I found Sandy at a pound and fell in love with her instantly. She was absolutely petrified and knew I just had to help her. I went to visit her twice and was very disheartened on the second visit to see how she had changed in under a week.
On the first visit Sandy had interacted with me through the cage, but on the second she was sitting at the back of the cage and could not be coaxed, looked so stressed and was starting to shut down. The ranger said if any of the dogs needed to get out of the pound ASAP she was one of them, as she really was not coping.
Chester and Sandy. Photo: Sarah.
I got in touch with a rescue group to take her on as a foster, because I wasn’t sure if she would fit into our lifestyle, but if she did I would adopt her. So, Sandy came into our home as a scared, timid and almost broken dog, but I knew within a week she was not going anywhere!
I believe that she had been mistreated in her previous home, as she would cower down to any sudden movements from any men. Thankfully now, after two years, she learned to love and trust my husband and other men she meets. But she still to this day gets very stressed in new situations and sits on my feet for reassurance.
When I look at Sandy, I just don’t get how anyone can mistreat a dog. All she wants to do is please us and love us, and that is all we want to do in return for her.
Message to Rescue
I volunteered at a rescue for a few years in admin and as a committee member. Being a part of rescue work taught me so much – some of which I wish I had never learned as I never realised how cruel people could be. But, it was very rewarding and something I will never regret doing.
I hold my hat off to all rescues and the amazing things they do. I look at Sandy now and see a completely different dog to the one I saw in the pound. My dogs are my world and as the saying goes, I don’t know who rescued who.
