The Last 8 Days and more...

Remember when he sat behind the mulch pile, waiting for me to get the food out of the trap for him?

Remember Teddy just a few short months ago? These were taken in April.

Teddy "today"

The Last 8 Days…

From the anxiety of waiting and hoping in the early morning of July 6 to this eighth day of …well I’m not sure what to call it. It’s been an emotional roller coaster for the last four plus months, and while you steadfast followers have a good idea and feeling for what the rescue experience has been like, it has taken its toll on me. The constant worry, making plans and having to change, never knowing if he was coming back, watching and wondering if he was hurt, and the emotional list goes on and on. Of course I grew attached. What person could spend so much time not only worrying but wanting to give something back to one of God’s beautiful creatures, he was a part of our family, albeit a distant one, but he was part of us, nonetheless. And when that glorious rescue day finally came? An overwhelming rush of relief, joy, and worry again (for his future). Oh how I would have loved to have kept him with us, in a heart beat! Teddy already was a part of our family and I’m not sure many out there realize how that could be. Even though I couldn’t touch him or be close to him, he obviously had my heart and my time, and that’s pretty much what love is…thinking, wanting the best, loving, and having concern.

I’m a planner, I have to have things lined up so all transitions can be as easy as possible. So I planned for Teddy’s rescue-I planned his morning meal that day, how it would be spread out in the far corner, how I would sit covered in my jeep with a rope tied to the kennel door ready to pull it closed when he entered, I lined up the vet visit, I asked his friends if they would be able to come if I captured him (as you know they came before I got him), and had contacted various rescues unfortunately, to no avail-every one was pretty full! So the plan was that he would go to the shelter and we would work with his rehab there-I would visit with him every day, which I joyfully did (and it was wonderful to see him begin to blossom), and we would take things a bit slow with him and give him some time to rid himself of the mountain.

There was one reason for us to keep him…and that is because we loved him. When you want something so bad and your heart is truly in it, that’s what happens. I wanted him safe with all my heart and I fell in love in the mean time, amidst my worry. But my first thought was Teddy. He could have stayed here with us for a while, but my fear was would staying in the area produce more anxiety and not allow him to forget his past year of running? Would he always look to our back yard (the mountain) with fear, anxiety, and feel the need to run? Would the familiar sounds in the neighborhood, those that used to spook him when he was on the run, make him even more nervous? Would he be comfortable in a house of terriers? And of course I had to consider my own pups as well. Darby, my 16 ½ year old Westie, is visually and hearing impaired so if they were a warning between dogs she would never know. Trevar the Scottie is a very laid back guy, pretty accepting of everything, except he has a mistrust of big dogs as he was attacked in a class. Rori, our middle Westie has a very outgoing personality but she too suffered a mishap with a bigger dog, although she is always on the more cautious side. And then there is little puppy Westie Maddie, Miss Submissive…she probably would have been okay.

Even though there are stressors for the animals at the shelter, I felt after talking with my friends (Teddy’s friends) that it would be best for him to return there at least for a while. We knew he couldn’t escape and hoped he might remember good things…which he did seem to do once he got back there.

I spent the last eight afternoons getting to know the dog I grew to love from afar. It was wonderful to see him relax and begin to show his personality and affection. My feelings grew stronger, but I knew deep down, that one day after we worked with him a bit to help him adjust to the world of voice and other typical “life” situations, he deserved a home, perhaps where he was the ONLY dog, because he deserved ALL of the love and attention. Just for the record, I was given the first option to adopt him (making a hard decision even harder)

I had always hoped he would be adopted, just not quite so soon, as I felt he still needed to work out a few “mountain kinks” and adjust more to general life. After all we’re talking about a dog that was on the run struggling to survive for over a year. I just felt he needed some time…but… I turned him into the shelter so I really didn’t have a say, although the kennel manager did call and talk with me any way to discuss adoption, which I appreciated.

I did meet the family and felt that they would be a wonderful fit for Teddy at some point; again I just thought he needed more time. I had promised the family that I would not disclose any information about them so I will keep my word on that however…

I have to admit as I read today’s paper; I was quite shocked to see our boy appearing with his adoptive family. Because I try to be a person of my word I won’t post the link here, but I’m sure you can find it on your own.

I admit I have cried. I cried when I left him for the last time at the shelter. I cry when I think I won’t see him anymore and I cry because I still worry a bit. We don’t really know what lies beneath, and I can only hope his past will fade away. But I am happy for him too, because he IS the ONLY dog in a very compassionate and understanding family. They’ve rescued dogs before and did not even hear of his story until they came to shelter to look for a pet. So they weren’t taken in by his fame.

I have never had to give up one of “my” pets before and it has been very very hard. I pray that I will never have to experience those emotions again-you know the ones from the past four months AND the ones felt now. I hope you all will join me in rejoicing for Teddy, egos, wants, previous thoughts and rearranged plans aside, because after all it really is ONLY about TEDDY, it all always has been and he deserves it! I hope the dear Lord continues to watch over him and his new family.

Even though Teddy now has a home (hopefully his forever home), his story and his legacy should remain with us all, and we should continue to share his plight with others. It is an important story to remember, as in one split second something can happen. Leashes are so important-even for the best trained dogs, one never knows. And I do believe Pennsylvania does have a leash law. So in honor of Teddy, we will continue his t-shirt fundraiser to benefit other animals in need (like his PAST situation) and for the education of the public with regard to leashing pets and other ways to keep animals safe. We owe it to him!

So I may still cry when I think of him or when I look out my back door, but I am so happy that he has a chance at a very good life.

The family promised to send me updates, so I’ll keep his blog going. After all, Teddy’s young life is a message and a learning experience to all. Fortunately it has concluded in a happy ending, hopefully.

Don’t forget to order a t-shirt…gee can we call they commemorative shirts? Bless you all!

(Would you believe I cried while trying to edit this darn post? Geeeez…..)