One little guy who chose life — Trouper Biscuit

"I do not know how he made it to our house.  We live about 1/2 mile off the paved surface road.  He had to cross a creek, fences etc., to get here."  *

He was found in Rockingham County NC, near Pittsylvania Co VA.  Steve sent the email below to a NASCAR official, who sent to a friend in Stokes County, NC.  The email thread ricocheted through county after county,  hitting states  up and down the East Coast.

On 9/26/2010 1:20 PM, Steve Chatham wrote:

Hey everyone -

Our dogs went crazy this morning barking at something in the shed.  It ended up being a dog taking refuge in a plastic trash can that was out
in the shed.

It's  a male, do not know how old.  I finally coaxed him out, and he has some pretty traumatic facial injuries. I have not been able to get my hands on him yet, so I do not know his temperament or anything about him.  I gave him some food & water.  He's taken some water but no food yet. He needs though, to have medical attention and a place to foster him.

We just rescued one a couple weeks ago, and do not have any place we can keep him, or keep the other dogs off him. Can someone help?

This isn't just something you see about Michael Vick's dogs, or something that you see on TV, this is REAL. He's in my yard now. I cannot imagine the emptiness of the soul of someone who calls themselves a human & does this - or allows this to be done to - an animal.

Please help if you can.

Thanks,

Steve

As is many times the case, the person who initially gave this dog shelter found someone to take him him by advocating directly with a rescue.   He didn't wait for someone else to solve the 'problem.'

* "But, he did make it here, and Angels of Assisi  agreed to take him almost immediately.  My contact there said that he's a tough guy, and that he's got a tremendous will to live."    Steve

September 28, 2010

From the Angels of Assisi

Trooper Biscuit

"In the middle of the Bedford rescue yesterday, a kind volunteer named Steve brought us this brave little dog, now named Trooper.  All 32 pounds of him are covered in puncture wounds, abrasions, and skin infections. I f you can look past the awfulness of what happened to him, you will find some very trusting eyes and a will to get better. Although he had to be carried from the car, he tried with all his might to stand up for us.

Dr. Kelly Farrell, who is visiting the area on vacation, spent 3 hours working on Trooper yesterday. He spent the night sedated and will be on IV's for a while. The sheriff and animal control have been notified, and we hope they can find whoever let this happen.

Thank you, Steve, for having a big ole' heart, and saving Trooper. And Dr, Farrell, you have always been special to us, and we appreciate you more than words can say."

October 19, 2010 -  Update on Trouper Biscuit

November 10, 2010 -  Update on Trouper —  a new level  "While his wounds continue to improve, there was one place under his jaw that was not healing. The good folks at Big Lick Veterinary Services took him back for another surgery, and found this, a bullet fragment."

November 26, 2010 - Trouper —  Then and Now

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The Lost Dogs — poetry and lightning, redemption

"A brown dog sits in a field. There's a collar around her neck. It's three inches thick and attached to a heavy chain, which clips unto a car axle that's buried so one end sticks out of the ground. As the dog paces in the heat, the axle spins, ensuring that the rattling chain won't become entangled."

"The dog paces a lot, wearing a circle in the scrubby weeds and sandy soil around the perimeter of the axle. She paces because there's little else to do. Sometimes a squirrel or a rabbit or a snake crosses nearby and she barks and chases it, or she lunges and leaps after the dragonflies and butterflies that zip and flutter past."

"She flicks her tail at mosquitoes and buries her muzzle in her fur, chewing at the itchy crawly things that land on her. If she's lucky she digs up a rock that she can bat around and chew on, but otherwise there are just the weeds and the bugs and the hot sun inching across the sky."

"She is not alone. Other dogs are spread around this clearing in the trees. They can see one another, hear one another bark and whine and growl, but they can't get to one another. They can't run they can't play, they can't anything. They can get close to their immediate neighbors, stand almost face-to-face, but they can never touch, a planned positioning meant to frustrate and enrage them. For some it does; for many it simply makes them sad."

Fast forward to now. Today. You can meet Jim Gorant on NPR's The Diane Rehm Show on September 27, 11 am EST.

"Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is the lightning that does all the work." Mark Twain Sphere: Related Content

I'm really a very good dog — just waiting

My name is JERRY. I have bounced twice. Bounced is an old time word in rescue that means someone sent you back. It's kind of a nicer way of saying you were returned because you didn't work out. You can see more pictures of me here. I suppose I'm really not a seriously hard luck guy because now I'm back with my first foster Dad Bob. I really like him so much. He gives me lots of time and respect and understands the things that make me nervous. I really don't like when people I don't know come towards me and try to pet my head as if to say good boy, good dog. I'm not sure why this is such a bad thing? From my point of view it's just bad manners to get in someone's space without even so much as a good morning, how are you? I also don't like it when a human uses a mean voice with me. I remember from before — when I heard a mean voice — bad things happened. So when I hear a certain tone I get defensive, and like any other dog I have to let you know I really don't want you to come any closer. I don't understand why no one except Bob understands it's important to growl and give warning. Because all I'm really saying is I need more time. And space. You guys call it respect. That's what the other dogs give me. It's not such a difficult request, is it? It's not that I'm not happy here. My foster parents are super neat and I love them. But I know my rescue family thinks I need a special kind of home because I'm difficult. I'm not really. I've just bounced twice. So it's kinda hard for me to trust. You know what I mean? I do want a real home. Sometimes it makes me sad to think there are other guys waiting for my place here, to learn how to be a member of the pack — that I'm holding them up. I'm really a very good dog. If you'd like to meet me, or find out more about me, would you please talk to Bonnie Thorpe? She's the Adoption Coordinator for Carolina Basset Hound Rescue. BonnieThorpe@aol.com 864-906-0650 Love, JERRY Sphere: Related Content