Rimadyl can be dangerous for Labs. I chose another route. There are
many supplements and other meds that can help—but, that’s
information for another article another time.
Now, it’s Pooh Bear’s and Piglet’s turn. Can you give me the rest of
the story—a happy ending for these two closely-bonded seniors
waiting for yet another chance at a place to call home.
UPDATE: The shelter decided to keep
both as their mascots.
GO BACK PAGE |
