Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Home for the Holidays

Except for those cases where photo evidence is needed for cruelty charges, I don't have the heart to point my camera at dying or suffering dogs. I think it's unnecessary and rather exploitive and we see far too much of that in the constant "Save This Dog!" posts that get cross posted round and round and jam our mailboxes. But I bit the bullet and took this photo of Miss Birdy when she first came to us, hoping we'd be able to post it with a happy ending at some point. We are.

Birdy was found as a starving stray in late October - a Halloween skeleton, barely making it down a street in Oakland. A very lost dog or the victim of the foreclosure trends in Oakland? Possibly. Her finder was on her way to work, but pulled over without a second thought. She phoned for a friend to bring kibble - hurry! - and laid a bread crumb trail back to her car. Miss Birdy happily obliged and pulled herself in to the car, nearly dead from the starvation. (photo below after a week of food, if you know what I mean)



She did a detour in the parking lot of Oakland Animal Services where an officer winked the finder off to Berkeley Animal Care Services. And so off she went to BACS and then to our barn to enjoy many, many tiny meals, warm raincoats and new friendships.



We hold our breath with dogs like this. She's a senior dog with a list of health issues, and we won't know 'who she is' until she feels better. Will she die on our watch? Will we have to make a difficult decision and let her go? How much should we budget for her care? How long will she need us and how do we plan for her? A veterinary exam revealed that Birdy has lymphoma, and while she isn't suffering, her days would be limited. Weeks? Months? A year or more? All we knew is that Birdy was very very grateful for any and all attention. She gained weight, demanded affection and even flirted a bit with the boy dogs. The longer she was with us, the more we realized we were helping a living dog, not a dog who needed us to fuss over her end.



Here's the happy part -- And where I can finally justify taking that awful photo when Birdy was at her worst. The former street stray went home yesterday, and her adopter Anneke is just thrilled about her new pet. She asked, "What should I feed her?" My answer: "Anything she wants." They shared a burger on her way home from the barn, and we're quite sure they're going to be living a very, very nice life together. Miss Birdy is home and all is right with the world.



With many thanks to Erin G. for saving this girl when so many others kept on driving.

More (early) photos of Miss Birdy here from the very talented creator of the Love and a Six Foot Leash blog Thanks again, Aleksandra.

Anneke has promised us a blog of Miss Birdy's exploits, so we'll post that link here if and when she does. And more early niblets of our team helping Birdy get acclimated are lined up in our Barn Dog Blog.

17 comments:

c.creativity said...

I just love Miss Birdy's happy, goofy, charming, mischievous, loving, and lovable face. A big thanks and hug to everyone who participated in making this old gal's happy new beginning. You can just tell she's gonna enjoy it to the fullest!

Joan said...

I don't do facebook. Why I don't know. I guess I am a private person. I am glad you allow us non facebook users to post here. I am SO happy for Miss Birdy. Thank you for sharing your life, the dogs and everything about making it right for them with those of us who care. Thanks for stepping up for the Vicktory dogs, doing the right thing & sharing their success stories with us. Again, I am so happy for Miss Birdy.

Christina said...

Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the shout out Donna. I've been thinking about Miss Birdie all day. So happy she found a happy home!

Leila said...

I love happy endings! Miss Birdy's faces says it all with that sweet, sweet smile.

Anonymous said...

Whphew... Miss Birdy is a very lucky dog. I'm grateful that her rescuer stopped and coaxed her into the car. I'm grateful that BR was willing and able to care for her until Anneke was ready to adopt her. Brava to all of you. (Pssst... hand me that box of tissues, will ya?)

The more I read your posts and explore your web site, the more I'm humbled and grateful that BadRap exists at all. So many hurdles, so many reasons why folk with less dedication might have thrown up their hands and said, "Why? What's the use?" But the folks at BR simply forge ahead despite the odds and, in doing so, inspire all of us who feel passionately about pit bull type dogs to go the extra mile (or yard) and give the most we have to give.

Thanks for your big hearts and tenacity.

With continuing gratitude,

Wendy said...

What a great story; I'm so happy for the very sweet Miss Birdy. How wonderful of Erin G, the Barn folk, and Anneke for saving her. Kisses to all of you!

Anonymous said...

Yay Miss Birdie! What a great end (or should I say beginning?) to her story!

Anonymous said...

she is a beauty. Look at Birdy's smile and those eyes. thankful to all who saved her. and now she is going home. goosebumps from NYC.

(:

Tracy Wilson said...

How wonderful! Her adopter is one lucky woman...what a sassy smile Miss Birdie has!
There is a special kind of reward for people like her rescuer-
Bless her.

Tracy

Dianne said...

What can I say? I love this girl. When I saw Anneke post that she wanted to do right by her, my heart sang. Thanks so much.

Lidna said...

As the parent of a lymphoma dog who was the love of my life... and who died a year ago... this brought a tear to my eye. I can't thank you enough, Anneke, for stepping up and giving Birdy the home and family she deserves.

I would offer, however, that my research lead us to feeding grain-free food. I was told by several sources that cancer feeds on carbs. For what it's worth.

H Ski said...

This story makes me want to cry tears of Joy. Both Birdy and her new mom Anneke look very happy. Great work to Erin G for picking her up and giving her a chance, and everybody who helped nurse her back to the happy loving life that she deserves.

Carianne Burnley said...

Oh Birdy, you are one lucky dog...

cambridgeratmom said...

Birdy girl, what can I say? This is just the very best thing in the world. Thank you everyone who has cared for this charismatic old dog! Talk about living in the present. You go, girl.

The Foster Lady said...

Moral of this story: always carry dog food and a slip lead with you in the car.

Dianne said...

@Foster Lady
I do. Two slip leads and Zuke's.