Misty grew up with no reason to trust people. She lived at the end of three chains in a sand yard behind her owners’ house. She ate off the ground, slept and relieved herself within a 5’ circle that defined her world. To escape from the heat, she dug a hole in search of cooler sand. The hole got so deep that her chains became tight. When it rained the hole filled with rancid water. Bored and desperate for attention, Misty amused herself by barking.
To silence Misty, her owners and their children threw rocks and sticks at her. For food, a bag of dry food was thrown into her pit. Misty looked forward to seeing anyone, and in her excitement she jumped on them. This only made her owners angry and fearful of the now large, loud and mouthy dog they had unwittingly trained to misbehave.
The owners decided the only thing to do was put Misty to sleep. After making the appointment, a relative suggested they call Chesed Rescue. The Chesed volunteer arrived just in time. She saw Misty’s dreadful living conditions and her loving, yet sad, eyes and immediately asked to take her. Her owners agreed. Misty was saved.
Despite freedom from her hellhole, Misty remained fearful, distrusting everyone, especially men. Every rescuer struggles with the liability and ethical issues of placing dogs like Misty who had experienced the one-two punch of cruelty and neglect. Misty’s behavior peaked at a vet’s office when she acted on her senses. The vet pronounced her “unadoptable” and recommended she be put to sleep. Misty was once again minutes away from the needle.
Misty’s rescuer would not give up. Believing Misty wanted to be devoted and loving, but did not know how, the Chesed volunteer took her to meet John, at ABC’s of Dog Training. In John’s capable care, Misty came around. She lived in a foster home with another Chesed volunteer who poured love and affection on her. Still, Misty required a very special adopter, someone who understood what rescue really meant.
The miracle came when a woman named Sonja received an email about Misty. She phoned Misty’s foster mom, and a date was set to make sure Misty’s future environment would be perfect. Upon arrival, Misty showed off her training, quietly investigating everything. It was easy to see that life with Sonja would be more than perfect. Misty’s few moments of distrust were short-lived. And in the essence of true rescuers, Misty’s new family treated her with patience and love, transforming her old life in chains to a new 17-acre home, complete with a spring-fed pond and Sonja’s constant companionship.
Misty is alive thanks to a rescuer who never gave up on her, a trainer who saw her potential, a foster family who loved her unconditionally, and an adopter who makes Misty’s dream of a miracle, come true every day.
February 27, 2007
February 20, 2007
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