A Dog Scared to Death of Everyone Just Needed a Hug - The Most Beautiful Video

[1monster]

http://www.godvine.com/Meet-the-Scared-Dog-That-Only-Wanted-a-Hug-1087.html

A Dog Scared to Death of Everyone Just Needed a Hug - The Most Beautiful Video ?

Edie was scheduled to be put down, and she was deathly afraid of anyone coming near her. But watch this very moving, beautiful video and you'll see what happens to Edie.

[DesertFlower]

1. i shouldn't have watched.

now i can't stop crying.

[Whisp]

35. thats why I didn't watch it

so much to cry about I don't want to go looking for it too.

[Daphne08]

49. I can't either...

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. Goddamn it- I can't stop crying!

Thank you.

[RebelOne]

3. That brought tears to my eyes. n/t

[rustydog]

4. K & R

Looks like my Schroeder!
And yes, it brought tears to my eyes.

[Suich]

5. Nice!

Thanks for posting!

[grasswire]

6. I couldn't pull up the video for some reason

Maybe the server is overloaded -- lots of people are commenting on this video in facebook.

The story made me think of that little waif of a dog that was lost after Katrina in New Orleans. The image of that tiny, bereft pup has never left me. It was the essence of despair and fear. I wonder what happened to that dog. I saved the pic, but don't know if I still have it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. This one?

http://www.stars-of-texas.org/Oily-dog.html

[grasswire]

25. yes, thank you so much

That little dog broke my heart. Thank you for finding the story.

Bless the beasts, every one.

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. I cried and cried when I saw that pic. Poor baby!

[Booster]

7. Poor little baby. I think it's easy to see who she would like to be with.

[Marnie]

8. Thanks

There can be a Peaceable Kingdom, if we make one.

[renate]

9. so sweet!

It was amazing the way she settled down immediately once she got onto his lap, from being terrified just moments before. She was even wagging her tail on the grooming table--what dog does that? What a sweetie, and what lovely people who took care of her!

[Glimmer of Hope]

10. I need a kleenex!

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Sometimes we all just need a hug.

Beautiful. I got a little teary eyed. But what a happy story!

[malaise]

12. I'm bawling

Lovely

[ZombieHorde]

13. Awesome and touching. nt

[MinneapolisMatt]

14. Totally bawling.

Wow.

[demtenjeep]

15. so sweet

wonder what she looks like now? Such a tiny thing. So cute

[sugarmonkey]

53. Edie the rescued dog's update video

I rescued Edie and found her a forever home. You can watch an update on her by following the above link. Thank you for asking about her.

[Tsiyu]

83. Welcome to the DU

Are you the rescuer or is that just a caption for the vid?

Either way, Thank You!

On Edit: I see downthread that you rescued the pup. Thank you for all you do.

When our local rescue org. took out an ad begging for homes for dogs, my son and I decided it was time for a new dog. We picked out two brothers. They played so well together we didn't want to separate them after all they'd been through. But a couple of little kids fell in love with one of the brothers before we got there to pick them both up.

So we brought our one boy home - he was severely abused and neglected but still was a friendly five-month old. He was so SAD the first night, like in depression over losing his brother (and his manhood the day before Good but sad for him!) ). He had pretty severe breathing issues as well.

The next day he was still depressed until I turned on the radio to Prairie Home Companion. Some fiddles and banjos started on the show and he got up and started actually running around like a pup is supposed to.

Today he is a big boy going on two - maybe Giant Schnauzer/lab mix - but trim and he can run like crazy. His breathing issues have resolved. He's such a sweetie that he grooms the cats. I feel so fortunate to have him.

Rescue dogs are awesome.

[Lil Missy]

84. Awwwww, that is very sweet.

[laundry_queen]

16. Wasn't prepared for that.

Most dogs at shelters are of the larger variety - this little girl looked exactly like my maltese mix that had to be put down a few years ago. He even had to be shaved like that once when he got into some burrs in the vacant lot by my house, lol.

