Shelby

I found Shelby one day while driving into town to do my Christmas shopping. She rounded the corner, chasing a small yellow lab and ran right out in front of me. I almost hit her!

In her panic to get away, she jumped into the nearby ditch, that was at least 10 feet deep, with green slimy water, and tall grass that wrapped around her ankles, pulling her down. It was quite the task to get this little lady out of there!

Once I finally had her, we went door to door in the area, looking for her home. No one would own up to owning her, so I took her down to the local pound in hopes that her owner would clam her. Unfortunately, no one did, and she was ready to be released on Christmas eve.

Poor Shelby was so stressed in the shelter. She was old and frail, and just wanted to go home.

We put Shelby up on our website with a urgent plea for help. Most times, the seniors get overlooked and we were so worried the same would happen for this girl.

Lucky for Shelby, a wonderful couple contacted us and offered to give her a foster home. They drove down from Kamloops in the dead of winter to pick her up.

Shelby's is a heartwarming tale of love and complete acceptance.

She went home with them, and never left. They loved her through and through and gave her the warmth of a home and family of her own. They loved her and that is all Shelby ever wanted.

Shelby was laid to rest on July 29th 2006 after her pain could no longer be controlled and her quality of life was gone.

Her family has since gone on to help Daisy, failing fostering 102, Daisy is home to stay.

Huge thanks to Paul & Carolyn for continually stretching your heart just a little bigger each time.

Special thanks to all Shelby's sponsors:

Gerry Phillips

Cynthia Van Savage

Elizabeth H.

Steve Wasylik

From Shelby's family:

We let her go. She was in so much pain. She was graceful and allowed it with no alarm or fear. She rested her beautiful little head as we all petted her, and then she relaxed. They gave me a minute with her as she was all sleepy, and then after she was actually sleeping, they helped her pass.

Earlier in the day, I was having real second (and third, fourth, fifth) thoughts. On the way to the vet, we had to drop my daughter off somewhere else, and she was crying, so Shelby was sooo concerned about her that she almost jumped out of the car after her . . . and I thought, oh, she's not ready! But once we got there she seemed so much readier than we were. She really can't stand for more than a few minutes, so as I watched her sink to the floor, legs splayed out behind her because she can't feel what those legs are doing, I realized I just have to stop being so selfish. I was holding onto her for me, not for her.

I miss her like crazy! All night I kept listening to hear if she was struggling to get up (some nights I'm up with her quite a few times), and then I remembered she wasn't here. Although I feel really sad, her response told us she was ready. I tried asking her like you suggested, but all I could hear was my own resistance, so I got Paul to do it. That's only the third time I've ever seen Paul cry.

When I'm feeling a little better, maybe I'll write a memorial for her for your page. She is a special girl, and I love her.

~Carolyn