We love hearing about rescue stories from our readers. Each one is as unique and special as the dogs and people involved.
But, every once in a while, you hear a story that just blows your mind. The heart, patience, and love that this family shows toward a dog that everyone else considered “unlovable,” and “not worth the air space,” will restore your faith in humanity.
A little white dog sat at the Humane Society in California waiting for nothing. Annabelle was on the list to be euthanized because no one wanted to take responsibility for her. She is missing the part of her brain that controls balance as well as a right rib and ovary.
Tammy Stodghill tries to share as many homeless dogs that are in shelters as she can on her Facebook page.
“I had seen Annabelle on the shelter’s post in November 2011 and shared it and told my husband [Greg] about her,” she says. “We were both so sad for all she’d been through and really hoped she’d find a home
When the family came back from their yearly trip to Florida, she saw Annabelle was still available – and out of time. She called to find out about her.
The society had had a temporary foster for a few months, but they didn’t want to do it anymore. People did respond to the Facebook posts about her, but the responses were not what they wanted to hear.
“Most of them said things like ‘I would love to have her and she can stay in my bathroom while I’m at work,’” explains Tammy. “They didn’t want that for her as she indicates when she needs to go potty by panting and moving her front legs, but you have to be there to see it and take her out to go or she would be laying in her own urine or feces. They also, sadly enough, got calls saying ‘she is a waste of air’ and ‘why wouldn’t you put her down?’ Unreal.”
“Their best guess was that a puppy mill bred her then decided they couldn’t sell her so they left her on the side of the road hidden in some bushes,” Tammy continued. “A woman finally spotted her, but by then she was dehydrated, completely flea infested and very sick, suffering with toxoplasmosis. The wonderful vet staff at the Humane Society nursed her back to health and then no one wanted the burden she posed.”
The facts were this:
- Annabelle can’t walk or even stand or lay upright, without being propped up.
- She has a four-wheel cart, but can’t really move around in it due to her neurological issues.
- She has to be taken out to potty and walked in a sling.
“They made us sign a form saying that they couldn’t guarantee her lifespan, and at the time, we hesitated,” she remembers. “However, we are so glad we went through with the adoption as the life we are giving her is one in which she knows she is loved.”
Annabelle is now 5 1/2 years old.
“She is the light of our lives and reminds us every day that you are as happy as you think you are,” Tammy says. “Our other dogs adore her and allow her to cuddle with them whenever she wants.”
And despite the original prognosis from the Humane Society, Annabelle has mastered her cart – just look at her go!
She also enjoys walks in her sling….
And even “chew night” – the Stodghill family makes sure Annabella misses out on nothing their other dogs get to be. They rigged up a special device so she can have chew time just like the rest of their dogs.
“The fact that she finds joy in just being held and loved, gets excited about chew night and loves going for ‘walks’ in her sling delights us,” she continues. “We love her beyond words and although she seems to be deteriorating some since we adopted her three and half years ago, we will be with her for whatever time she has and make it as happy and loving as we can.”
The Stodghill family hopes that their story will inspire others to not overlook animals with disabilities when they are looking for a new family member.
“People shouldn’t hesitate to adopt an animal with special needs,” Tammy urges. “Just like us, they get one life and that life counts. They did not ask for their predicament and only want the same things a healthy animal wants—love. Pure and simple. That is all you have to provide besides the basics. And we go to bed each night knowing that Annabelle has the best life she could possibly have.”
UPDATE: The shelter wouldn’t guarantee the Stodghills much time with Annabelle, but she lived the last three and a half years of her life in the enormous love of her family. Tammy Stodghill posted a moving testimony on behalf of special needs animals in need of love, and closed it out with the following:
“…In closing, we just want to say that turning a blind eye to the needs of so many animals may save you some inevitable heartache, yes. We still miss our girl every day. But the rewards of having her in our lives and the impact she had on us is invaluable to us and we remind ourselves that we were able to change her life and fill it with love and security for the time we did.”
Rest in peace, Annabelle. See the full Facebook post here.
Toledo, United States.
