Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable

There were many, many stray dogs out this summer day and I felt that awful feeling come over me. The helpless feeling knowing I can not save them all. Lack of shelter and foster space is our biggest limitation and on this day, we were fuller than a can of packed sardines. It was inevitable though. Following that awful feeling, came the knowingness that I would be filling up the car with those too weak to be left behind.

On this day, a resident called us about 3 week old puppies that didn’t have a mama. I headed first to find the puppies. We managed to find only one small pup treading water in a ditch. Soon this pup is sound asleep on her ride to freedom. Immediately after we rescued the pup, I spotted a dog on the side of the road who was not moving. I fear she was dead. As I walked up to this mangled, broken, bleeding body, I saw eyes staring at me. As crazy as this sounds, I knew she was saying, “make this pain stop.” All I had to offer her was a hotdog. To my shock and surprise, she tried to eat it. She then licked my hand as if to say “thanks”. She was named for Betty Grable because I’m sure she was a “looker” at one time. I gently lifted her into the Jeep and quickly took off for Dr. Ed’s. Everyone else would just have to wait.

Or so I thought. While navigating towards the main road, an apparition appeared in the tall grass. It was a skeletal, hairless dog scrounging for food. Many residents sat on their front porch steps and stared at me as I tried to rescue this dog. No one offered help and worse, most acted as if the dog and I were just a nuisance for them. I heard someone say “That is just a mangy, ugly dog”. I named her Marilyn Monroe because I know under normal conditions she would be beautiful.

Marilyn ate up the hotdogs so fast she almost took my fingers, too. Like all the others, she was starving and barely resembled a dog. She was an easy rescue for like Betty, she’d had enough of the mean streets. Into the Jeep she went and with a full load we headed once again to Dr. Ed’s.

Despite driving very fast, Betty was not able to hang on and passed soon after we arrived at Dr. Ed’s. At least she died in arms that cared for her and heard kind words of love as she closed her eyes for good. I was able to pet her sweet beaten down face and tell her she will never suffer again but I also felt like I’d let her down. I couldn’t explain to her why her fate was so difficult nor why society has abandoned man’s best friend.

To continue on each day, I have to focus on our successes like Marilyn Monroe. She became our resident ugly duckling who I knew would turn into a swan in no time with the help of Hillside Animal Hospital and our amazing volunteers. She was full of kisses and thankfulness. It didn’t take long for everyone to see that she is Ms. Personality. She loves to play with other dogs, loves to chase a cat and loves people and life. I like to think this is another Stray Rescue miracle and have high hopes that the miracle will be completed soon with her adoption. She is ready to be the swan; we just need to find her a pond called home.

Woof, Randy

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