So sweet, all she needed was some lovin'. I hope she is going to have a happy life in her forever home.

[roguevalley]

17. lovely thread too. Thank you.

[baldguy]

18. Poor little girl!

I'm hugging my puppy right now in sympathy.

[DesertFlower]

26. he's a beautiful dog.

[bullwinkle428]

19. K&R for all of the animal love!

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn . . . . .

That dog looks so much like our little rescue, who was found all matted and filthy like that dog was. When we got her, she was shaved down like that as the only way to get her clean. That was VERY close to home.

Ours is fat and happy now.

I hope Edie is, too.

What a very special video. Thanks for posting it.

[sugarmonkey]

54. Update on Edie the dog.

This is what Edie looks like now.

[SammyWinstonJack]

59. Wonderful!

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. ...

[jsmirman]

23. How anyone could watch this and buy an animal instead of adopting

Like most of you, I couldn't watch this without crying.

I just can't fathom *purchasing* an animal when there are so many wonderful animals in shelters, so desperate to be loved.

Just posted to my FB, with this message:

Please adopt. I beg you, if you are considering bringing an animal into your life, please adopt. And spay and neuter. That we "put down" so many animals in this country - and that they are so damn scared as they get shuttled toward that awful, horrible lonely end - that so many of them never have the chance to feel the joy, the safety, and the love of human compassion - it destroys my heart.

[Coyote_Bandit]

27. Ummmm......

Every animal I have ever had was in immediate need of a home. None came from a shelter or a traditional rescue organization.

That said, I have already begun researching breeders seeking out a possible source for my next dog. Why? Because my dogs are more than pets. I invest considerable time, effort and expense into their training.

I train them to work as therapy dogs. A dog that has been abused and/or neglected can have behavioral issues that disqualify it from doing therapy work.

I also train them to do competitive obedience and agility work - a training process that can take several years. A dog that has been malnourished as a pup or has been poorly bred and has genetic issues might not have the lifespan or the physical ability to do this kind of work.

There are legitimate reasons to seek out and buy an animal. If you take in a dog without knowing its background you may find that it is completely unsuited for its intended purpose. If I am going to spend years training an animal then I want to know the medical history of its parents, its grandparents and its greatgrandparents. I want to know if it is genetically predisposed to any particular health problems. And I want a breeder that is willing to extend a guarantee against certain medical problems for the life of the animal.

The real problem is finding a responsible breeder. There are very, very few.

[rustydog]

32. As long as you help shut down the puppy mills feel free

to help perpetuate this sad state our dogs and cats are in in this country.

[Coyote_Bandit]

44. Apparently

you confuse responsible breeders with puppy mills. The two are not the same. Whether you care to acknowledge it or not, there are responsible breeders. The real trick is identifying the few responsible breeders among the many less responsible breeders.

I've had a lot of rescue dogs of uncertain origin and parentage. I've had rescue dogs with serious medical issues, genetic conditions and behavioral issues. If one can afford the medical care they often require then they can make great pets. But far too often they are left to suffer because their adoptive owners simply cannot afford appropriate medical care for them - especially as they age. That too is a tragedy. One that often goes unrecognized.

I train dogs to work as therapy dogs and they continue on in their training to do competitive obedience and agility work. This kind of training takes years. Dogs that have been abused or neglected often are fearful or aggressive and therefore unsuited to do therapy work. Rescue dogs often lack the temperment and/or the longevity or physical abilities to warrant the investment of time, effort and expense to become highly skilled working dogs.

I will not be made to feel guilty because I choose to get a dog from a responsible breeder for the purpose of training it to be a highly skilled working dog.

Most people don't go down to their local Ford dealer and buy a car off the lot and expect it to have the temperment, longevity and capacity to succesfully compete at the Indy 500. This really isn't a whole lot different. I'm not looking for a pet - I'm looking for a dog that is likely to work and offer consistently high performance. I'm a lot more likely to get that with a new race car than with a used Ford Focus.

