ABBY is a pretty, adorable, sweet, super loving little girl who had a terrible life with a farmer who totally neglected her.  She's now having her first experience ever with "love" - in a loving foster home, surrounded by kindness, comfort and fun.  And while she's sometimes  uncertain that it's real, she's loving it!!  She's put on over 15 lbs, is full of energy, and adores being close to her humans.  And when she looks at you with those big eyes of hers, you just melt!

Abby appears to have suffered extreme neglect bordering on flat-out cruelty all of her short life, starting in puppyhood.  She was dumped to die in a rural shelter by her owner, who said he couldn't afford the oatmeal shampoo for her skin allergies.  The signs we’re seeing, however, point to systematic starvation and neglect.  At the time she came into the shelter, she was starvation thin -- 2 yrs old and a mere 32 lbs -- and had been neglected to the point of extreme cruelty.  She looked like a walking skeleton, was missing huge patches of fur and scratched constantly. 

Shelter staff immediately fell in love with her and she quickly became a favorite.  They did as much as they could with no budget for vet care, and tested for mange.  The test was negative and her skin condition remained a mystery.  She stopped losing fur, but kept scratching.  Staff felt they were making some progress. 

Then one day when Abby had been at the shelter about 3 months, a state inspector came through and ordered them to get rid of her because the inspector didn't consider her adoptable. The shelter was given an ultimatum:  get rid of her in 30 days or they would be fined and written up.  The staff were heartbroken.  They loved her, didn't want to kill her, and felt the demand was unreasonable.  But they were powerless.  They called us begging for help, and we couldn't allow this atrocity to happen so took her in. 

When we met her we were stunned.  She was tiny and all skin and bones.  She weighed just 35 lbs -- she had only gained 3 lbs in 3 months at the shelter.   Her skin and coat were just as the shelter described – “terrible”.  We rushed her immediately to the vet.  Over the next few weeks we ruled out mange, yeast infections and a few other problems.  Our vet tried several different treatments and finally found one that seemed to help.  Meanwhile Abby got a high calorie, high protein homecooked gruel and all the food she could eat.  At first it was a struggle to put weight on her, but she's now steadily putting on weight and is at 48 lbs (her full weight is probably around 55 lbs).   We suspect she was systematically starved since puppyhood, and that she will always be on the small side because of it.

Abby is in a wonderful, loving foster home that includes several adults, several small children, and several large dogs.  And she’s totally at home, loving every minute of it.   Her coat looks much better and while she's still missing some large patches of fur, there is vast improvement.  

So Abby is feeling terrific these days and it shows!  She adores her foster family, and romping in her backyard to play with the other dogs.  She has a full stomach and feels better than she probably ever has in her life.   Close your eyes for just a minute and try to imagine the unthinkable suffering Abby endured for 2 yrs.  We're glad to say she's on her way out of the nightmare -- ready for a forever home with one lucky, wonderful family who will make sure she's never mistreated again.

Abby’s new forever family will need patience and TLC to help her learn all the things her original owner never taught her:  love, trust, a home and family, and the "rules" that go with those things.  She’s still somewhat uncertain and distrustful of strangers and will run and hide.  She's somewhat protective of her kennel, and if a stranger approaches will bark and possibly lunge at the kennel.  This is typical of many neglected and abused dogs - once they're safe for the first time in their lives, they become so afraid of losing this wonderful place that they don't know how to react appropriately.  They lack confidence and  training.  Building their confidence and trust is a slow, day by day process of socializing and acclimating them to a "normal" loving life.  It may be months before Abby feels comfortable romping up to a visitor in your home to say hello, but she will get there eventually.  First she just has to get overcome those 2 years of total neglect.  She just needs to be sure all is well -- and will stay well -- in her world.

Abby is great with kids and adores the two children in her foster home.  She also loves other dogs.  But most of all she adores her humans.  She would be with you constantly if she could and we suspect she'll turn into a little lover, giving you kisses, cuddles and maybe even hugs.

