 
 Maggie, before and after.
We found Maggie at a shelter in the Central Valley of California at the end of June 2007. The weather was stiffling, humid and the temperature was over 100 degrees. Maggie lay at the back of a kennel with blood oozing through her long fur, panting heavily. We seriously thought she had been shot or in a terrible dog fight, and that she was a very old dog. We couldn't get close to see her well and so we asked about her. The shelter didn't know Maggie was there. We decided then and there that whatever age Maggie was and whatever was wrong with her, we could help her in some way, even if just a small kindness and some comfort. Maggie was brought into the air conditioned lobby. She was a train wreck, but when we looked at her closely, we could see Maggie was very young, maybe one or two at the most. She was obviously suffering from a mite infestation (demodex, very common in puppies), terribly neglected and had a secondary skin infection the likes of which we've never seen. Few of us have suffered the agony Maggie must have been in, patiently awaiting her fate in the back of that hot and horrible kennel. We are funded by your donations only, and don't have the funding to rescue dogs like Maggie. We're lucky to pay the costs associated with the rescue and adoption of a healthy dog. But sometimes you have to make decisions with your heart, and Maggie was one of those. Because of Maggie's extremely heavy coat (she's a King shepherd, heavy boned with a long and very thick coat) we actually couldn't see how bad she was. We tried to bathe her at a dog wash. The blood just kept coming and coming. We had to give up, we felt we were hurting her rather than helping. Two days later when it became obvious the normal heroic efforts (constant baths, lowered stress levels, a good diet and clean environment) weren't going to help Maggie, she was taken to our vet. Maggie's condition was so grave she had to be put under anethesia to have the fur clipped back around her wounds. A skin culture found that Maggie had three different microrganisms to fight, along with more demodectic mites than our vet had ever seen. Maggie was put on two different strong antibiotics. She got a haircut that we wouldn't have chosen for her had the situation not been so grave. Our girl came back looking like tufty hamburger. You can see from her photos. Every three hours, Maggie had to have her bedding changed. She was losing so much blood it was scary. Even though Maggie was crated, her foster mom had to wipe blood from door frames and corners Maggie passed by. Maggie, and her foster family, hung on bravely. Each little progress counted until now. And so now you look at Maggie, her fur is growing in but much shorter than it will be, and you think she looks kind of funny. Maggie has been going regularly to Andy's Pet Salon in La Mesa for her baths. German Shepherds don't get their hair clipped. But poor Maggie was starting to do so well, feeling happy, playing, and yet looking so patchy, we decided to have her groomed. When we picked up Maggie from the groomer, we cried and spent 15 facinated minutes just petting Maggie and congratulating her on her perserverance. Maggie looks like a normal dog! Yes, Andy's made her coat the length of a normal shepherd to help match her shaved spots, and yes her feathers are gone for now. But Maggie strutted out proudly and she looked like she was finally sure she can have some comfort and happiness in this life. Maggie has won her battle. She is ready to pick the human family she will grace with her dignity and strength and humor. Maggie will grow back her coat. She's going to need a happy family with a dog brush, good healthy food, and the enlightenment to know they are living with an angel in their home. Our volunteers are so in love with Maggie, they're going to want to know her new home includes people who can appreciate Ms. Maggie!
Oh, and in case you wondered, Maggie is good with people, kids, dogs, cats and whatever else you can throw at her. She's housebroken, quiet, serene and intelligent. On occaision, Maggie uses her substantial back end as a battering ram, deflecting the attention of puppies and other irritating beings. And by the way, don't let that angelic look fool you, she's 100 percent German Shepherd girl! See more information on Maggie here.
If you would like to meet Maggie, please fill out our online application and an adoption counselor will be in touch with you shortly. If you have already submitted an application to Southern California German Shepherd Rescue, you may email us with questions.
|
to main page
send e-mail
Maggie on July 15, 2007