[Doremus]

85. You talk a lot about 'competitive obedience', 'agility work', 'genetic conditions' etc.

Not a single mention of the most important reason to own a dog: love.

I feel sad for you.

[Coyote_Bandit]

86. Don't

I love dogs - even the ones that are not known to be particularly affectionate - and have had the enormous pleasure of their companioship for most of the last 50 years.

Yes, I would like to have the opportunity to train and shape a dog that comes without health problems and without the behavioral and emotional challenges that come with human neglect and abuse. You don't find these kinds of dogs at most shelters or rescue groups. Unlike most, I'm looking at a training regimine that will require about 6 years and many hundreds of hours working with the dog.

I can't help but wonder why others do not want the same thing. Nobody should feel particularly proud of adopting a rescue dog that they do not train and socialize. Nobody should feel particularly proud of adopting a dog they too largely neglect. In my opinion everyone that has a dog should spend several hundred hours a year in activities where the single focus is on interacting with the dog.

Dogs are social animals. A dog that gets first class veterinary care and the best diet is still neglected if he only gets a half hour of daily interaction (e.g. 15 minutes morning and evening at feeding time) with his master - or if he rarely leaves the immediate area of his home and neighborhood.

Dogs love to travel and well-behaved dogs are welcome in many venues - pet stores, hardware stores, outdoor and patio stores, nurseries, gardening and landscaping stores, some art studios, some outdoor dining areas. I've even known someone who regularly took their dog to church.

Most dogs want a job to do and most will fashion one for themselves if their master does not provide them some direction and focus. It does not require a tremendous amount of obedience skill for a dog to qualify to do therapy work provided he has the appropriate temperment and is well socialized. It's not the dogs that don't want to make this kind of committment - it most definitely is their owners. A good therapy dog understands his purpose and is definitely a working dog.

Well trained dogs and their handlers are better bonded and have a more caring and loving relationship than many married couples. You can't train a dog without understanding what he values, what he desires and what he fears. You can't train a dog without acknwledging and rewarding the smallest incremental progress. You can't train a dog without being patient and encouraging. You can't train a dog if you can't earn his trust - and sometimes all it takes to lose that trust is a harsh word or a rough hand. The dogs for their part want the attention, they want the rewards and the positive recognition and the focus for their efforts and energy. A well-trained and well-socialized dog knows how to conduct himself and is confident and comfortable with his behavior. He doesn't have to guess what is expected of him - and you may actually find him looking somewhat incredulous at the ill-mannered and poorly trained dogs that he encounters.

I know the incredible reward of working with and training a dog that has been abused and neglected. Every dog I have ever had was in immediate need of a home when I took him in. I also know that there are a lot of rescue dogs that move from places of active abuse and neglect to homes with more benign forms of neglect. Their owners may feel a bit superior and self-righteous because they have adopted one or more rescue dogs but they don't train or socialize their dogs or spend much quality time with them.

Everyone should want to have the opportunity to train and shape a dog that comes without health problems and without the behavioral and emotional challenges that come with human neglect and abuse. If you don't want that opportunity for any other reason then you should want it because having it means that there are far fewer dogs that have been abused and neglected and are in immediate need of a home and because having the opportunity means that there are more responsible breeders and far, far fewer opportunist breeders more interested in $$$ than in their dogs.

[adigal]

33. I do rescue and we bring up many puppies from the south

who have not been abused or traumatized. Go look up "Out of the Pits." They rescue pits and use many of them as therapy dogs. The reason you give for buying a dog when thousands of dogs AND puppies are killed every HOUR in this country is not valid.

Give a rescue puppy a chance - don't promote breeding. It is immoral when we kill so many.

[get the red out]

40. Puppy

We got our dog as a puppy from the shelter and she was a fat, healthy little thing also. I sometimes feel like we cheated by adopting a pup that was obviously going to be a great pet for anyone.

[Coyote_Bandit]

47. I know somebody that trains pits

She has two pits that have their AKC good citizen, companion dog, open A & B, utility A & B, and rally excelent titles. It took her over 6 years of training and testing to train those dogs and earn those titles. She also shows the dogs in conformation - so even though they are not bred they are intact dogs. They come with a long pedigree and their history is well-known - as is the genetic and medical history of the five generations that came before them.

