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Rescuer Saves One Dog And Gets A Big Surprise!

| Published on February 18, 2016

Gemma, a German Shepherd, had severe Demodectic Mange covering 70 percent of her beautiful white body. Although it’s treatable, her family chose to dump her at a shelter rather than take her to the vet. Jolene volunteers at the shelter where Gemma was dropped off and knew she had to do something for the poor dog, who was clearly in pain.

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Jolene happens to also be an adoption counselor at St. Bonnie’s Sanctuary (a part of Lange Foundation,) an animal rescue based in Santa Clarita, California. They took in Gemma and immediately started treatment for her condition. She was in so much pain, they had to sedate her for her bath so they could really clean her mange without hurting her further.

Already having a relationship with Gemma, Jolene took on the nearly 24 hour care of meds and baths. Within weeks, she was clearly healing.

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Her fur was growing back and she was putting on weight — a little too much weight it seemed.

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It was then that Jolene found out she had not saved just one dog that day, but six! Gemma was pregnant! She gave birth to five healthy puppies, all of whom found loving home while Gemma continued to heal from her mange.

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For Jolene, who cared for Gemma and her pups, the experience was an emotional one. She tearily describes the day Gemma finds her forever home:

“It was a really hard process. Seeing her go through everything from the day she was turned into the shelter and then actually seeing her to go drive in a car off the ranch and go home. It was really special and I am so glad she was able to be in my life”

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Watch the entire uplifting video created by PAWSitive, a YouTube channel that brings you original, inspirational, heartfelt animal stories filmed in and around Southern California while supporting local rescues and shelters, below:

Stories like this are just amazing; they restore faith in some humanity. Jolene put her entire life on hold to not only treat Gemma and make her healthy again, but to take care of her puppies and find them all forever homes. And it’s clear that Gemma will never suffer again,  she has an entire family that just adores her. And the feeling is mutual.

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