Eskie Rescuers United

• Monday 2/19/2007 – An email plea from Kris arrives at ERU. Kris is one of many people who visit shelters just to find dogs that need to be rescued. She does this on her own out of her love of animals. Gina, one of the directors at ERU receives this message.

Hello, I found your rescue info on the internet. There are two Eskies in a kill shelter in southwest PA. They came in a few weeks ago. I asked they not be put to sleep while I tried to get them into a rescue.

They were brought in by their owner's wife, their owner had committed suicide. They are both eight years old, are litter mates and have been together their whole life, spayed and neutered, up to date on shots, and very sweet little dogs. They are petrified to be in the shelter, but the staff says they are very sweet to deal with. Is there any chance you could take these two into your rescue?

• Tuesday 2/20/2007 – ERU searches for a foster home for Princess and Snowball by posting a message to all of its members. During the past week, Jim has been working with Karen who recently put in an application to adopt a dog. He posts this message.

  I’m posting this information about 2 Eskies that will need fostering. The dogs are currently located in Southwest PA. I have a possible adopter that might be interested in them. She is located in Virginia. These two dogs are littermates and need to be kept together. Can anyone foster these dogs for a few weeks until they get adopted?

• Wednesday 2/21/2007 – When ERU cannot find a foster home, Karen in Virginia asks if she can be approved to foster dogs. She does this because everyone knows that time is running out for Princess and Snowball. Princess is no longer moving around. She just sits in the shelter and acts depressed. Eskies have been known to become depressed when they lose their home and loved ones. Depressed dogs can stop eating and drinking … they will eventually die.

• Thursday 2/22/2007 – Kris (the person who found the dogs in the shelter) and Jim are working out a plan on how to transport Princess and Snowball from southwest PA all the way to Virginia.

Hi Jim, I am in Greensburg, the dogs are an hour to the south. I am willing to go and get them, and bring them to Greensburg, is that helpful? That is about three and a half hours of driving time for me.

Please let me know, they have been at the shelter for over two weeks now and are ready to go home.

• Friday 2/23/2007 – Princess and Snowball are “pulled” from the shelter. Kris meets Jim that evening in Greensburg PA at a local McDonald’s parking lot to transfer the dogs. Jim drives home to central PA where both dogs spend the night. Princess is still scared … she is shaking with fear.

  Jim notices that Princess just wants to stand with her head in a corner. She does not want to eat or drink. Jim uses a straw and gives her Pedialyte in an attempt to get more fluids into her and help her regain strength. Snowball is concerned about his sister. He periodically goes over to check on Princess and licks her head gently. Being in a living room of a house comforts Princess. She manages to settle down and stops shaking.

  Jim sleeps on the floor nearby Princess. Even though she is weak, she wants to be next to him so she drags herself wearily to be close to him. During that night, it’s apparent that Princess is having difficulty. She has not eaten in almost a week and is not drinking. A 3:00 am call to an emergency vet is placed, and an early Saturday morning vet appointment is scheduled for Princess.

• Saturday 2/24/2007 – Karen is approved to foster Princess and Snowball. She hopes to adopt both dogs once it is determined that they will adjust to their new home.

  Early Saturday morning Princess goes to see the vet. She is dehydrated and fluid is given to her by squirting it into her mouth. It is hoped that by getting fluids she can recover and gain strength. She is given an anti-inflammatory injection as she appears to be extremely overweight and may be suffering from the inactivity from being in the shelter for several weeks.

  Jim takes Princess and Snowball to eastern PA to Gina’s house. Later that day, Karen travels from Virginia to Gina’s house to meet and pickup Princess and Snowball. Princess doesn’t want to move, but with a little coaxing she is able to stand up and walk a little. This encourages everyone. Maybe Princess is going to get better.

• Sunday 2/25/2007 – Jim receives this message from Gina.

  Jim, I just gave Karen permission to take Princess to the emergency vets this morning. She called me crying this morning. She says that Princess is almost comatose. She won’t move at all now. I told her to get her into the vets and we would worry about the bill later. She was up all night with her.

  Karen takes Princess to the emergency vet since it is a Sunday morning. A variety of tests are done … x-rays, ultrasound, blood tests. The results are not good. It is found that Princess has cancer. A large tumor is behind one of her kidneys. This is why she appears to be so overweight. She will need a major operation and most likely will lose one of her kidneys. The vet bill at this point for Princess is over $1000. Surgery is likely to cost much more.
• Monday 2/26/2007 – Karen takes Princess to another vet to be evaluated for possible surgery. Even though the surgery will be expensive, ERU is willing to do it if it means that Princess can be saved.

  The evaluation for Princess is not good. She most likely will not survive the surgery and she is probably in a lot of pain. Despite the pain, Princess has been a very nice dog and has not complained. Gina sends this message out to everyone:

  We are putting Princess down. Even Karen agrees it is best. She took Snowball in to see her. She had to go rather quickly so I am assuming they were doing it while she was there.

• Saturday 3/01/2007 – Princess has gone to the Rainbow Bridge. A few days have past and life goes on. Snowball is doing well with Karen who sends this message.

  I am so grateful that I was with her during her last days and hours making sure she was comfortable. I am also grateful that I made sure that she did not suffer any more (being riddled with Cancer after being left to function on her own in the shelter, not even being able to walk to her water or food bowl because of the cancer and the pain.) I cried for hours over her body and because she touched my life through her sweetness, I was able to release her soul to God (as was the right thing to do) ...and Yes!! I believe animals do have souls. I am only glad that I was able to help in the process.

  I am equally grateful that I found by "happenchance" your wonderful WEB SITE. Even with my limited and yet deep experience of so many of you in this wonderful Rescue, I have felt your hearts, your pain for the loss, and your belief in the ability to save the living. I am soooooo very grateful to be part of the joy of being life to the lost.

  Thank ALL OF YOU for your wonderful words, encouragement and help. You have touched my life through your touching of so many other lives. Anyone out there who wants to give and does not know where to start........START HERE!! These people are all that they should be and this reason is all that you would want it to be.