by Joya Jiménez DiStefano
Gracie was supposed to die. Her family wanted her euthanized at the
County Shelter for “nipping at the children.”
The Chief Enforcement Officer passed Gracie’s kennel
and she cowered and growled. He said
that Gracie should not go on the adoption floor. The senior vet tech looked at the black-and-white
Spitz with a touch of brown and a lot of class, and she thought what a shame it
was to destroy such a lovely animal.
The noise and smells in the overcrowded county shelter
overwhelmed Gracie. Seeing her fear, the
vet tech showed Gracie the power of confident kindness, perhaps the first
Gracie had ever known. Five days later, Gracie
responded by allowing her heartworm test without a fuss.
Gracie went on the adoption floor. The volunteers continued to work to earn her
trust and build her confidence. A FOTAS’
transfer partner agreed to pull Gracie and work with her shyness, necessitating
a short-term foster placement until she was transported. Priscilla agreed to take Gracie.
The day Gracie left the shelter, she hopped in Priscilla’s
car, sat on the passenger seat, and looked forward, bright-eyed, with a grin of
anticipation on her lovely face.
When they arrived at the house, Gracie was respectfully
considerate of Priscilla’s two little dogs.
They walked out in the fenced pool yard where Gracie promptly jumped
into the pool. And Priscilla immediately pulled her out.
“I think she wanted to be rid of the shelter smell,”
Priscilla said, “because she never jumped in again.”
In the eleven days that Gracie lived with Priscilla and
her two dogs, Gracie never growled or even raised her lip. She needed meds for kennel cough and let
Priscilla give her pills and squeeze cough medicine down her throat. Gracie sat when asked and came when called.
She was good on a leash and not aggressive with cats. She liked being brushed. At night, Priscilla’s two little dogs slept beside
her on the bed, and Gracie curled up happily beside them, on her own bed on the
floor.
Priscilla wrote a letter, recounting their experience
together, to send with Gracie to her new forever home. It ended, “Please be good to her; she is such
a good dog.”
And to God, Priscilla sent a simple prayer, “Please, God,
make sure she gets a good home with lots of love and care.” More likely than not, Gracie will.
What is the lesson
for us here? One, we can work miracles
together with dedication, insight, compassion, and common sense. Two, even dogs aren’t always what they seem
at first look. Three, the programs
emerging among shelter staff, volunteers and foster care can do great things;
that is, if there are enough of us. So
far, there aren’t.
Finally, even with all of the above, if we don’t get the
unwanted population under control with spay/neuter, we will fail
miserably. Just look at the numbers for 2
Julys, think about all the Gracies, and then decide what you are going to do to
help. Please.
Joya is a retired organizational problem-solver and radical
educator, Joya is an artist, Servant Leader, and co-founder of FOTAS, Inc.
FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire
Road. For more information, contact
“info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org
Aiken County Animal Shelter: “By the Numbers”
July 2012 vs. 2013
|
Animal intake
|
427
|
642!
|
|
Return to Owner
|
19
|
21
|
|
Adopted
|
52
|
59
|
|
Transferred
|
41
|
53
|
|
Euthanized
|
324
|
496
|
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”
 |
|
BAMA – Boxer/hound mix. 9 mos./62 lbs. The volunteers love this guy,
a sweetheart! Only $70
|
 |
|
BEESHA – 1 yr./7lbs. She is exotic, with lovely green-gold eyes,
and affectionate! Only $35
|
*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots,
worming, and microchip.
