Your Pet's Rescue Story
In January, 2009, my sister called me about a one year-old Australian Shepherd at a barn where she boarded her horse. He had been given to some people at the barn, and they could not keep him. She was concerned that he would be taken to a kill shelter or dumped somewhere. She was out of town and asked if I could get him.
I made a quick call to my husband and asked if he'd mind having a having a house guest for a few days. He agreed that I should go and get him.
After an hour and a half drive, I arrived at the barn and found the poor dog cowering in a horse stall. He was terrified. When I leaned over the stall door, he stood on his hind legs and grabbed my shoulders with his front paws and wouldn't let go. Once out of the stall, he crawled over to me and would not stand up. So, I carried him to my car and put him inside the crate. I'd never seen a dog so frightened. I wondered how this could be the same dog that my sister had described as friendly and outgoing.
It was a long ride home. He cried most of the way and chewed a hole in the soft crate, but after a few days at the house, he was a different dog. He calmed down and got along well with our sheltie, Skye and mixed breed, Sparky. We called him Shadow and decided to foster him until we could find a good home. We took him to the vet for vaccinations and neutering, then contacted all of our dog lover friends hoping that someone would be interested in adopting this beautiful dog. There were no takers.
Online, I discovered that there were over 2,500 Australian Shepherds in shelters and rescue centers across the U.S.. All of them waiting for homes. We decided there was enough room in our house for one more.
We enrolled him in obedience classes and he became a Canine Good Citizen. At ten years-old, he's smart and as handsome as ever. He's also a silly-heart who loves everyone he meets. We love him and are so glad that he is a part of our family.