News & Headlines - 2018
And the underdog rises yet again
Article by Laura DeKok - Jackson County Pilot - April 5, 2018
I recently made a new friend. She’s one of my favorite kinds of friends — the type with four legs, fur all over and a happy, wagging tail. Her name is “Girlfriend,” probably a name that will be changed in the future, but for now, it works.
Girlfriend is a pitbull who was brought to an animal shelter in Mankato after enduring a life in Texas no living thing should ever have to endure.
Girlfriend is a pit bull, which automatically makes her a target for some people. Pits often have a bad reputation, even though I’ve met many, and every single one has been a big ball of sweetness. Girlfriend was no different and, after the life she’s endured, that’s saying a lot. The story that came with this puppy was one of torture like I’ve never heard, yet is followed by one of kindness that helps to restore a bit of faith in humanity.
A homeless man in Texas came across a dog that was not doing well. This dog’s ears had been cut off, she’d been cut from the back of her neck all the way down her back and she had white spots on her head believed to be chemical burns. Clearly, this dog had been tortured and left to die.
The man who found her was moved to action. He scraped together what money he had and purchased super glue, and he literally pieced this dog back together. The following day, a woman was walking by and happened to notice the dog. She was shocked and asked what happened. She was given the story, and took the dog to the veterinary clinic, where quite a bit of care was required.
After she began to heal, the shelter in Texas decided to ship her up to Minnesota, for a chance at a better life. The shelter that took her in is one I have personally dealt with before and, when I read her story, I knew I wanted to help.
I was able to meet Girlfriend a few weekends ago. I wasn’t sure what to expect, because with that much trauma, you never know what sort of behavior will come from it. But when she walked into the room where I was, I saw a beautiful black dog with a bounce in her step. She wasn’t scared of me, but I let her smell my hands before I pet her, and soon we were old buddies. We played fetch for a bit, and she even let me rub her tummy, which apparently she hadn’t let anyone else do. I truly believe dogs can tell when they are around someone who just wants to take care of them, and I walked in with an open heart.
If I could have, I would have taken her home with me. It broke my heart to leave her there, but I was able to help a bit, and I know the perfect family will come along. I already have two dogs, and a toddler, so throwing in another dog at this point would not be beneficial to any of us, especially a pup that needs extra attention, but I know she will find someone who is perfect for her.
Girlfriend’s story is one that alternately breaks my heart and makes me happy. When I saw this beautiful dog with a scar running down her back, and this dog who could not express herself like most dogs do because she has no ears, I wanted to scream at the sick person who did this to her. To be honest, I still want to scream at that person, and then get him or her thrown in prison. What level of depravity does someone have to be at to do something like this to another being?
But then I think of the homeless man who found this dog, and did what he could to save her. And then of the woman who approached a homeless man along with a dying dog and asked if she could help. I then think of the people who fostered her through her healing, and decided to send her on to find a better life.
While the start of her story might have been a horrific one, I have no doubt Girlfriend is here for a purpose, and she will be able to support someone in a way another dog couldn’t, because of what she’s been through. I believe she will be able to help someone else heal, because of her own healing.
Animal abuse in any form is unacceptable, and this case is one that will forever haunt me. But to see the dog that came out of it, and to know she’s still got a bounce in her step, does a heart good. And knowing people went out of their way to heal this broken puppy does a bit to restore my faith that there is some good left in humanity.
I recently made a new friend. She’s one of my favorite kinds of friends — the type with four legs, fur all over and a happy, wagging tail. Her name is “Girlfriend,” probably a name that will be changed in the future, but for now, it works.
Girlfriend is a pitbull who was brought to an animal shelter in Mankato after enduring a life in Texas no living thing should ever have to endure.
Girlfriend is a pit bull, which automatically makes her a target for some people. Pits often have a bad reputation, even though I’ve met many, and every single one has been a big ball of sweetness. Girlfriend was no different and, after the life she’s endured, that’s saying a lot. The story that came with this puppy was one of torture like I’ve never heard, yet is followed by one of kindness that helps to restore a bit of faith in humanity.
A homeless man in Texas came across a dog that was not doing well. This dog’s ears had been cut off, she’d been cut from the back of her neck all the way down her back and she had white spots on her head believed to be chemical burns. Clearly, this dog had been tortured and left to die.
The man who found her was moved to action. He scraped together what money he had and purchased super glue, and he literally pieced this dog back together. The following day, a woman was walking by and happened to notice the dog. She was shocked and asked what happened. She was given the story, and took the dog to the veterinary clinic, where quite a bit of care was required.
After she began to heal, the shelter in Texas decided to ship her up to Minnesota, for a chance at a better life. The shelter that took her in is one I have personally dealt with before and, when I read her story, I knew I wanted to help.
I was able to meet Girlfriend a few weekends ago. I wasn’t sure what to expect, because with that much trauma, you never know what sort of behavior will come from it. But when she walked into the room where I was, I saw a beautiful black dog with a bounce in her step. She wasn’t scared of me, but I let her smell my hands before I pet her, and soon we were old buddies. We played fetch for a bit, and she even let me rub her tummy, which apparently she hadn’t let anyone else do. I truly believe dogs can tell when they are around someone who just wants to take care of them, and I walked in with an open heart.
If I could have, I would have taken her home with me. It broke my heart to leave her there, but I was able to help a bit, and I know the perfect family will come along. I already have two dogs, and a toddler, so throwing in another dog at this point would not be beneficial to any of us, especially a pup that needs extra attention, but I know she will find someone who is perfect for her.
Girlfriend’s story is one that alternately breaks my heart and makes me happy. When I saw this beautiful dog with a scar running down her back, and this dog who could not express herself like most dogs do because she has no ears, I wanted to scream at the sick person who did this to her. To be honest, I still want to scream at that person, and then get him or her thrown in prison. What level of depravity does someone have to be at to do something like this to another being?
But then I think of the homeless man who found this dog, and did what he could to save her. And then of the woman who approached a homeless man along with a dying dog and asked if she could help. I then think of the people who fostered her through her healing, and decided to send her on to find a better life.
While the start of her story might have been a horrific one, I have no doubt Girlfriend is here for a purpose, and she will be able to support someone in a way another dog couldn’t, because of what she’s been through. I believe she will be able to help someone else heal, because of her own healing.
Animal abuse in any form is unacceptable, and this case is one that will forever haunt me. But to see the dog that came out of it, and to know she’s still got a bounce in her step, does a heart good. And knowing people went out of their way to heal this broken puppy does a bit to restore my faith that there is some good left in humanity.
