On the morning of September 28, 2010 I woke up to what seemed like just another day. Picked up my Blackberry, and started my scroll through Facebook. So many stories, so many animals in need. The first picture I saw was this unidentifiable object in a laundry basket. I wiped my eyes, sat up to get a better look, and simply could not comprehend that this was actually a dog! Who did this? How did this happen? What on earth is wrong with her? Was she burned or something. That was such an awful picture. AAU named her June, and said that she had a horrible skin condition called Demodex Mange. And of course, the call to arms was “we need a foster”.

Well I thought for a second about doing it, then I thought about the other dogs that I have and what impact it would have on them. I don’t want them to get this. Surely somebody will foster her. Day 2 – still needing a foster. Day 3 – there was a short little video of her at the shelter talking about her and she was wrapped in a towel. Her little tail was sticking out of the bottom. No hair on it at all, but it was just a waggin’.

I had thought about that sweet face for 3 days straight. Did extensive research on her condition, learning that it was not contagious, it was treatable and could be reversed. She looked so yucky, but she had something in her eyes that touched me to my core. She had the eyes of my first angel, a beagle named Frazier, and he was for me the most precious gift to ever walk the earth!

So, without giving it another thought, I realized that June needed my help, and there was no way I was going to let this sweet, precious dog go one more day without me. Once I got the ok, I went to Four Paws Animal Clinic to pick her up. I was not prepared for what I saw. It was worse than the pictures, and the smell!!!!!

That cute Dr. Rob came out, and he gave me the rundown on what to do about the baths, meds, etc.
I was given the towel and laundry basket that she was picked up in to take her home. We got into the car, I put her in the basket and there she lay, just like the picture. How on earth could anyone let something like this happen? It’s a never ending question I guess. But, I leaned over this stinky, pink, hairless dog, gave her a kiss on the bridge of her nose since it was the ONLY spot with hair, and told her that today was the end of her suffering. I told her about Frazier, and that I lost him in 2008, but vowed to honor his memory by doing whatever I could to help dogs just like her. I told June she would never be hungry, lonely, sad, scared or unloved ever again. That was the longest 2 hour drive home I had ever made. What did I just get myself, my dogs and my husband, who still had no idea, into? We rode in silence. No radio. No cell phone. Can I help this dog, and what are my other dogs going to do? Will they go crazy and bother her like they do every other dog? I was a bit scared I must say.

Finally home. We get out, and I carried her in. I needed to because my dogs are jumpers, and I couldn’t let them touch her and possibly hurt or scratch her already damaged skin. I was ready for the crazies. I walked in the door prepared, but it was total silence. No jumping, no barking, just wide-eyed dogs, all nine of them looking and I could read their minds… “WHAT IN THE HELL IS THAT?” I’m telling you, dogs know!

And so we began the weeks of baths, meds and a total holistic regime that would make Mother Nature so very proud. I’ll be damned if a mite is going to run this house or any dog in it. June hated those baths. They hurt. She yelped every time. And it hurt me to do it. I cried every time. She thinks I am hurting her more, I just know it. But each bath got just a little less vocal, and the other dogs had begun to allow her to be around them.
Thanksgiving was a great day for June; turkey dog cake! Christmas, oh she loves it. Toys, treats, warm fires and friends.

As time passed, June started to grow her hair back, and who knew she had such a beautiful coat under all that infection. It was a long hard road, but I had made up my mind that this sweet angel would not go one more day without love, affection and help. I took her in, but Angels covered all of her medical needs, with the incredible doctors at Four Paws Animal Hospital. So many of these animals in shelters are left to die as if they just don’t matter. But every dog matters, every day. June has recovered from her ordeal and has become a permanent member of my home.

In May, I attended PAWfest and took June with me. I opened the trunk of the car that I have not driven in a long time, and it still had the basket that I picked her up in. In a rush, I threw her pillow in it and grabbed the basket and left. At the event, I pulled out this basket and June just stood there looking at it as if she knew. It likely still smelled a bit like she did when she was in it. She paused for a moment, then with her sweet dainty little paws, stepped in and laid down. She knew where she came from and that was ok, because she is in a much better place now.

This picture was taken by a professional photographer that was walking around. It just made me realize that it doesn’t matter where you come from, or what you come in. It only matters that the Angels with AAU take so much of their time to make sure that where you are going is safe and somewhere where you will be loved.

I’m honored to even be in the same realm of rescue as they are, and I’m thankful they are here for these animals. I love this quote, and I think of AAU every day that I read it.

Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight. ~Albert Schweitzer

I tried to spare myself the sight of June that day, but I am oh so glad that a sweet little beagle up in doggy heaven made me look. I saw her Frazier, I’ve got her now and she’s OK.