Remembering one of my first rescue seniors, darling little NOELLE. She was a Jersey Girl who hailed from the Parsippany Animal Shelter in North Jersey. This shelter usually sees bigger dogs who have been abandoned along major roadways, running for their lives after being dumped by heartless owners. Imagine the animal control officers surprise at being called out to assist a tiny 7-pound Dachshund spotted wandering alone in a deserted wildlife preserve! NOELLE, who was named MATHILDA by the animal shelter, was believed to have been on her own for about two weeks. She had been eating sticks and stones in an attempt to stay alive. The shelter director at that time, a Hunterdon County native, stayed and waited for me as I made the long trip north after work from my Bucks County, PA work location. The roads were dark and wet, the trip was lonely and gloomy. NOELLE seemed indifferent to me when we met, just happy to be out of the wire cage that held her captive, and explore the cold shelter she was temporarily calling home. I signed the necessary papers, gathered this old girl up in my arms, put her in a nest of blankets on my front seat, and made that same dark and gloomy trip south home to Lambertville. I cried all the way home. As I looked down at this little dog curled in a ball on the front seat, I renamed her NOELLE for the holidays, and promised her she would never be cold or hungry again. NOELLEs teeth and mouth were in such poor condition that she needed medical attention, but her body was in such bad shape that it was feared she would not survive the surgery needed to repair her mouth. NOELLE gummed broth made of puppy food and milk, laced with antibiotics and vitamins for a week prior to surgery. She was able to gain a little weight and strength, get her bearings, and much-needed rest prior to her surgical procedure. She had been running alone and scared for two weeks, and was simply exhausted. Once oral surgery was completed, she grew stronger, confident and interested in her new housemates. NOELLE never looked back after her recovery, and neither did I. She remained here with me throughout the rest of her life. She was treated for renal failure towards the end of her life, a common senior issue, but it is what ultimately caused her death. Rest well, my little one. You were one of my first, and I hope that I was able to bring some joy to a life that could have had the saddest of endings....
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:04:59 +0000
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