People become cold, desensitized, and lose compassion when working in shelters and rescue, almost as they turn off every facet of emotion. I believe that when people are at that point they do not do justice for the animal. I will never lose the compassion, it is what drives me! The dog that is unserviceable I will turn into a dog that is. A dog that has no socialization, I will socialize. A dog that has never been praised, I will praise, love and find that dog a Forever home �
It was a bitter cold day in January that I rescued Jonah. He was kept in a pole barn with scrap metal. No heat, no bed to lie on, no toys to play with no human to pet him and show him love or compassion. He was not socialized with either people nor other animals. They said he was mean, aggressive and never walked on a leash, nor had he ever been inside a house. I picked him up early one morning in the middle of a snow storm. I had no plan, just knew I had to get him out of there. He jumped in the back of my jeep and never looked back that day. I vetted him, bathed him, never feared him. I brought him into my home with my other dogs and children. I taught him to walk on a leash, and such. What I never had to teach him was love and manners he just gave that freely. I called him Jonah. In spite of my best efforts Jonah had been so neglected and mistreated before I got him that it medically affected his quality of life. For a time all too brief, he came with us to hockey games, slept on a bed inside our home, ate the best of food and was loved more than anything. I held my Jonah as he slipped away, the guilt and remorse for a life I could not save him from, forever left an impact on my heart. He trusted me, and I trusted him. The love that Jonah gave in spite of what a cruel person had shown him~ Well that made him my Jonah, it is because of Jonah I continue to rescue, rehabilitate and re- home. If you have a story of a rescue you would like to share, with
Rettungs-Haus Shepherds would love to hear it.