A story

Little DaisyFe was to become a part of our family.  We found her at the Howard County Animal Welfare Society, a no-kill shelter in Howard County, Maryland. We fell in love with her as soon as we saw her and made the decision to give her a home.

A few weeks ago I wrote that I wasn't ready to get another dog and that it would probably be awhile.  Well, enough of you know that when you see "the one," you know it.  Everything changed when we met her.

She had been in a kennel with her brothers and sisters.  They were a litter of mixed breed Australian Shepards and were born this past February.  They were resuced from a shelter in Georgia and were now waiting to be adopted.

Daisy was hiding at the back of the pack, seemingly not sure what to make of the two people who were sitting on the ground inside the kennel.  The other pups had swarmed over us, as puppies will, licking, jumping, nipping my beard and generally showing the unbridled enthusiasm of a new born puppy, not understanding the certain fate that awaited them had they not been rescued.


Alexa coaxed her out and held her in her lap.  it was obvious there was something special about this pup.  Though she had a mishapen left eye, she had a gentle, gentle spirit and innocence which was obvious as she gently licked Alexa's nose.  I could almost hear the pup saying "I recognize you.  You are my protector and I trust you."

Alexa was touched and my questions about a new dog disappeared as she spent more and more time with us.

To cut to the chase, we brought her home last Saturday.  She had a case of kennel cough and even though she had been given a nasal antibiotic she was still wheezing, sounding like she was sucking water through a straw.  She was given an injection of a stronger antibiotic and was returned to us with the admonition that if she got worse, contact the shelter and their vet would attend to her.

She had been given a bath before we picked her up and was wrapped in a blanket because she had been shivering.

We got her home, still wrapped in the blanket and took her into the backyard so Tellie could get a sniff of her while checking out this new addition who appeared on her turf.

The puppy spent some time outside with us, appearing not to be feeling too well; we weren't sure if it was from the bath, the antibiotics or the stress of a new place.  It was probably a combination of all three.  She was groggy and had taken a couple of wobbly steps in an effort to explore the freshly cut grass which had that outdoorsy, summery smell which ordinarly makes a puppy leap about in joy.

We took her in the house and introduced her to her bed.  She settled in immediately giving a contened sigh as she fell asleep.

As she slept, Alexa did an Internet search to try and find out what the pup's ears would look like as she grew.

What Alexa found filled us with dread, shock and horror.

White Aussie Shepards with a mishapen left eye, as our pup had, were the result of inbreeding and usually were born blind or deaf or both.  Because of this inbreeding, they were born with a double gene which would utlimately destroy their system.  A nickname for these particular pups is "Lethal White." They are called this because they are usually put down when they're born because of the propensity of complications which were sure to occur during her life. It was almost guaranteed to be cut short because of a disturbing number of medical issues.  Pups like this who are not euthanized are considered "special needs" dogs which require an extraordinary amount of testing and concentrated care, extraordinary care that was beyond our capacity.

It turned out the pup had indeed been born deaf.  She didn't know how to bark because she had never heard another dog.  She would never hear our voices calling to her.  She would never recognize the words "come" or "sit" or "good girl."

To jump even further ahead, we had to make the agonizing decision to take her back, especially in light of what we had just been through with Jersey. We were so not equipped to provide for her special circumstances and would have to let another family better able to provide her the care she required take her home.  We knew she would be adopted quickly and would get a home.

The next evening we made the another decision that we would go back to get her.  No matter what it took, she needed us and we needed her in our lives.  No one would be better equipped to take care of her than we were.  We would name her DaisyFe.  Fe meaning "faith." We had faith everything would be alright.

Alexa e-mailed the shelter to tell them we would pick her up in the morning.

We received a return e-mail.  She had unexplicably and suddenly passed away.

Another hole in our lives; another heartbreak; another devastation.

I'm so thankful that in the few hours she was with us she was able to have an experience of family.  We experienced the joy of providing help, shelter and love for a helpless being. She was going to be ours and we would love her.

DaisyFe, now you are whole and healed.  Your spirit is with Jersey and ultimately, there is no better place to be.