Sunday, September 18, 2016

Pup of the Week: Nellie

I have written about dogs who have left their homes for Rainbow Bridge, and I have written about dogs who, with the help of the Bridge Angels, have found new homes.  This week I am writing about a dog who has a temporary home but will need a new one soon.
We start when she had no home and no name.
She appeared three weeks ago at the home of our dear friends Sandy, Maggie, Nikki, and Bear.  She took to Sandy’s parents like a tick to a deer.  She saw friendly humans and did not want to let them out of her sight.  She is a small German Shepherd who looks like she had given birth to pups.  She had no tags and was not microchipped.
Sandy’s parents named her Nellie because a dog has to have a name.  They would have liked to bring her inside, but that would have thrown off the delicate pack balance that took years to establish.  Nellie was given a comfortable spot on the porch with a blankie.  She did not look the wild thunderstorms that roll through Kentucky, but she was content knowing there were people close by and with the little tent her foster mom made for her.
Her foster parents did everything they could to find if there were people looking for her.  They called shelters, put up flyers, called the local vets, but no one said they were missing the poor girl. Mom made her a home on the porch with fresh water and even a fan to keep her cool on the hot nights.
What happened to her parents, and why she was now a stray, was a real mystery.  Nellie was a very well trained dog.  When her foster mom went for a walk in the woods, Nellie walked with her and never left her side.
Her vet trip did not go well health wise, or finance wise.  The doctor said she was three or four years old, she had a fungus on the back of her legs, hip dysplasia, was coming into heat, and she was Ehrlichia positive.  Maybe her myriad of health issues was the reason she was in need of a home.
If there was one thing for sure about Nellie, it is that she is a companion dog. Wherever her people went she wanted to go.  Whether it be on foot or in a car, she was ready to go along.
She was also slowly meeting the other dogs in the pack.  Her privacy blanket on the porch was pulled back so the other dogs could sniff her.  But there was still no contact allowed.  
When they did initiate contact, it did not go as planned.  Maggie has always claimed her dad as her own.  She did not like having to share her dad with Nellie.
Nellie was soon given her very own dog igloo on the front steps with her blanket and fan and settled into a routine for going with her parents on walks.
Her parents had her spade, and Nellie gave her parents a fright when her pills went into her throat.  She recovered quickly and was back to romping on their walks.
The family could not afford to take in another dog, and attempts to integrate Nellie into the pack failed.  While her foster parent’s hearts wanted to keep Nellie, their minds knew they could not.
So Nellie is comfortably sleeping on her porch, and she is going for walks, being fed well, and getting lots of attention.  But she is also waiting.  Waiting for someone to take her home.
If you know anyone in need of a sweet, faithful, loving, German Shepherd Dog, then let them know about Nellie.  It will be the nicest thing you ever do for them.

13 comments:

  1. I so wish I could just bring this sweet, sweet girl home. She sounds like she shares a soul with my Zaphod, another Shepherd left alone. She may not be in her forever home but at least she has found people who will care for her until she can find the perfect home.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I so wish I could take her in. She's so sweet and lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  3. She looks like such a sweet pup!
    Cammie!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I hope that Nellie finds a home very soon!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is breaking my heart. I pray she finds a home soon. She sounds like the perfect companion and so sweet. Please keep us posted on her progress!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nellie sounds like a real sweetie - we sure hope she finds her forever home
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

    ReplyDelete
  7. Its so sad that she can't fit into the existing pack, but God must have special plans for her! Please let us know when she finds her furever home!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such a sweet girl - hope she finds a forever home with a loving family very soon - nose licks from Moth xx

    ReplyDelete
  9. We wish upon all the stars in the sky that her forever and ever home is found soon. She sounds like she is such a special girl, I am so happy though she found this foster family. Keep us informed and how she is doing. stella rose and momma

    ReplyDelete
  10. We hope she can find a home. We also have a full house--with one rather jealous dog (Roxy), so we know what the family is going through.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So sad that it cannot work out where Nellie is. We hate when dogs have to keep moving on to find there forever home. Don't you wonder what sadness that brings to their hearts. But thankful she does have a foster home that cares and not a kill shelter.
    Thanks for being a friend
    Sweet William The Scot

    ReplyDelete
  12. So sad that Nellie is looking fur a furever home. All four paws are crossed...
    Your Furrend,
    Louis Seadog Armstrong

    ReplyDelete
  13. You are so sweet Nellie!!! I really hope you will find a warm loving home very soon!
    Cara

    ReplyDelete

Monday Question

  Have your parents bought anything for you for anxiety? Not me, but my parents...