I'm not looking for a just a pet or companion animal. I'm looking for a dog with the capacity, temperament and longevity to become a highly skilled and obedient working dog. I'm more likely to get that from a pup with a pedigree from responsible breeders than I am from a rescue dog.

I've had a large assortment of rescue dogs over the last 50 years. I am well acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of taking in rescue animals. I've got nothing against rescue dogs. But I recognize their limitations.

One rescue dog I got was surrendered back wthin 24 hours because its health had been misrepresented to me. I was told that the dog was a little fat but in otherwise good health. When it could not walk to the end of my street and back (across the frontage of 4 quarter acre lots) I took it to my vet. There I learned that it had severe heart disease and was not likely to survive a year. Not what I signed up for and an expense I was not in the position to manage at the time.

Another rescue pup I got had been malnourished and abused. He lost a large number of teeth before turning two years of age. Although he was trainable, his history of abuse left him with tendencies toward both aggression and fear (depending on the circumstances) that made his temperment unsuitable for therapy work. A good pet but not suitable for therapy or competitive obedience work.

Another rescue pup I got was a renal failure dog before reaching the age of one year. This dog has required quarterly labs and a prescription diet for the last 10 years. Expensive. He is a sweet boy and a wonderful pet and companion. But he never had the physical capability to train as I had hoped.

Another rescue pup I got came with a visual impairment. He lost the genetic lottery and I'm not even sure I can remember all the genetic conditions he developed. Mitral valve heart disease and Cushings were the most devastating. Before reaching the age of 5 his physical abilities were significantly impaired. Again, a wonderful pet but not suited for the purposes I had hoped.

I prefer to train my dogs to do therapy work and then continue on to more advanced competitive obedience and agility training. I reasonably anticipate investing several hundred hours a year for 5 or 6 years in training and competition. I want a dog that is likely to succeed in that kind of endeavor. I'm more likely to fiind that in a dog that comes with a history that includes its genetic and medical history several generations back. I don't believe my expectations are unreasonable.


BTW, thank you for working with the pits. Some of them are wonderful dogs. The stigma associated with the breed is largely unfounded. A dachshund is far more likely to bite than a pit.

[sugarmonkey]

57. your comment makes my heart ache

I'm a certified trainer and I'm also the lady that rescued Edie. On one level I know the 'academic' argument you are making and I have a pack of six - two that have been with me since 8 weeks and some that joined me at the age of ten... some that have been abused so badly that their mere survival is a miracle. When the badly abused dog offers you up a great agility round then it is so much more amazing than a perfect agility round from a perfect dog with so-called perfect lines. When you purchase a dog to do just what you expected it to do then where is the thrill in that? When you rescue a dog that saw the very worst in man and you use your skills to teach him/her the very best in man... then you have something really beautiful. Companion animals need us now more than ever... please don't buy while shelter pets die.

Shelter pets need your skills.

[jsmirman]

68. God bless you, God bless you, God bless you

thank you so much for writing in this forum.

As someone who volunteered for a significant stretch at a shelter in New York before I moved to go to law school that video both destroyed my heart and gave it hope.

I was moved to tears by the video, and they lasted quite a while.

Thank you, also, for responding to the concept that was put forth in the post you responded to.

I have one thing important to say from my time working with animals and in a shelter - I have yet to find an animal who did not have a wonderful thing inside them that can be reached by someone with compassion, patience, and a calming presence and kind hand. I was scared of working with one cat at our shelter. I'd put on gloves to do things with her space because she could be pretty rough with her claws. I am kind of a cat whisperer - they know I am a friend, and they mostly instinctively trust me. But Purty was having none of that. A few months after I moved to DC, I heard she was adopted. It turns out she was a great cat. She just could handle being around all the other cats. How about that.

