Hadley

She doesn’t know us.  We anxiously await her arrival.  She curls in a ball, wrapped in a blanket in her travel crate.  We wait and worry and fret.  She doesn’t know us.  She doesn’t know where she is going or what comes next.  Yet she still musters all her strength and fortitude to stay alive.

Hadley was found abandoned by a lake.  She was in bad shape and a good Samaritan brought her to the nearest shelter.  They reached out to Safe Hands Rescue and now she was on her way to join us.

We have made careful preparations for her arrival.  We have soft beds and blankets ready, healing lotion for her skin, supplements for strength and a veterinarian to meet the transport.  It was not enough.  One look at Hadley and we knew she needed more than I could give her.  She had done her part.  She made it here.  Now we would do ours.  She went straight to Blue Pearl for intensive care.  She required an emergency blood transfusion that evening.

Our girl is a survivor though.  She made this it this far.  She wasn’t going to give up now.  I often wonder about the resilience of dogs, especially ones so very young.  Where does her faith and fortitude come from?  What makes Hadley believe there is something better for her?  Why does she believe there is something to fight for?  She had no reason to believe…and yet she did.  She was able to come home after two days.

In just one week of love and care she was healing well.  Her skin was less red and angry.  Her eyes were brighter.

She was a very good eater!  She gained weight and strength, her coat grew in.  Like the Velveteen Rabbit love brought her back to life again (that and good medicine and good food!).

Her ears took on a life of their own.

From this…..                                                                …to this.

This is the change that is possible when someone believes you are a treasure worth fighting for.  Hadley, you are a gem my dear.  The Safe Hands’ Army believes it.