George Bailey aka GB – named after the character from the Classic old Christmas movie It’s A Wonderful Life – came to Haven the day before Thanksgiving as an urgent severe neglect case .. thankfully he is thriving in his new home. His story however shows the challenges we have every day in trying to not only save an animal but find them resources and a forever home… Our Pack Momma wrote this the day before he was formally adopted. It’s called “The Crowd” …
The Crowd cried out at the animal shelters post! Outraged and horrified they were louder than most. SAVE HIM they pleaded ! Don’t leave him to fate!
So once again in faith we stepped up to the plate. We had not the money the space or the time but we rearranged our home and scrounged every last dime.
We took the young dog quickly straight to the vet. They took one look at him and said this is one of the worst yet. Starved and neglected he was but skin and bone. A stray, they claimed, who had nary a home. This one little life – so innocent and sweet -but we did not really know if he’d get back on his feet.
But the crowd was behind us! over 600 strong!! Commenting, cheering and urging us along!
Saying we’re with you; please help this sweet boy! We will give. We will foster. They were shouting with joy!
They promised him toys and trinkets and treats… Some offered their homes when he was back on his feet
We started as simple fosters but then quickly realized he needed more than a shelter could possibly provide. There was blood work and medicine, baths and dewormer and specialty food so his poop would get firmer. We pulled him officially out of the shelter despite that he turned our farm upside down and shelter skelter! With around the clock feedings at every 4 hours he slowly turned the corner and gained strength and gained power.
But crowd -those who’d promised so faithfully to stay – we suddenly looked around and most had gone away. We praised God for the ones who stayed faithful & true; those who promised to give and actually follow through. But those who stayed faithful were only a few but we were committed and determined to see this pup through!
With the Christmas upon us we decided to call him George Bailey, and soon he was sitting up and eating more daily. He was romping and playing and gaining some weight and all rejoiced that he was not left to a cruel fate.
GB was now ready for his life to unfold & we returned to the crowd and said look now- behold!! He is ready for foster, a home, and love ! But the crowd was now as silent as a sleeping morning dove
We had fed him and loved him and took on expenses. We had stayed up all night and had rearranged fences . But now in the silence his future looked grim… For a plain black dog, rehoming rates are quite slim
Then the young girl from PetSmart fell in love not with a cause… She fell in love with his face and his tiny white paws.
She knew not of his background & social media fame but she opened her heart and was never the same. She knew only the love that she felt in her heart & that of her family he must become a new part.
So GB will be moving to North Carolina and he’s very convinced life has never been finer
Once GB was secure and his adoption announced The Crowd – who’d fallen silent – suddenly once again pounced. They were vocal again, commenting and quoting and some were even self righteously gloating. Saying they know all along it would all be ok… They seem to have forgotten that when we needed them most they mostly all went away.
We are thankful for the few who helped and stood tall and supported us and encouraged when it looked like we would fall. But we can’t help but wonder at the bulk of the crowd who were screaming and yelling and crying out loud… When they promised and talked about how they would stay but when push came to shove they mostly all went away.
Such is the cycle of rescuing critters.. at times we confess it is hard to not become bitter. So much funding and resources into this one pup we poured, but seeing George Bailey now – so loved and adored with his Mom and his Dad forever by his side we can rest once again in God’s peace and abide. A precious life has been saved and given a home and a family is blessed with a GB of their own!
