Sadie's Story

In November of 2008, our Companion Rescue in Georgia was visiting a local shelter when they spotted sweet Sadie, only 4 mos. old at the time, cowering in the back of a kennel.  She was very frightened in the shelter so with no questions asked, she was taken into Rescue.  Sadie stayed for almost 2 mos. with our GA rescue partner where she received the much needed medical treatment that she needed, as she was suffering from lice, mange and anemia.  Sadie proved to be very frightened and would cling to you when picked up as if she had been repeatedly dropped.  By the end of January Sadie had completed her treatments and was healthy enough to go to a forever home!  We felt that in a committed home with one on one attention, rather than in a rescue setting, she would thrive.

Here is beautiful Sadie waiting for the long trip to PA to meet her new family:

After careful screening and consideration Sadie went to her new home in the beginning of March.  We carefully and gently explained to Sadie's new Mom that she was extremely apprehensive and needed a lot of love and patience.  HTH remained in continued contact with Sadie's new Mom hearing that her progress varied from day to day but that she was slowly improving.  We were told that Sadie's mange had returned and that she was struggling with a compromised immune system.  At that time we provided Sadie with the support of a behaviorist feeling that she possibly just needed some additional direction and positive reinforcement, maybe a job to help raise her confidence.  Knowing that mange is an illness compounded by stress and compromised immune systems, we felt that through raising her confidence as a dog, this would help to satisfy and resolve the illness.  To our dismay, we received an email from Sadie's Mom stating that her Vet felt she would 'never be happy' and would need to be euthanized!  HTH was stunned and gladly accepted her back into Rescue. 

This is the night of May 7th when Sadie came back to us:

We were shocked!  Our hearts broke for her and we acted immediately to try and relieve some of pain and inflammation.  This was not at all what we were expecting nor was it even close to the white fluffy puppy that she had left rescue as! 

We immediately started her on a round of antibiotics and gave her an Oatmeal bath followed by a Vitamin E rub down that night.  Over the course of the next couple of weeks she remained on many vitamins and supplements, including Vit. A, Vit. E, Flax Seeds, Garlic, Omega 3, Immune Boosters, Oatmeal and Malasab baths followed by Vit. E and Shea Butter rub downs.

Click here to meet our beautiful Sadie now!

We were told by her previous owner that in the 2 mos that she had her, Sadie seldomly if ever ventured out of her crate, she never approached her for affection and constantly when potty in the house and her crate.  We came to realize that rather than providing Sadie with structure and allowing her to 'be a dog' all that her previous owner did was baby her, when that didn't work it became a simple case of neglect.  Neglecting to see Sadie's needs and tending to them, so Sadie sat, all day long, frightened and unsure in her little crate, the only place that she felt safe.  She was not being walked, rarely taken outside and not being given the chance to be a dog!  Once again, Sadie was given up on and left to fend for herself.

Ever since Sadie has arrived here she has been treated like a dog wants to be treated....like a dog!  She has free roam of the house more often than not, she goes for walks, goes outside to go potty when it's time and plays with her Canine Companions, who she LOVES!  She receives direction, boundaries and positive reinforcement.  If we 'felt sorry' for her as her previous owner did, then Sadie would feel that and she would never be able to gain the confidence that she needs.  Sadie is a terrific dog, one who needs a family to trust and a human who will continue her daily walks to raise her confidence level, maybe even give her a job!  She needs a home with a canine companion, one who will teach her the joys of being a dog.  Sadie is very, very apprehensive with out a mean bone in her body.  She is frightened around new noises, people and sights so we work with her gradually to introduce her to the joys of being a canine companion.  Tho Sadie is still apprehensive of the energy my young children give off, she would thrive in a home with Children, their positive energy is what she needs.  Even through her timidness, she is in no way aggressive to our children, she allows them to slowly pet her and feed her, tho she is just learning that their noise and activity is something that she could get used to.  She follows our dogs up to bed at night and sleeps peacefully on my side of the bed.  Sadie's new Human must be sensitive to her past and her emotional needs but must know how to work with them to help raise her confidence.  Sadie needs to work first, then receive love and compassion, this is what makes her a happy dog. 

Here are pictures of Sadie in her new home