WHAT IS RESCUE?

There are as many answers to that question as there are rescue groups. Some rescue groups are large, some just have one or two members. Some have shelter space to house the rescued pets and some like BTRNC have members who open their homes to rescued dogs. Many groups, including BTRNC, take in the young and healthy, the young and chronically ill, the young and handicapped, the old and healthy, the old with chronic health problems and the old with terminal conditions. Our goal of course is to adopt them all out to forever homes. We accept however that some older and unhealthy dogs would not be best served by moving them from home to home and that their chances of adoption are slim. We believe it is better in these cases to offer them sanctuary in a permanent foster situation. More on sanctuary residents in an upcoming blog.

Today's focus is on Adam, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge on March 12, 2009. Adam has been featured in this blog before. You can find Adam's original blogs in our archives. Adam could be the poster baby for a very important aspect of rescue which is not often in the spot light - that for a dog who deserves love and dignity to pass on.

There in a shelter, alone in a cage was Adam in November of 2007. Weak, and very underweight, with no light in his eyes. We can only assume that since he was well into his teen age years, that he once had a loving home and family. We will never know his past, part of the frustration of rescue. It would have been a simple thing to walk by Adam's cage, say a silent prayer for his quick passing and move on. A rescuer however is not programmed to accomplish this. Instead, our volunteer looked at Adam and knew immediately she would take him home to die in warmth, blankets, good food, canine companion and love. She was actually at the shelter for another dog and the workers just happened to mention this pitiful senior. He was named Adam with a nod to Adam and Eve - the original! The life expectancy was about two weeks but it would be two weeks not in a cage on a cold shelter floor. Sometimes that has to be enough.

The spirit of a living being is often rejuvenated when basic needs are met. Adam relished in the comfort and safety of his new home. No one told Adam that he was only supposed to live for two weeks. Arms to hold him, hands to pat him, fresh water and food, treats, blankets, beds to choose. Adam decided that life was worth one more try. For a year and 1/2 Adam lived, not existed, but lived his life. He choose which fur fosters and siblings to play with, which bed to sleep in and steadfastly refused to enter his crate unless it was clean and smelled of Lysol. His caretaker, his Mom, happily complied.

In March, it was not Adam's spirit that failed him, it was the physical body in which that spirit resided that had given all it had. Adam had difficulty standing, staying erect, and walking. He accepted each new day as a gift, but he was also confused as to why he could not stand and enjoy his water. It was the same love and care that caused our volunteer to take Adam home from the shelter that gave her the strength to guide Adam over the bridge.

Yes, she could have just walked by that November day but that is not one of the answers to the question, What is Rescue?