Compiled By Amy Higgins –
The connection we form with our pets is a special one. They make us laugh with their silly antics, worry over their smallest malady and cheer up during our darker days. And nothing makes them happier than being able to sneak a slobbery kiss or give a gentle nudge of affection — it’s all in the name of love.
Whether you’re interested in adopting a dog, cat, horse or guinea pig, there are countless rescue organizations that can help you find your perfect match. But sometimes there’s no hope for an animal that is tossed away, so being in the right place at the right time is paramount. It can change the course of that animal’s life from demise to delight.
When we asked for stories about pets who were rescued or who “rescued” their new owners, we received scads of submissions, all of which were wonderfully heartfelt. The following are the winning stories. These, in particular, tugged at our heartstrings, and we believe they will tug at yours, too.
Lucky
A Lucky Day
Diana Wilson, Yellow Jacket
In July 2006, my brother, Tim, was disking wheat on our farthest field on the edge of a canyon, 10 miles from nowhere. The day before he noticed what he thought was a coyote on the edge of the field. When he saw it in the same place the next day, he took a closer look and discovered it was a husky type of dog that was left tied to a tree with a 5-pound bag of dog food and a dry water bowl.
This was the hottest part of the summer — around 102 degrees — in the middle of nowhere. Had my brother not noticed him, the dog would have died in a day. Tim gave the dog a gallon of water and moved him into the shade. When he finished for the day, he said, “Dog, would you like to go home with me?” and the dog got into his pickup truck.
When we found him, he was heartworm positive, had cigarette burns and his right leg had been broken from what our vet believes was a kick. He wouldn’t come in the house for two years — we think he had been abused inside — and didn’t trust men. Ten years later, Lucky (aka Plucky or Ducks) is living the life of leisure and is now the kindest dog I ever knew.
Finding him was our lucky day.
Pongo Bobby
Bringing Pongo Bobby Home
Ruth Wilson, Yellow Jacket
We looked for another dog ever since our beautiful dog, Henny, was killed by a speeder. I visited the local shelter several times but couldn’t seem to find the best fit. However, I knew the right dog would come at the right time.
A few weeks later I saw a picture of a big blue Australian shepherd in our local newspaper. Our family had four of that breed in the past, so I knew they were loyal with loving dispositions.
The next day I drove to the shelter just to sign paperwork and pay the fee. I was planning to return the following day to actually pick up the dog as my small vehicle didn’t have much room. But the shelter manager insisted I take Pongo that same day. He’d been there for some time and was considered an emotional risk since the original owners had moved away and left him in the yard. I really wanted this beautiful dog, so I squeezed him into the backseat where he didn’t sit down the whole way home.
I named him Pongo Bobby, as I thought he was a Bobby from the get-go. He and my sister’s dog, Lucky (see previous story), took to each other immediately, becoming fast friends. I found out later that, although the shelter where I found him is no-kill, when an animal is in residence too long, it is shipped to a kill shelter. As it turned out, it was the right time for both of us.
Simon
Simon’s Story of Survival
Robert P. Steffens, DVM, Pagosa Springs
One Saturday morning, a young couple entered my veterinary clinic in Alamosa. The couple was distraught, holding a shoebox. Inside the box was an extremely small 3- to 4-week-old kitten. The kitten was comatose, dehydrated and close to death with a serious front leg injury. The couple found this kitten and wanted the little animal to be disposed of because it seemed helpless to treat this stray.
The clinic wasn’t busy at the time, so the technician, Shane Sowards, and I treated the kitten for shock, pain and blood loss. The kitten responded, so we decided to amputate the injured front leg. Lo and behold, the kitten made it through surgery and responded to the care we gave it.
Being a weekend, I took the kitten home to keep it warm and bottle fed. My wife, Karen, took excellent care of this kitten at home. It survived the weekend and seemed to have a desire to live. Now we had to find a home for this handicapped kitten.
Needless to say, after four years he is still in our home. We named him Simon, and he turned out to be a beautiful Siamese cat.