The endless numbers of animals that are "put down" is heartbreaking - I mean that in a real way, as in, if I couldn't find some way to not think of it all the time, the weight would be too crushing for me to do anything - ever - and the justification for this practice is linked to public health. But if we, as a society are going to do this, the inhumane, cold, terrifying, you never get a chance, and before we kill you, we're going to scare the crap out of you, make you suffer, and then die alone - I seriously have to question the humanity of the society that does this. It's just not right.

But back to you, what you did, and the video - you have a kindness in your heart that gives others hope. And that is a wonderful thing.

[sugarmonkey]

74. kindred spirit

I am disgusted by treatment of companion animals by our society. You summed it up. It's not bad enough that we breed more than we can ever take care of... but we make them suffer terribly before they are dragged into the kill room. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to be crushed by the weight of the suffering that I feel when I step inside the shelter to get just one dog - knowing that around fifty will not make it out that day. I don't think I will ever get perspective that will give me peace. I just feel really sad when I hear the arguments for breeding specialized dogs... well we all know how that turns out for racing greyhounds... how many are actually up to the job that the handler wants them to do? Spay and neuter education is the only way to fix the problem. It should be hard to get a cat or a dog. I know people don't want to know that our animals are suffering in our shelters but they are and it's not good enough to pretend that it's all okay.

[jsmirman]

80. I wanted to respond to you when I had a quiet moment

I know that you know that just reading your words on the crushing feeling of doing something so wonderful as to rescue one life and immediately knowing that this leaves 50 poor little souls still alone, still condemned, condemned on that very day... it just breaks me down in every which way. If I kept thinking about it, I literally would not be able to think of another single thing.

With that said, it inspired an idea(!) in me, and being an inventor, I tend to have ideas. If you are still with us in this DU community, I would like to PM you to see what you think about my brainstorm. It might involve some hurdles, but I think it may be something that could lead to many more adoptions.

[Coyote_Bandit]

76. Rescue animals make wonderful companions

Thank you for your work with Edie. Your/her story is inspiring and touching.

I've had rescue animals for decades. I grew up in a rural area. We took in all the animals that were dumped and expected to fend for themselves. We cared for them all and gave them all a home. The only ones we ever put down were the ones who were so physically aggressive that they threatened the survival of another animal.

Every animal I have ever had was in immediate need of a home. I am well acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of taking in rescue animals. I've got nothing against rescue animals. But they often come with limitations. Sometimes those limitations are emotional and behavioral and sometimes they are physical - and often they are not readily apparent.

You're right, it is incredibly rewarding to earn the trust of an animal that has been abused and neglected and treated badly by humans. It can be a long process as they learn to trust, learn basic obedience skills and then learn to perfect those skills and to perform. Some are better suited for that journey than others. And it is a journey that some simply lack the temperment or physical ability to complete.

The vast majority of people who want a pet would do well to take in a rescue animal. Most people simply want an animal companion and many are willing to overlook all but the most egregious behavior problems. Most people do not train their animals to the level required to get their good citizen certificate much less do therapy work, earn an obedience title or do agility work. Those who train to do therapy or agility work often do so for reasons that are completely unrelated to competition and recognition. The same is often true of those who do rally obedience or get their companion dog title. Many dog clubs do not permit the dogs to enroll in agility or rally training until they have demonstrated the obedience skills required to get a CD title. But there are people who want to do all that and earn their open and utility A & B titles. They need a dog that is suited to this purpose if they are successful.

I don't find it unreasonable for somebody who is going to invest several hundred hours a year for 5 or 6 years in training and competition to seek out and buy a dog from a responsible, reputable breeder. That said, there are not many responsible breeders nor are there a lot of people with the skill, the desire and the time to train and compete at that level.

Not everyone who desires to train and compete at this level is able to keep and work with 5 or 6 dogs at a time. Some are limited to keeping only 1 or 2 dogs. If they take in a dog that proves to be unsuitable for whatever reason then they are left to either re-home the dog or wait perhaps another 5 to 10 years or more for another opportunity to train with another dog.

