When you work in rescue you are constantly bombarded with hundreds of dogs that need saving. What makes one stick out? I still ponder the answer to that question, but I can tell you, when it does, you know.
A few weeks back a good friend of mine, Blake from Resqpet, contacted me about Toby, the German Shepherd at the West Valley shelter. Toby’s owner was sick with cancer and her wish was that Toby should find a good home. I passed over the initial email, but Blake did not. She cared and pleaded with me. I visited Toby and found him to be a very nice man, but definitely not that much of a “pet.” He’d had a life that was confined mainly to a yard. There were a few people that were interested in him, but I did not see a fit. This dog belonged in a similar situation to that where he came from. Blake and I talked constantly and her dedication to this dog was untiring. She had never met him, nor his owner who had to give him up. What made this case so special? She never said. She just continued to email, telephone, and network for this dog who was hopeless.
Then last week the option came through. Toby would find a home in a German Shepherd Sanctuary. Blake and I drove together to the shelter where she met Tony for the first time. I saw the look in her eyes and also the look in Toby’s. He knew it was Blake’s tireless work and dedication that bought him this chance. The interesting thing in rescue is that there are no thank you cards, no champagne flowing, no celebrations. The thank you is that you get to move on and save another one. It never stops, they keep coming in. But each person can make a difference.. Blake did!