Sadie, The Red Dog and I became
acquainted in 1990. At that time the young hound was not quite
a year old, and had obviously had a litter of pups not too many
days earlier.
My husband and I had moved to
Oklahoma from California during one of the most severe ice storms
the area had enjoyed in years. After a few days we realized the
starving terrified dog had 'come with the house.' Slowly over
time, we came to know something of Sadie's history, she had been
badly neglected, starved and tortured. Sadie's former owners
allowed the young, unspayed female to run free and then became
incensed at and abusive toward her primarily due to the fact
that she produced a litter of pups.
Sadie's trust of humans was at
an all time low when we first made our acquaintance. It has taken
the part of the decade of the 90s for Sadie to learn that we
are not going to hurt or starve or neglect her. During the decade
Sadie has lived with us she has produced one more litter of pups
simply because I felt that for the sake of her own mental health
she needed to have that experience of successfully producing
and raising her puppies. She was spayed following the
birth of that litter and she has become a delightful pet. Sadie
is 'fat and sassy' has a lovely glossy coat and has learned to
trust people, almost. She continues to be a slobbering terrorized
creature during thunderstorms, hunting season or when fireworks
blast in the area.
I first wrote a condensed version
of Sadie's story during the mid 1990s, it appeared as an ongoing
serial in 'The Grove Sun Daily,' Grove, Oklahoma. It was my intention
and hope, then and now, that those who read Sadie's story will
determine for themselves to also rescue an abused animal and
return it to the trusting creature it once was. My second hope
is that all that read this tale will see the necessity for spaying
and neutering their own pets. Spayed and neutered animals become
healthier, longer lived pets for their owners.
"A
boy and his dog" - Sadie the homeless, hopeless dog we met
in 1990 has become fat, sassy and ready to welcome other homeless
critters. Caney, the near blind, young cat who joined us recently
has found a warm friend in the once abused Sadie." Sadie's
story proceeds donated to A R F Bartlesville, Ok chapter to help
care for other homeless creatures.
Please, I hope you will consider
rescuing an abused or neglected animal and reap for yourself
the wonderful rewards that will certainly be yours. |