Austin the Rescued-Adopted

Recently my goal has been to no longer accept any new rescued dogs in order to take a much needed break. While our adoption rate is still very high, and we are finding wonderful quality homes for our dogs, two have been allowed to sneak in under the radar. Why? Because when people like Ernestine Styron and Laura Watson ask me for help, I help. One of those dogs that has been accepted is Austin.

This dog’s story is a special one, but what’s even more special, is the woman who rescued him from Georgia after animal control found him, hovering over his dead brother’s carcass on the side of the road. Austin would not leave his brother’s side after he was struck by a car.

His new owner, Anessa faced a mountain of medical challenges. Austin had so many medical issues, that the receipts from his vet are in a 3-ring binder, too much for a file folder!

Today, Austin is in picture-perfect health, and needs a family that will love and care for him as much as his rescuer, Anessa did.

He is said to be a Spaniel or Retriever mix, but to me… he looks like my Augustus #806 who is now known is Charlie.

There is much to say about this lucky boy named Austin, but for now, I will share with you the letter that his rescuer and previous owner, Anessa wrote:

TIME HEALS WHAT REASON CANNOT. I read that somewhere once and now I understand it.

We tried everything and we were not able to keep our loved family member. My heart breaks with the decision to find him a new family after all the care to bring him to a comfortable life. When we took him in he only weighed 27.3lbs and had hookworms, skin & ear infections, and even his gums were bleeding. He was caked in fleas but had the sweetest disposition you could ask for.

There were over 9 medicines I had to create a spreadsheet to keep track of them all. Within 1 week he was looking better. Such a humble dog. It wasn’t his fault he hadn’t been taken care of. All he wanted was food and love.

I supplied him with both and yet what happened next, we could of never expected. I have had dogs around me my whole life. I’ve known that I’ve had allergies my whole life. I have always been able to just take the over the counter medicines and live fine with a few sneezes and sniffles my whole life.

This time was different. A cough started and wouldn’t stop. After seeing an Allergy Specialist and a Pulmonologist for the lungs and after MANY tests in and out of the hospitals for over a month. It was told to me that I really have no other option but to give up my new baby. He is a definite trigger for my misery and for whatever reason, our two bodies don’t blend. There isn’t an allergy medicine or shot due to the severity of my allergic reaction to let us live a healthy life together.

I write this story, crying my eyes out because this decision of our new family member was a LIFELONG decision. The only just smile that I will ever have from this experience is knowing that it would have been a VERY RARE occasion that anyone else would have spent over a thousand in vet bills and the time and energy that We did to get him well and adjusted. He now weighs in at over 55lbs and is healthy as an ox. I just hope that his new family will appreciate his love and undying playfulness that he brings and his new gift of life that he has to offer himself to them for MANY smiles and laughter of his silly playful attitude towards everything to come.

God Bless You and Yours for calling him Your own and living out your lives with him.

Thank you,

Anessa*

Update: Austin has been adopted by a wonderful family and a young boy, and they have been waiting for a dog like Austin for quite some time! Updates and Photos coming soon.

Adoption Update:

He did sooo well last night! I was expecting some crying and whining, but…nothing!! I actually fell asleep on the couch until after 3AM and he was sleeping on the floor on a blanket I gave him, right under me! Didn’t do any damage to anything! I then put him into his crate and he was out cold till 7! I took him to Petsmart today and got him a shampooing and nail trimming. They said he was VERY good there, too. I took him for a walk this morning and then we walked over to the school and picked up Sam this afternoon and he does very well on a leash, too! So far, all’s well. He has taken to chewing on the woodwork on the corner of our breakfast bar. (??) I think that maybe there is food residue on the corner, it’s right below where Sam eats the
majority of his meals!

The boys were supposed to go to Cub Scout Camp this weekend, but I just got the call to say that they have canceled it, so we can all be here this weekend to work w/ and play w/ Austin. Thank You so much, once again. We just love him- he’s obviously very smart and is quick to respond to our calls All good!

Kris