I just think there are some circumstances where it is reasonable to buy a dog from a responsible breeder. Not alot but some. I don't think we should condemn everyone who buys a dog. There is no good reason for people to buy designer dogs or papered pets or puppy mill offspring.

[sugarmonkey]

78. You make very good points.

You know what you are talking about. Unfortunately the unscrupulous breeders have overwhelmed the good breeders... a quick buck trumps all. I know some very good breeders with big hearts and sometimes I just want want of those pups - that I can shape. Then someone sends me an email that they are going through a divorce and they don't want their 10-year old Maltese that has Cushings... I know that 10-year old with Cushings can have fun at agility and it pains me to not step up. But the weight of it makes me so angry at the humans. You are so clearly a true dog lover, and the trainer side of me reads you loud and clear... but at the moment my rescuer side keeps winning the battle.

[Coyote_Bandit]

81. As do you

Rescue dogs really are the best choice for most people. But a few folks have legitimate reason to buy from a responsible breeder.

I have an old rescue dog - a CRF dog - and a young rescue pup in his teenage years that is training (and not too successfully at the moment) for his CD title. He seems to be some sort of wirehair terrier/dachshund mix. Smart. Independent. Territorial. Possessive. Definitely malnourished as a pup. His behavior at times suggests that he was abused. He's been considerably more trainable than I expected. I'd like for him to do therapy work and he has met all the training requirements but he needs to mature and settle down a bit first - and so we are going to continue with obedience work for awhile. This young pup replaced another old rescue dog that had Cushings, was visually impaired and had mitral valve disease. When my old dog is gone I will probably foster for a vet that does medical rescue at least for awhile.

Someday I'd love to have the opportunity to train a young healthy pup that comes without the baggage of abuse and neglect. Just once I'd like to have that opportunity - but that may not happen for lots of reasons.

Working with the Edie's of the world is very rewarding. And there are far, far too many Edie's.

[MuseRider]

24. Awwwww Awwwwww Awwwwwwwwwwww!

What a sweet pup! We have had rescues with real problems from being mistreated and beaten. Sometimes it takes a while but once they feel safe they are just the best dogs, and cats in the world. How anyone could treat an animal badly is beyond me.

Thanks for this. I look around me and see my 3 dogs and 2 cats all snoring on their pads in the living room around our feet and thank goodness for their love and kindness. I could never be without them.

Those are special people. Looks like Edie is off to a much better start now.

[BrendaBrick]

28. K&R

Thank you for posting this! That is a pretty cool website; I looked at a few of the other videos there and found this one:

"Good Samaritans Lift a Burning Vehicle Off of a Trapped Man

Incredible! This happened back in September, but it's a video that shows there is still goodness in the world and that people do work together to help their fellow man. God bless everyone involved in this heroic act."

http://www.godvine.com/Good-Samaritans-Lift-a-Burning-Vehicle-Off-of-a-Trapped-Man-1091.html

There IS a lot of goodness out there!!!!!

[HillWilliam]

29. Oh god, I'm a teary mess

Our Callalily was that scared when she first arrived. Large herd-guarding dogs can be unpredictable after they've been abused, and she had been, horribly. She had no undercoat and very little top-coat. She stank and her eyes were sunken in from starvation.

It took a couple of months to be able to touch her without her cringing, more time to get the filthy collar she came with off her. She had so many fears, but we worked through them a piece at a time, at her own pace. Here's my babygirl today:



Everyone needs a little love. Sometimes we need just a little more. Hugs are one of the best forms of medicine.

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. She is beautiful. Good job!

[HillWilliam]

39. Thanks

She did the hard work; we just encouraged and supported her on her journey. Truth told, I'm a little in awe of her; her resolve to live, her tender heart, the sweet confidence she has now. There was a huge turn one day in particular. We'd told her how smart, pretty, worthy, and good she was and she almost believed us. Then one day my partner took her with me to the dog-friendly tobacco store. One of the owners had her daughters with her at work that day. They were like 6 and 9. They cooed over her, petted her softly, and Callalily allowed them to lead her around the shop. On the trip home, she was very quiet and contemplative, like it blew her away that someone else thought she was smart, pretty, worthy, and good. She came a hundred miles on her journey with that experience. After that, she LOVES getting pets and attention -- very un-kuvasz-like (but we love it!).

