Meet Zoe! (formerly "macarena" of the Lancaster shelter. When we first met her, she was at the Lancaster shelter (which is a high-kill shelter), in ISO , where the public could not see her. Her eyes were crusted shut with an untreated eye and skin infection that went deep into the fold ...of her skin, along with a severe URI and VERY SKINNY.
She was terrified, unable to see anything and only able to hear screaming and crying dogs around her.
She wasnt feeling well and has a temperature. She ran away
as they tried to take her out. Body frozen, tail between her
legs.Cowering in the corner, unsure of where they were taking her.
Little did she know it was her lucky day.

Many
kind souls had been networking her online and fighting to save her
life...and it worked. It just so happened we were in Lancaster to drop
off some paperwork on a senior bulldog we had rescued a month earlier.
And though we were short on funds, we were full of love and simply
could not leave her there in such horrific conditions.So we brought her
home, health waiver in hand, and immediately to out veterinarian.
Though she was in such excruciating pain , she stood still while they
peeled the scabs off her eyes so she could open them. Blood and pus
pouring everywhere, she began to lick the veterinarian as if to say
thank you. It was then when I saw her sheer determination to live,
thrive and be a good dog.

Now,
onto the medical. My vet who performed all kinds of tests to determine
whether it was mange, allergies, cancerous etc. and ultimately
concluded that this was the result of severe malnutrition and a URI
left untreated until it became a secondary skin, nose and eye
infection. He felt that this could be treated with medications, gave
her shots . Sent her home with some topical and some antibiotics. and
even from yesterday to today I have noticed some MAJOR improvements in
the appearance of her eyes. He obviously will not spay her right now
because of her health but we did have to pay the trust for her.The vet
noticed many scars along her body. Many that appeared to be from
fighting, others he surmassed as likely abuse.She had been bred many
times , probably never touched or petted judging by the way she cowered
whenever a hand went near her -and then surrendered to the cold cement
floors of the shelter to die alone, by owners who did not wish to pay
for the medical she so desperately needed.

But
My what a difference a day or two can make!! the girl who came to us
four days ago afraid of her own shadow now is at my feet following me
EVERYWHERE I go. She is still afraid of new people , but my god what a
sweet kind and loving disposition! I showed her a squeaky toy yesterday
(which she had obviously never seen before) and after careful
examination, she decided that she had no interest in it. Her only focus
in life is me at all times. So i began throwing it,and she would run to
it , stare at it and then come back to me. After about 15 minutes of
this, she started picking it up and after another 15 minutes she began
handing it back to me. Now she loves "fetch". I guess my point is that
this is a dog who learned to [play fetch pretty quickly AND simply
because she wanted so badly to please ME. This speaks volumes to me
about the character of this dog.

While
she is getting comfortable with me, she has really opened up and is
learning to trust. We go out in the yard and play. In the first couple
of days, I did try to bring my most submissive dog, a german shepherd
who is very gentle and non-invasive out to see how she would
react...and she was VERY untrusting of other dogs. Her body froze ,
tail between the leg. She tried desperately to avoid him and stare at
me with pleading eyes not to let him near her at all costs and when he
approached she lunged at him.Now, 2 days later, they romp around in the
yard together and cuddle up at night. She is learning that not everyone
or everything will hurt her. And she is so grateful and loving and
kind.She knows she's safe now.I know the economy is rough and none of
us are rich, but would you guys be so kind as to contribute toward her
medical bills so that we can continue to rescue dogs and have successes
like this? Were in for almost 800.00 at this point, and more by the
time her treatments are though..so any donations would certainly be
helpful. We have come to feel really honored by the progress she is
making with us ! If 20 people donated 40.00 , we could pay the vet in
no time!Dogs like her would not stand a chance if it weren't for the
generosity of good souls who network like crazy, bail them out and
incur great personal costs to get them well! So thanks to all of you
for what you do, whether its donate or network. You all play an
important role in the life of dogs like Zoe.