Right now Abby is very uncertain of strangers who visit the home. At present, all visitors need to do is literally ignore her -- not try to reach for her, touch her, or talk to her.  She will eventually come up to sniff once she's sure you're ok.  However, any attempt to touch her will either send her running or prompt a nervous nip.  She will potentially do both out of anxiety.  Again, this is a very typical reaction for a severely neglected and untrained dog, and she's already making good progress!

What we see in Abby is a tragically familiar pattern.  Seriously neglected and never knowing human kindness or a full stomach, she's now learning to trust humans from the ground floor up.  Like a puppy, she has to learn by experience – interacting with humans every day and slowly understanding she's ok, it's ok, the world's ok. 

Like most neglected dogs, Abby just needs time, TLC, and patience.  Lots of them.  But just wait til that day when she "gets it"!! You'll see a happy, bouncy, sweet, loving young lady ready to party on!  You'll see the real Abby, who will have dropped all the junk from her past life and now lives life to the fullest.

Are you up for a little bit of a project?  Is your heart big enough to find room in it to help a little girl who was systematically starved and dumped to die?  Do you have the patience to wait for the reward?   If so, please apply for Abby and let's talk!  We're looking for one VERY special family for little Abby, who's one VERY special survivor!  She deserves only the very best and we intend to see she gets it.

ABBY'S SKIN CONDITION:  We did a skin biopsy to determine the source of the itching, and found she has chronic skin allergies.  She's now on meds to relieve the itching.  The allergies are most likely caused by the extreme malnutrition she suffered beginning in puppyhood, which threw her immune system out of whack.  We're exploring holistic treatments to bring her immune system back on track using organic, natural products and eliminate the allergies rather than just medicate them.   
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DOGS:                   yes, she enjoys the other dogs and gets along fine.  Could also be an only dog
CATS:                   unknown, would have to be tested
KIDS:                    yes, lives with two children ages 6 and up
IDEAL FAMILY:      a patient family with lots of TLC and gentleness to give this wonderful, sweet girl who was severely neglected. 

ABBY's ADOPTION FEE:   $250
This fee covers only part of what we spend to vet, board and rehab the dogs we save. On average we spend over $450 on each dog. We made a decision to keep our adoption fee at the 2005 level even though vet prices have doubled and tripled since then. We are constantly fundraising to cover the deficit. At minimum, your adoption fee includes the dog's spay/neuter, heartworm test, heartworm treatment if needed, rabies shot, distemper/parvo shot, bordatella shot, deworming, monthly heartworm and flea preventives, and microchip. In many cases it also includes surgery and various types of vet treatment for standard issues such as hot spots, ear infections and so on.
 
INTERESTED IN ADOPTING ABBY?
Complete an Adoption Application Now!

Good with Dogs, Good with Kids

STOP!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER!

1. We're picky about our adopters. 
2. Are you sure you're up to having a GSD?  They're not for everyone.  They take a lot of time, effort, training.  They shed year round.  They're big.  They scare lots of people.  They "mouth" and herd.  They're usually strong-willed and stubborn.  You have to have references and a home visit.  If you're not willing or able to deal with any of this, please don't waste your time or ours applying.  
   
3. Will the dog be an inside family pet? We do not adopt to outdoor-only homes. All dogs must be indoor dogs.
4. Do you leave your dog outdoors when you're not home?   We do not adopt to homes that leave their animals outside when they're gone.  You must put your dogs indoors when you're gone.  A 3 yr old adopted MOGS dog died when the owners went to run errands, left her outdoors, the gate was somehow opened, and she was hit by a car.  Tragic and 100% preventable. Even privacy fences get broken into.  Gates are opened.  Thieves steal dogs. Never leave your dog outdoors when you're not home!!
   
5. What's your plan for unexpected events and major changes?  New baby? Divorce?  Moving?   How you will provide for your dog if your family breaks up? 
   
6. Will you make a lifetime commitment?  It's your responsibility to keep your dog safe, loved and cared for FOR LIFE.
7.  Do you understand we expect you to keep that lifetime commitment?  It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to stick by your family member -- no matter what.
8. Are you unable or unwilling to make a lifetime commitment? Do not apply.

 

Have Questions? Email us at mogsrescue@gmail.com

Thank you for considering a homeless dog or cat.