Posts Tagged ‘Maggie’

Answer to The Nightly Heartbreak

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

I was on the internet last night on the Bobbi & the Strays’ web site because I’m a big supporter of what Bobbi does to rescue dogs. I like to check the web site from time to time to see if there are any fund raisers that I will be able to attend. While clicking around, I found an old article in the archives from June of 2009 called “The Nightly Heartbreak”. The name of the dog ‘Lacey’ that Bobbi wrote about caught my eye so I kept reading. It’s all about this scrawny little Pit Bull that was on the Animal Care and Control’s euthanasia list. Needless to say, Bobbi was heart broken. Lacey was due to be put down that night. Bobbi couldn’t get Lacey out of her mind but had no room at the shelter to take her in and was troubled about not being able to save her.

Bobbi got the ACC’s list two days later and there was Lacey’s name on the list again. In Bobbi’s own words from the article, “I am hardly ever delighted to see an animal on the Euth list but that night on June 6th 2009 when I saw Lacey back on the list, I was ecstatic. For some reason or another, they hadn’t euthanized her two nights ago but here she was again. I immediately picked up the phone to call the hotline to pull her off the list. In my message I told them I would pick her up Monday morning.”

When I got to the end of the article I saw the picture of Lacey from the ACC that Bobbi had included in the article. I sat in front of my computer and cried. The dog that Bobbi was writing about was the same dog that I adopted from Bobbi, officially on September 1st 2009.

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‘Lacey’ has now been renamed Maggie. She is such a wonderfully happy, healthy dog. She never lets a day go by without letting us know that she loves us. A shake of her tail when we walk into the room usually winds up shaking her whole body in a frantic ‘hi mommy’ kind of a way. So, who rescued who? Whether it’s with a lick on the face or that way she tilts her head when you ask her if she wants to go for a walk, Maggie has brightened a place in our hearts that was dark from the loss of our beloved dog Harley from cancer. Harley was a Pit Bull also and had the sweetest demeanor of any dog I’ve ever known.

Unfortunately, Pit Bulls have been stereotyped as vicious fighting dogs but what most people don’t know is that Pits are just the opposite. They are among the most loving and affectionate breeds I know. Since we adopted Maggie, I have met many Pit Bull owners who agree that the breed is misunderstood because there are people out there that breed and raise them specifically for fighting.

God bless Bobbi for being the person that she is. She doesn’t think twice when rescuing any dog, (most of the time Pit Bulls). Did you know that Pits are the number one dog breed in shelters across the US due to over breeding? Bobbi should be commended for trying to break the stigma associated with Pit Bulls. She has truly found her calling and does a wonderful job bringing strays into her heart, her home and her shelters and eventually to their forever home. She never gives up on a dog, never.

Bobbi, thank you for saving ‘Lacey’ from certain death. In just about a week it will be Maggie’s one year anniversary with us. I can never repay you for the happiness she has brought into our home and our hearts. You are a special person for caring so much and for doing what you do.

Here is a new and improved picture of Maggie. She has come a long way since her days at ACC.

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Thank you for everything,

Chris Elf

Maggie’s Story

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

About four or five years ago we had a beautiful purebred American Bulldog at our shelter. Her name was Maggie. She was with us many months while we searched for her perfect forever home. One day a couple came to the shelter that had another American Bulldog. They met Maggie and fell in love. The couple was experienced with the breed, compassionate and loving. It seemed like a perfect match.

Bobbi and a volunteer drove Maggie down to her new home n South Jersey. She took a video of Maggie, the other bulldog and the couple walking into the woods for a hike together. It seemed like a happy ending and we were all teary eyed with joy.

Fast forward to 2009. We received an email that the couple would have to return Maggie to the shelter. They had a new baby and ever since Maggie and the other bulldog have been getting into bad fights. They returned Maggie because they had the other dog first.  We never want people to give up their pets. They are apart of the family. However we’d rather the animal come back to us than be put in another shelter or dumped somewhere. That is why Bobbi and the Strays always takes back our animals if the home doesn’t work out. They always have a place with us.

Maggie was now a senior dog with sad eyes. She didn’t fare well at the shelter. A cage is no place for any dog, but especially a senior.  She seemed to grow more and more depressed and some days she would have trouble getting up to go out. It was heartbreaking to watch Maggie deteriorate. She was a sweet, loving dog. She didn’t bother any of the other dogs at the shelter and never gave the volunteers or staff a problem. She walked nicely on a leash. She deserved a nice, quiet home to live out her life.  The stress of the shelter was too much for her.

Below is a photo of Maggie at the shelter

Maggie in the cage at the shelter

Below is a photo of Bobbi and Maggie hanging out in the hallway (we have no indoor space to just hang out with the animals) of the shelter on a cold winters night.

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Our hearts grew heavier each day. We posted for a foster home for Maggie. No one seemed to want an older dog. Then an angel came to the rescue. A wonderful volunteer named Diedre said she would love to foster Maggie. We were overjoyed. Diedre was wonderful with all the animals. She was gentle and compassionate.  Any animal would be lucky to have a home with her!

Bobbi drove Maggie out to Diedre’s house in the Rockaways. It was quiet and peaceful by the sea. A perfect place for Maggie to live and relax! Below is a photo of Maggie in the car.

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And Maggie on her first walk on the beach

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When an animal goes to a foster or forever home, we always wait a couple of days to make sure everything goes okay. Sometimes unforeseen problems arise that the home can’t handle and the animal has to come back. But the first update couldn’t have been better. Maggie was adjusted already and she was even feeling better physically. She had no problems getting up in the morning and was even able to walk up and down the steps without a problem!

Then we received these beautiful photos of Maggie!

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Its been months since Maggie went to her foster home and all continues to go well. Diedre just sent us some more updated photos of the beautiful Maggie! We are very grateful to Diedre for fostering Maggie. She saved her from depression and gave her new hope, a new life. Not only did Diedre save Maggie, she saved another dog. By taking Maggie, she opened up a space at the shelter for us to save another dog who needed help.

If you are interested in fostering a dog or cat, please email Adopt@bobbicares.org  We have many, many more dogs and many kitties that are longing for that special someone to take them out of the shelter and give them a temporary home where they can relax and love and be loved.

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