A few weeks ago, Jim emailed me about a dog named Frosty. Only 18 months old, this young boy was in dire straits. His current owners wanted to surrender him to Nebraska Heart Bandits, but not for those reasons we so typically hear. There was no new baby, no family relocation, no “aggressive” tendencies. Frosty’s only fault was one not of his own making – One that was not his fault, but that he intrepidly coped with through loneliness, pain, and suffering.
The family told us that in July, Frosty was hit by a car. This accident robbed Frosty of his ability to use his back legs. Frosty could not run or jump, could not chase a ball or beg for treats. He scraped along, dragging his useless back legs behind him. His owners took him to a vet after the accident, but when the suggested treatment was surgery, they sought a second opinion. A second vet told them that an operation was the best way to go.
Still, Frosty’s people chose to “wait and hope” that his condition would improve rather than undertake a surgery.
When they contacted us, we were still full on dogs from the puppy mill. It would have been an extraordinary undertaking to support this dog – one we do not have a foster family equipped to do. Nor could we leave him at the boarder who is taking care of our heart worm positive seniors. Our hearts went out to the family – we offered to help them get Frosty a wheel chair and offered to make payment arrangements with them according to what they could afford… We offered to look for other rescue opportunities for Frosty.
Then, contact stopped.
We hadn’t given up, so Jim kept trying to reach them. Eventually, we were told that we “were too slow” and Frosty had been abandoned at the small, Central Nebraska animal shelter. We found out that Frosty was not injured in July… He was injured in April. Because he could not clean himself properly, his “family” banished Frosty to the back yard for six months of brutal heat, heavy rain, and intense loneliness. Now, Frosty would have the standard hold time at the shelter– but he was unadoptable. He would be euthanized shortly after his hold time, just a few days.
Unacceptable to Jim, unacceptable to me, unacceptable to you. Immediately, we set into motion. Jim searched across the country, from the famous Best Friends Animal sanctuary in Utah (star of the Animal Planet series, “Dogtown”) to private rescues all over. No one seemed to have room for Frosty, or wanted an exorbitant fee to take him. Eventually, we got in touch with a place called Home for Life in Wisconsin – they would take Frosty if we could neuter, vaccinate, and transport him.
I kicked into gear as soon as Jim told me we had a home for him. At 10:30 that night, I began contacting donors and sponsors all over the country. I created a donation page where anyone who wanted to save Frosty could donate any amount. We needed $600 for the shelter pull fee, neuter, vaccines, and cost of transportation… I set the wheels in motion. Then, I went to bed and dreamed of Eskies.
Then, something close to miraculous happened. When I woke up at 8:00 the next morning, we had raised $450! Everyone we spoke to was touched by the little dog’s story, and gave what they could. I put out a fresh plea – if we could just have 15 people donate $10, we could save Frosty’s life.
I went to work, and just 5 hours later – less than 18 hours after our initial plea for Frosty – we had raised $735. Frosty was safe. Donations continued to come in, and after we found out that Home for Life usually asks for a $1200 drop off fee, we promised to take any excess funds to them. We ended up raising a total of $815.00. Over two dozen people donated – over two dozen people helped save Frosty’s life.
Jim pulled Frosty from the shelter, and his condition was much of what I expected. Covered in sores with the fur rubbed off of his legs, wary of the new situation, and in need of a lot of TLC. While Frosty was still coming out of the anesthesia from his neuter, he snapped at Jim. I figured that was to be expected; Frosty had been neglected severely by the family he trusted during an important time in his life. He would need a lot of work.
The next morning, I got a surprise. Frosty was a love machine! He clamored all over Jim for kisses, stuck close to him for the whole time they were together. During the transport, Jim and Frosty had to stay overnight at a hotel and Frosty refused to sleep until Jim dragged his pillow and blanket on to the floor next to Frosty’s! He knew, just like Toby knew after his neglect, just like our puppy mill rescues knew after their neglect, that Jim was there to help him. Frosty was an Eskie through and through – brave and hardy, loving and playful.
Jim left Frosty at Home for Life, where there are many paralyzed dogs like him. They will let Frosty rest for a few days, and then begin hydrotherapy for his legs. He may regain their use, yet! Of course, Frosty will have all the veterinary care and sanitary help he needs – gone are the days of grinding down his legs just to get through a dirty yard. Home for Life will get Frosty a wheel cart or other equipment to help him move.
This one young dog needed a second chance after an accident not of his own making robbed him of his puppy enthusiasm. Many times since I first knew of Frosty’s situation, I’ve cried for him. For his suffering, for his loss. In thanks that my own beautiful dog is healthy and whole. Tonight, I’ve cried a little for Frosty again - for joy renewed, for his second chance. Frosty was given undeniable proof that good people will stand up in the face of cruelty, that we can stand together and say each life matters – no matter how small.
