You guys, this makes me SO HAPPY, you just don't know...so I have to share
.
About 7 weeks ago, the shelter where I volunteer (AAWL/SPCA) took in a dog, Briar, from another rescue (not uncommon btwn rescues) who'd already been working with her for about 6 months. She had been confiscated from her owner and was severely mistreated
. Briar is WAY beyond "shy" - she is literally terrified of human beings - doesn't want to be touched, is scared at all times - the poor sweet girl.
Anyway, about 4 weeks ago -- we allowed a family to take her home on what we call a "Slumber Party" - this is something we allow under certain circumstances to see how things might work out for a particular dog in a particular home. The family was explicitly talked to about Briar's issues, and told that they had to be *so* very careful and watchful over her. Well, yep, she got out of the house
. Vanished.
Many of us at the shelter have been searching for her for a month now - going up to the area, posting signs, walking around, looking etcetera. There had been a couple sightings by neighbors and someone said she was hurt and limping badly
. And keep in mind the temps have been about 110 every day.
On Thursday, I just had a
feeling about going up there - so me and another volunteer headed up and looked around for about 90 minutes and posted signs too. We decided to give up for the day, but then for some reason we decided to just do
one last loop through an alley that we thought was the "hot spot". We were rounding out of the alley about to turn onto the street and leave when BAM - there she was (and yes, limping badly)! She made eye contact w/ us in the car, and vanished again. We got out, quietly pursued and looked and looked and looked. Decided to talk to some neighbors near the yard where we saw her by the alley -- and the guy said that she was there in his yard usually EVERY single day
! But he could never catch her, of course, and he never saw the signs, so he didn't know anyone was looking for her.
I called our Director and she set up a trap for Briar that evening. There were SO many feral cats in that neighborhood, so we were sure that the trap would most likely be triggered by a cat - but still - worth a try. We didn't want to get our hopes up, bc the chance of getting her was still slim.
The next morning, I got up there at 5am (wanted to get there before the sun/heat) -- thinking I'd likely just be refilling the food and water bowl. Parked on the street and started heading toward the alley - and THERE SHE WAS, in that dang cage...staring up at me with her little eyes. I almost screamed, but I got a hold of myself.
WE GOT HER! After a month of being on her own, WE GOT HER BACK!
I loaded her up, cage and all, into my car (pic of her in trap below)....drove to the shelter. She was calm and making good eye contact. She has a very, very bad fracture in one of her front legs -- and unfortunately, it must've happened early on bc it's already started to heal
. I can't imagine how much pain this little darling was in all this time - it just kills me to think of it! So now, after all she has been through - her leg may need to be amputated
. I'm so sad for her. She will see a specialist next week to see what the options are, so I hope she will keep her leg.
So, just had to share this happy ending (but sad also, I know) for our Briar girl...she is back, safe with the shelter. I can't even tell you the
utter JOY I felt when I saw her in that cage. Please send your good, healing, warm thoughts to sweet Briar...that her leg will heal okay, and that she will trust again and be able to receive and give love.