Katherine Heigl Falls for Abused Pit Bull

Actress Katherine Heigl, Last Chance For Animals, and The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation have announced that they are taking in and rehabilitating England, the pit bull hogtied and left for dead in Bakersfield, California last month.

Snatched from the Jaws of Death: Dog Saved One Hour Before Euthanasia

Deeply affecting. One of the more powerful videos I've seen in the past few weeks. 

Happy Endings

I'm no fan of Mondays. Trading family time for another week of business world chaos just doesn't melt my butter. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, and know how fortunate I am to feel that way. Even so, by the time Sunday night rolls around I'm usually pouting like a student on the last day of summer break.

Not so this Monday. While the title of this post probably saw half of you arriving here with one eye closed (and fully expecting to see Nigel stumbling out of a dog massage parlor) I'm feeling better this Monday than I have in quite some time. So what gives?

Mia is on her way home. Adoption is pending but it looks like a done deal at this point. Mind you, I am very much aware - painfully so - that this was a small battle in a never-ending war. But the score must be counted one victory at a time, and I am happy beyond words that Mia now has a chance to add another mark to the win column. Good luck sweet girl: you touched so many of us, and reminded me that the very least I can do is try to spread the word when I meet the next dog in need of a voice.

This calls for a little celebration, so let's kick off our week of freebie fun with something that will give your dogs something to savor. If you happened to catch our wordless Wednesday post last week, you may have noticed Sola's enthusiasm for the treat she was about to devour. That's because she was about to consume her second free treat from get lick'd organic dog treats. We received a sampler pack, and the dogs decimated it in a matter of minutes. While I can't claim to have the most finicky canines on my hands, the way they inhaled these treats was enough to convince me that someone else out there would have fun dispensing a dozen of these to their own dogs(s). Considering that these tasty nom noms are produced by hand in small batches, with human-grade ingredients, I'd be comfortable recommending them to anyone.

So here is your shot at having a dozen of these tasty morsels shipped to you in time to add a little holiday cheer to your December. All you have to do is answer two questions. Please, for the sake of others, do not post your answers in the comments field! Instead, e-mail them to: lifewithdogs@ymail.com  Once you have sent your answers via e-mail, just drop a comment here letting me know you have done so. I'll use randomizer.org to select a winner from the entries. I'll have Brianne from get lick'd contact the winner directly to work out shipping arrangements.

All you have to to is answer two questions. You'll have to visit get lick'd and let me know the following:

What is the name and breed of Brianne's dog?

Now run back here and get ready to do a little hunting. Find older adventures from Life With Dogs on the right hand side of your screen and step back in time to July of 2005. The last post on that page points out just what a knucklehead I am, and goes on to describe an event that led to the loss of one of my body parts. So...to this day, what am I still missing?  :)

Good luck, and have a great week! We'll be back tomorrow to offer up another great freebie and share some random fun.

Constrained

I met a broken dog last week, and I could not take her home.

Some of you are already nodding in quiet understanding, despite how little the above statement discloses. For those who are not, let me expound. This was not an injured dog. No scrapes, bruises or breaks were to be found. She was healthy and well fed, her deep black coat luxurious to the touch. A Border Collie/GSD mix, she cut an athletic figure standing at the side of the rescue organization representative who was handling her at our local pet shop this day, and my guess was that she would find her way around an agility course with aplomb. A fine canine specimen in every physical sense of the word.

Her eyes told the rest of the story, and I will never be the same for having looked in to them. It took no more than three seconds to know all that she could not tell me. Fear, distrust and uncertainty poured from her expression, and you could almost sense that she was looking for her next place to hide. She flattened perceptibly as I approached her. I spoke softly and held her head in my hands as she averted her eyes, a reaction that I am not used to. Most canines seem to sense that I am a dog nut and tackle me as soon as they have the chance. Not so, this girl.

My wife and I exchanged knowing glances. These are the cases that kill us. I stepped aside to let Mrs. Author spend time with this shy, nervous girl, telling myself all of the while that the sooner we could distance ourselves from her, the better.

Do not think me cold or uncaring. You could not be more wrong. Instead, understand that we have lost three great dogs in the past six years, and two of those dogs came from deplorable conditions and had horrid histories. We committed fully to the challenge of helping these frightened animals feel safety. We put weight on them, trained them, showed them the way to true happiness and contentment. Our consistent love, patience and compassion taught them that they could expect good from humans, and that an outstretched hand did not indicate an impending strike. We gave them everything we had, as any who know us would attest. We helped each of them through prolonged medical battles until all was lost.

Nigel and Sola bore witness to the loss of our last great friend, an amazing male Border Collie. His story will wait for another day, but the pain we all feel from his passing will not. He was far too young when we lost him. Nigel and Sola were both impacted deeply, and never seemed to fully recover until Truffles came home with us. It hurt us as much to see them mourn as it did to lose the companion they were mourning. Our entire family was devastated.

I browsed the pet store that was hosting this rescue organization meet and greet. Mrs. Author found me, grabbed my arm and ushered me away after she had spent a few quiet moments with this sad and lovely girl. In her eyes I saw that familiar anguish. It pains us deeply to walk away from these cases.

We want to know that these hurting creatures will be cared for in a permanent home that allows them to find their way back to a place of peace. We want to see them thriving, fearless, healthy and well; and we wish that we could be the ones to shepherd them as they find their way. The disappointment that comes from denying ourselves the chance to do so leaves us feeling hollow. With each damaged dog that we walk away from, we leave behind a small, broken piece of ourselves.

I agonize over that dog each day, and she enters my thoughts with frequency. She nearly haunts me. I have looked at her online profile countless times, and imagined her frolicking in the river with our delightfully happy pack of dogs. I believe they would love her, as would we, and that they would not handle the loss well if (for any reason) things were to not work out. I know that this time, for many very good reasons, with the best intent, and my heart planted firmly in the right place, I must bid her farewell and hope.

I met a broken dog last week, and I could not take her home. Please share her story, so that the person who is meant to do so may find her. She waits patiently.



Mia is currently available for adoption at Good Karma rescue in Montpelier, Vermont. Her online profile is here. I rarely ask anything of our readers, but I implore you to retweet this story, share it on Facebook or anywhere dog lovers congregate. Help this girl find her forever home.

Strange News

The Friday Five will have to wait while more pressing matters are addressed, but I did want to quickly share a sliver of good news that I've neglected to mention.

Remember this fellow?

After weeks spent in a local shelter, and a few days of downtime to recover from a cold, Strange P has gone home. Not here mind you - we could not accommodate him in the long term. But a couple from Stowe, Vermont met him, heard his story and fell in love. He has been residing with them for a couple of weeks now, and I am confident that this is the last I'll hear of him.

I'm ok with that. My heart is happy. Thanks to all who tried to help spread the word, and to Petfinder for making the connection that led to his adoption.

Next week is wordless. I have recent pics I want to share, and I dare not deface them with cartoon balloons.   :)

Happy weekend to all!