She became the Barbie Doll of Dogs that day.

[sugarmonkey]

58. Awesome story

You did good.

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. Awww. I like that,

She became the Barbie Doll of Dogs that day. *big smile*

[get the red out]

41. That's an incredibly beautiful dog!

Thank you for putting in the time and effort on her. You are a hero. She's an angel.

Herding dogs are AMAZING, I say that as the happy guardian of a little Aussie Mix (or BC mix, not quite sure, LOL). The know what you're thinking before you think it.

[HillWilliam]

48. We have six girls, all rescues.

Callie had the hardest way to go. She's a hero to me for deciding to make so much of herself. I wouldn't have blamed her if she had a bitter streak the rest of her life. I was prepared to love her regardless. (Once I give my heart, I can't ask for it back, yannow?)

All the girls are herders: the eldest is a cattledog/springer mix (her dad was a Blue, mom a champion bench springer); the next is a GSD/BC mix who came to me the day after my beloved mini-BC crossed the Bridge; Callalily is #3; #4 is half-weimaraner (her mom is registered) and half sneaky neighbor's dog (a bc, rottie, G'd-knows mix); #5 is a purebred BC who was abandoned as a pup and spent her first year in rescues (some not so good situations); the last we adopted as an elder who was turned out, a BC/boxer mix.

Herders are my passion; I've nearly always had herders, but never an aussie shepherd. My luck generally runs to heelers, but this family wound up mostly BC or BC mix. My partner and I are lucky to have lots of room for them to burn off all that herder energy *lol*

The girls come first, before anything. Right now I'm still unemployed and we're struggling pretty badly, but the girls still get top-shelf food and doctor visits when we do without. The girls give so much comfort back. I've never been unemployed so long which is especially frightening. Somehow at the eleventh hour, fifty-nine minutes and fifty-eight seconds, we find a way to do for them If it hadn't been for them, I probably would have given up by now. There are seven reasons for my feet to hit the floor and keep going: my husband who's a 30-year HIV survivor and has been in and out of hospital for the last two years, and the girls whose love keeps us going.

[jsmirman]

50. God bless you

I try not to be overtly religious, and it's not my thing, but whatever deity of your choice, bless you.

What a wonderful thing to do. Once I'm settled down, and after my beloved little boy is gone (which I can't even imagine), I intend to care for a large brood. I've got my one magnificent little rescue right now, and he is not only the handsomest boy on Earth, but I confess that he is my soulmate.

[SammyWinstonJack]

62. ...

[sabrina 1]

63. She is beautiful. She is so lucky to have found you and you her.

All dogs should be loved. It breaks my heart to think about them being abused.

[HillWilliam]

71. All any self-aware creature wants

is some dignity, a little space to be what they need to be, and if they're really lucky, some love.

We feel as if we're the lucky ones to have the love and friendship of six wonderful girlbabies.

[TwilightGardener]

30. Poor puppy! I wonder why she was going to be euthanized? She just needed

time, patience, and gentleness. Many shelter animals do.

[hifiguy]

31. That was so sweet.

What a cute little pup. I hope she has found her forever home with that kind young man. <sniff>

[PassingFair]

34. Son of a B-Word!

That was emotional!


Would love to see a follow-up.

[sugarmonkey]

60. Here's your follow up of Edie

I rescued Edie and found her a forever home. You can see some updated footage on her by following the above link. She is loved and she is an amazing dog. A truly amazing dog. Thanks for caring.

[PassingFair]

65. That dog is like a Beverly Hillbilly now!

Burberry vests, in the lap o' luxury!

Beautiful behavior from pet and humans alike!

Bravo!!!

