Suzy Goes Home
Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 9:01PM Suzy was one of the mill girls from a cruelty seizure in SD. Both she and Abby her companion were so terrified neither could walk. Suzy did not walk for the 10 months while awaiting her fate in a makeshift building next to the shelter as the justice system drug on. I hear the barking of over one hundred dogs was deafening. I can only imagine how this efffected our girls that were so sensitive to noise.
By the time we got them, their nails were so long they had curled under making walking difficult. Suzy's muscles had atrophied in her hind end. We knew it would be a long haul to rehabilitation. We documented them frequently, watched in amazement as they started to adjust to a home. At first they were only comfortable running in the yard in the pitch darkness, as this was what they had become accustomed to.
What we didn't expect, was the courage and resilience these girls had within them. Suzy blossomed into the most loving, and trusting dog "here." When friends and former adopters Elaine and Jim approached me with an offer of a forever home, I was concerned Suzy would revert to her fearful self. As she was so comfortable here, I warned them that she could be "extremely shy."
Elaine said, "it's okay....we will be okay." Elaine and Jim had one of our shyest boys that we had in rescue years ago. Wiley had come down with a brain tumor leaving him unable to function, he had passed on peacefully this past summer.
Elaine and Jim were up for a challenge, and I knew they would be the perfect home. Suzy went home and after two weeks has taken even more steps toward independence. I would never had imagined how her rehoming would have turned out. Suzy still startles on her long daily walks, but it is rare....she doesn't know a stranger that comes to visit, and has multiple doggie friends coming to visit. We are forever grateful to the courage Suzy taught us to find within ourselves even when faced with the impossible. Thanks to Elaine and Jim for taking in this girl that came from the silo in SD to now live in a wonderful lake home in the Northwoods of WI.
Suzy Below with one of her new doggie friends and Dad watching a little football...a definite rags to riches story spiced up with courage and determination.
Reader Comments (2)
What a fantastic story and a huge testament to the dedication of those at GWP Rescue who work so hard at rehabilitating the dogs until they are ready for a new home. Mary gave this young girl the courage and knowledge to be a proper dog and that gift is priceless.
Thank you Nic...
All of the steps forward came from Suzy herself, we just provided the experiences. She came along so much faster than I had ever imagined possible. She continues to improve and blossom more each day. I couldn't be more pleased with her progress. She and Abby are such special dogs....they have enriched my life so much and taught me that anything is possible...