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This is the story of Lucky -- an absolutely gorgeous, funny, very brave boy. It’s a very long story, told by several people. I hope you have the patience to read it all. I’m telling this story for a few reasons: the most important is to honor the incredibly beautiful spirit of animals; also, to share with you the dedication of the group you are a part of; and finally, to sincerely thank you for all you have done to save the dogs we are lucky enough to bring into rescue. Celebrate the lives of these amazing dogs that have faced it all and still give us their love. Lucky’s story …
 From Grace:
We would not even have known about Lucky had the shelter worker not checked online for collie rescues. He had too many things going against him to ever be posted on Petfinder. He was an owner surrender who told the shelter she could no longer afford his upkeep. What upkeep?? They had kept Lucky tied up outside for his entire life. They had never protected him from heartworm infection, he had never been brushed and the only attention he received was getting yelled at because he barked too much. Lucky was eight years old, was heartworm positive, was not neutered, had bad teeth and his fur was a matted mess. The shelter would not consider him for adoption and he was scheduled for euthanasia.
Cheryl called me and asked if I would pull him. She could not turn her back on him, like everyone else had done in his life. We have to help him, she said. When Lucky emerged from death row I was shocked by his condition. He was skinny, had knotted balls of matted fur hanging to the ground and had a painful limp due to a severely infected dew claw. I wouldn't let him know how awful he looked; I couldn't cause him anymore rejection and pain. I took one look at his sad, pleading eyes and said, Hi beautiful boy, you're coming with me. Lucky’s ears perked up and we headed toward the door. Once outside, Lucky took a deep breath and looked at me with hope and gratitude. He tried to jump into the car but forgot his legs didn't work like they used to because of age and lack of exercise. I helped him in and he settled right down. As we drove the 30 minutes home, he looked out the window, happy to put distance between himself and that scary place. Then he became a bit overwhelmed and lost his breakfast from both ends. Not to worry, I could easily pick up the blanket I had laid out for him and dispose of it along with his horrible past. From now on, Lucky would experience more love than he had ever known before. Lucky got along with all the other dogs and liked the cats. He seemed to be particularly fond of the goats. He would walk to their pen every time he went outside and would stand by the fence and watch them. Early on, I think he felt comforted by them because his original owner had kept him in a barn with horses at night |
 From Shirley:
“Lucky” – 8 yrs. old, blue merle. Tied outside during the day, kept in a barn at night. Heartworm positive, not neutered, underweight. When I read this information about this dog, I thought “how unLucky.” My husband and I talked, and we decided we wanted to make a difference in this dog’s life. He came to us from Grace, his first foster mom who rescued him from the shelter. Well, it didn’t take long before I had fallen madly in love with this beautiful boy! He had such a sweet, gentle soul. He led a rather confined life with the heartworm treatment, but Bob and I spent most of our time with him through his time with us. We did a lot of sitting around with him on the leash at our feet. Petting him, scratching him, talking to him (he liked to talk back). We knew every spot on him that he liked rubbed and scratched. Because his life was so limited, when I ran on errands I would take him with me in the car. He loved to ride in the car and look out the windows. The vet said he was doing very well with the heartworm treatment. He loved having his head and ears rubbed and would make the most endearing satisfied groaning sounds. He would do a little jig when you scratched his bottom. |
… While with Shirley and Bob, Lucky’s nose began to bleed. The vet there wasn’t able to find an answer, so Dr. Cheryl Bater, who works with our dogs here in Columbus, decided she had to go get him, right now. Doc came back with Lucky late that Thursday night, and Cheryl Rakich and I met her at her clinic. Lucky was still bleeding and beyond exhaustion. We cleaned him up, a wonderful doctor came and did an ultrasound, he got a big dose of antibiotics and gave us several tubes of blood. Lucky fell asleep in my lap after eating a huge bowl of food and investigating Doc’s offices. His eyes sparkled, his tail wagged, and blood continued to flow. He went to bed with the blanket Shirley sent with him, listening to classical music. The next morning Doc took him to MedVet. He died there. We don’t know why. A necropsy is being performed. |
 From Shirley:
Probably what I remember most, are those big polka-dot ears and those eyes that would look at us in such a comical expression of curiosity and trust. I’ll always see that sweet face in my mind. Lucky’s final battle in this life came suddenly and unexpectedly. He developed and nosebleed that seemed odd at first and then became alarming. The wonderful ladies at Almost Home came swooping out like superheroes with Dr. Cheryl Bater in the lead. Dr. Bater drove all the way from Columbus to Michigan to pick up Lucky. She dedicated the next days and nights of her life trying to determine what was wrong so that Lucky could be made well again.
The ladies from Almost Home jumped in to make Lucky feel loved and supported and eased my heart greatly as I couldn’t be there with him. I heard stories from them as he touched their hearts and souls. I was angry that life had been so unfair for Lucky. I prayed for him to survive, to have that forever life he so well deserved. That was just not to be. Lucky died after a biopsy despite the valiant efforts made to save him. He died with the prayers and love surrounding him from people that had been touched by the beauty of his soul and heart. He has now crossed over that rainbow bridge and is now free to run and play with other dogs. We’ll all see him again, in a better time and place. Now, we pray that the circumstances of Lucky’s death will aid us in helping other dogs to live. At the very least, we all have been touched by something very sweet and beautiful and never to be forgotten.
From Grace:
I just can't believe he is gone. He had a new chance at life and such a bright future ahead. I imagined the day he would finally be able to enjoy the freedom to run and play and truly feel the warmth of his new family's loving home. I am so grateful and I know he is too, to have been given the most wonderful two months of his life. Lucky was one of the most gentle, friendly, loving collies I have met. How could his first home have been so neglectful of this wonderful, beautiful, silver boy?? Lucky will never be forgotten. I just had to tell you how much he touched me.
Lucky reminded me of this poem: |
I would've died that day if not for you.
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted
Skin that isn't flea bitten
Good food and enough of it
Beds to sleep on
Someone to love me
To show me I deserve love just because I exist,
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved me...
You saved me from the terror of the pound,
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it
When there is no more money, no more room, no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter
Make just a little more room to save one more like me.
I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason
The dogs before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you.
(by Kim Senke-Rocka)
Heart Bandits American Eskimo Dog Rescue
 From Dr. Cheryl Bater:
My dearest friends and angels:
In our lives, because of these beautiful dogs and friends, we have witnessed and known joy beyond description. We love unconditionally and to the depth of our hearts and souls. Because we have been blessed with the ability to love so very deeply, we also mourn with equal intensity. I accept that I will mourn and raise my fists to the sky many times in my life - because I will always love with the greatest intensity possible.
Then I move to the beauty again. I am compelled to be drawn back... to hope... and laughter... and celebration of the lives we touch and those that touch us. I am comforted and move there because I know that we ALWAYS do the best. ALWAYS seek the answers, ALWAYS remember that these precious collies are unique individuals deserving of their perfect chance at love. Our spirits, trapped in mortal wrappings, yearn for us to find the peace again. As individuals who love them, our calling finds us denying our own individual needs and we work as a beautiful spiritual group to honor this bond. As we learn from joys and successes, we also learn from loss. We learn medically, and we learn spiritually. Let's celebrate Lucky's life, celebrate the infinite joy, and celebrate his light on this side and as he passes to the light on the other side. May the angels guide him gracefully to his truest forever home. God bless you all. God bless our collies.
Doc |
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