[sabrina 1]

66. Oh, she is beautiful and so loved now. Thank you so much for all you are doing.

[jsmirman]

69. Thank you so much for this

so wonderful.

[truebrit71]

36. Do NOT WATCH THIS AT WORK!!!

I did, and I am a complete farking mess now....I look like a right idiot sobbing like a little kid...DAMN YOU!!!

[grantcart]

37. And a perfect analogy for humans as well

[HCE SuiGeneris]

56. Yes, indeed.

Compassion and patience make for good results.

[dsharp88]

42. I have a Maltese-mix rescue from Hurricane Katrina myself

so I really felt this one.

Thanks for sharing this video.

[redqueen]

43. I will watch this later.

[Corgigal]

45. reminds me of how we got our chihuahua

He was running around the neighborhood for a few days and we knew he was dumped. So I put out a trap we had with some dog food and got him that night. He screamed and was so scared but we couldn't catch him any other way. We took him out of the trap and put him in a kennel and gave him time to adjust. A few hours later he came out , all wagging tail and licking us.

It ended up that he has congestive heart failure and we give him 5 medications a day. He's still with us and his name is Rocky because of his start with us. He has lived with us for over 3 years now and we're happy to have him in our fluffy family.

[sabrina 1]

64. Your post made me cry. Imagine the terror they feel when they are abandoned or abused.

Thank you for giving one beautiful dog a loving home.

[AtomicKitten]

46. A kind word and a soft touch go a long way with these frightened animals.

Shelters and rescues are overflowing with discarded pets. It is heartbreaking.

[OverBurn]

51. Brought a tear to my eye, thanks.

[seabeyond]

52. wow. so sad... and yea. nt

[Digit]

67. Beautiful video and beautiful dog

I smiled watching the videos. It was so uplifting and reminded me of the kitty I rescued from a high kill animal shelter approximately 45 days ago.

Her shelter name was Princess and she was estimated to be approximately 2 years old. She is a small, beautiful grey and black tabby with long to
medium fur and a bushy tail. Unfortunately, she had been a stray and was on a course to be euthanized shortly. At first she was scared to death
being in a strange environment and it didn't help that she had been spayed earlier that day. I am sure she felt crappy.

She did not know what a treat was or even what a cat toy was for. All she wanted to do was hide.

But I did find the way to her heart and it was by stroking her fur and talking softly to her. In other words, showing her love and affection.

Now, not quite 40 days later, she prefers to be by my side at all times and has enriched my life immensely. She enjoys the laser light and the
feather wand....and loves treats.
Why she likes to sleep on top of me, I am not sure, but suspect it is to keep tabs on me! I am also treated to nightly kitty massages.

We continue to work on a few issues such as her thinking that my dinner is HER dinner and that the trash can is open for scavenging but she will
learn in due time.

I kept the name Princess because she is a princess in my eyes. Corney, yes, but I am a sucker for animals.

Aren't animals wonderful?

Thank you for sharing the video

[jsmirman]

70. That's wonderful

all it takes is a little patience.

They just need someone to trust.

It can't be said enough: save a life - adopt.

[great white snark]

72. Beautiful. In fact this whole thread is beautiful.

I'm crying with you all.

[Fawke Em]

73. Reminds me of my rescued Cocker.

Tears... streaming now.

[Major Nikon]

82. Yep. I rescued a border collie that was like that

I took her home and my kids named her Princess. It took her over a year before she would no longer pee when I walked up to her. She came to us at a year old and lived until she was 17. Helluva dog she was.

[11 Bravo]

75. Aaah, you just had to do it, didn't you? I need to wipe my eyes now, and then go hug my rescue Lab.

[Liberal_in_LA]

77. sweet dog. Needs a bath now.

[Uncle Joe]

79. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks to the people that saved her life.

Thanks for the thread, 1monster.

[Auggie]

87. Kicked

[Amerigo Vespucci]

88. For some reason, this is going viral on Facebook today (May 26th)

Glad I checked into this thread to see the follow-up clip. The original has shown up on my Facebook page three times today from three different sources.