Visit Home for Life at http://www.homeforlife.org
Sponsor Frosty’s care: http://www.homeforlife.org/sponsor.htm
The family told us that in July, Frosty was hit by a car. This accident robbed Frosty of his ability to use his back legs. Frosty could not run or jump, could not chase a ball or beg for treats. He scraped along, dragging his useless back legs behind him. His owners took him to a vet after the accident, but when the suggested treatment was surgery, they sought a second opinion. A second vet told them that an operation was the best way to go.
Still, Frosty’s people chose to “wait and hope” that his condition would improve rather than undertake a surgery.
When they contacted us, we were still full on dogs from the puppy mill. It would have been an extraordinary undertaking to support this dog – one we do not have a foster family equipped to do. Nor could we leave him at the boarder who is taking care of our heart worm positive seniors. Our hearts went out to the family – we offered to help them get Frosty a wheel chair and offered to make payment arrangements with them according to what they could afford… We offered to look for other rescue opportunities for Frosty.
Then, contact stopped.
We hadn’t given up, so Jim kept trying to reach them. Eventually, we were told that we “were too slow” and Frosty had been abandoned at the small, Central Nebraska animal shelter. We found out that Frosty was not injured in July… He was injured in April. Because he could not clean himself properly, his “family” banished Frosty to the back yard for six months of brutal heat, heavy rain, and intense loneliness. Now, Frosty would have the standard hold time at the shelter– but he was unadoptable. He would be euthanized shortly after his hold time, just a few days.
Unacceptable to Jim, unacceptable to me, unacceptable to you. Immediately, we set into motion. Jim searched across the country, from the famous Best Friends Animal sanctuary in Utah (star of the Animal Planet series, “Dogtown”) to private rescues all over. No one seemed to have room for Frosty, or wanted an exorbitant fee to take him. Eventually, we got in touch with a place called Home for Life in Wisconsin – they would take Frosty if we could neuter, vaccinate, and transport him.
I kicked into gear as soon as Jim told me we had a home for him. At 10:30 that night, I began contacting donors and sponsors all over the country. I created a donation page where anyone who wanted to save Frosty could donate any amount. We needed $600 for the shelter pull fee, neuter, vaccines, and cost of transportation… I set the wheels in motion. Then, I went to bed and dreamed of Eskies.
Then, something close to miraculous happened. When I woke up at 8:00 the next morning, we had raised $450! Everyone we spoke to was touched by the little dog’s story, and gave what they could. I put out a fresh plea – if we could just have 15 people donate $10, we could save Frosty’s life.
I went to work, and just 5 hours later – less than 18 hours after our initial plea for Frosty – we had raised $735. Frosty was safe. Donations continued to come in, and after we found out that Home for Life usually asks for a $1200 drop off fee, we promised to take any excess funds to them. We ended up raising a total of $815.00. Over two dozen people donated – over two dozen people helped save Frosty’s life.
Jim pulled Frosty from the shelter, and his condition was much of what I expected. Covered in sores with the fur rubbed off of his legs, wary of the new situation, and in need of a lot of TLC. While Frosty was still coming out of the anesthesia from his neuter, he snapped at Jim. I figured that was to be expected; Frosty had been neglected severely by the family he trusted during an important time in his life. He would need a lot of work.
The next morning, I got a surprise. Frosty was a love machine! He clamored all over Jim for kisses, stuck close to him for the whole time they were together. During the transport, Jim and Frosty had to stay overnight at a hotel and Frosty refused to sleep until Jim dragged his pillow and blanket on to the floor next to Frosty’s! He knew, just like Toby knew after his neglect, just like our puppy mill rescues knew after their neglect, that Jim was there to help him. Frosty was an Eskie through and through – brave and hardy, loving and playful.
Jim left Frosty at Home for Life, where there are many paralyzed dogs like him. They will let Frosty rest for a few days, and then begin hydrotherapy for his legs. He may regain their use, yet! Of course, Frosty will have all the veterinary care and sanitary help he needs – gone are the days of grinding down his legs just to get through a dirty yard. Home for Life will get Frosty a wheel cart or other equipment to help him move.
This one young dog needed a second chance after an accident not of his own making robbed him of his puppy enthusiasm. Many times since I first knew of Frosty’s situation, I’ve cried for him. For his suffering, for his loss. In thanks that my own beautiful dog is healthy and whole. Tonight, I’ve cried a little for Frosty again - for joy renewed, for his second chance. Frosty was given undeniable proof that good people will stand up in the face of cruelty, that we can stand together and say each life matters – no matter how small.
Visit Home for Life at http://www.homeforlife.org
Sponsor Frosty’s care: http://www.homeforlife.org/sponsor.htm
This is the little face you saved!
Not too sure of the camera here, but Frosty will soon be able to play and romp with other dogs.
Some of Frosty's new pals with mobility issues like his.