Simon seems to know we saved his life. He is handicapped but does everything a four-legged cat does. He seems to show his appreciation to us daily, and we can’t imagine life without him.
Colby
Comforted by Colby
Nancy Uldrikson, Colorado Springs
During the time my husband, Ron, and I were grieving the loss of our Catahoula cur dog, Colby, our son, Wade, found a dog. He was driving in the Arizona desert when he came upon a dead dog hanged in a hangman’s noose. Another dog was standing by a tree, starved to skin and bones. He was beaten so badly he was blind in one eye, his tail was chopped off and he was full of ticks, fleas and worms.
Wade asked him to get in the truck and he did. He took the dog to the vet where his wife worked and they helped the dog to recover. We decided to adopt him, so a friend gave the dog a ride to New Mexico. From there, we brought him home to Colorado.
Because he reminded us so much of the dog we lost, we decided to name our new dog Colby in his honor. We had Colby’s tail fixed right away, as it hurt when he wagged it. The vet took a joint out and that solved the problem. Colby’s blind eye started bothering him last year, so the vet had to remove it.
The new Colby is also a Catahoula cur; we’ve had him almost seven years now. He’s the smartest dog we ever owned. He’s lovable, playful and happy. He loves to play fetch and amazes everyone with the things he can do with only one eye. God blessed us with this dog; we definitely rescued each other.
Joey
Amazing Grace: Joey’s Journey
Peggy Haynes, Colorado Springs
For two decades I tried convincing my husband to get a goat. I finally gave up and decided it was for the best. They eat clothes off the line and jump onto car hoods or worse. But then, on a cold, windy, overcast Colorado afternoon in March, I was driving on our dirt road picking up litter, and I spotted a particular piece of trash. I stopped the car and what I thought was litter turned out to be a baby goat — cold, hungry, dehydrated and abandoned. It obviously was left in the field overnight.
I brought this little goat home. The baby goat accepted using a puppy bottle filled with warm milk, a heating pad and a dog kennel, and not only lived, but began to thrive.
I named her Annie, bought her a pink collar and began sorting through my goat cheese recipes. Three days later I took Annie outside and was shocked to learn she was a boy. I thought we should rename him Houston, as in, “Houston, we have a problem.” But my husband suggested we call him Joey, which means “God shall add” in Hebrew.
Spring is a time of beginnings, newness and even miracles. I am thankful I stopped to pick up that last piece of litter. Joey’s survival was yet another one of spring’s miracles. More than that, our little goat is a keeper.
Angel Cinderella Peak, four days after rescue
Coming to the Rescue: Angel’s Account
Barbara Gormally of Durango shares the story of Angel’s rescue through, what she feels was, her pup’s perspective:
On May 26, 2009, around 4:30 p.m., I have no clue why I was in the middle of Highway 550 in New Mexico near the exit to Angel Peak Recreation Area. I was only 4 months old. I was a puppy and knew I was in trouble. I had no food or water for quite some time and my puppy paws and legs were exhausted from wandering around in the hot desert. I was alone and scared.
There were two yellow stripes on the highway that looked like a good place to lie down. Somehow, the heated pavement soothed my depleted body. It seemed like a safe place to rest, but after a while I could not take the sound of cars zooming by. I ran toward some of the vehicles to see if someone would stop and help me. I knew I didn’t have much time left; I would soon die.
I heard a woman calling, “Here puppy, here puppy.” I staggered toward her. She was kind and gentle as she ran her hands over my tired body. She said, “Girly, Durango, Colorado, is a better place for you.” I put my head on her knee and handed her my paw. Soon, I was in the passenger seat where I went into a deep sleep. I knew I was safe.
Today, I have a joyful life filled with gratitude, unconditional love and fun in this glorious location in Colorado. I am now called Angel Cinderella Peak.
Click here to read more heartwarming submissions that came when we asked for stories of “Who Rescued Whom?” We at Colorado Country Life magazine were delighted to receive so many wonderful entries and are grateful to our loyal readers for sharing. Click here to read stories from our runners up.
Amy Higgins is a freelance writer from Centennial where a guinea pig and two rescued basset hounds make her family complete.