PENNY'S STORY
Candy was one of my first fosters. This was her when she was still in the shelter.
I had fantasies of keeping Candy from moment one. But Candy was all consuming. Jitterbug, my first dog, clearly felt emotionally neglected. And I had just discovered Waggytail Rescue, my Raison D'etre after a long period of stark emptiness and confusion as to my personal and professional identity. How could I keep fostering, and keep up my energy for Waggytail, when all I wanted to do was lie down and hold Candy and shut the world out? I took no steps to adopt her and no steps to place her. I was suspended in the state of delicious, agonized paralysis that every foster has experienced.
I don't remember exactly how it happened that Candy went to our friend and uber foster- Gladys (and clan). I think I was going away for the weekend and Gladys watched Candy. It seemed like my idea at the time, but afterwards I figured out that Holly,
But there was something Holly hadn't counted on. The SPELL that is Candy took hold of Gladys and Clan. They adored her. Gladys gave me daily reports on what Candy was eating. They were obsessed with her. Our foster care system slowed down.. A dog like this (small, chi, no biting) is easy to place in a great home within a week, and should be placed, to free up foster space to save more new dogs from the puppy slammer (city pound)..But it wasn't happening.
Gladys did a few unorthodox things with Candy that did not meet with my approval. She said she was trying to WALK CANDY! I found that to be absurd, uncalled for, and frankly, not very nice. Candy was immobile. I had never experienced a motionless dog and assumed it was not for me to question. It was clearly Candy's choice. Why should such an important dog be bothered with something so mundane, so...pedestrian as walking? When I had Candy, I was there to move her as needed.. To gently pick her up in the morning, put her on the wee pad to make her morning pee, and when she was done, to pick her back up and place her by my side for a rigorous day of Netflix. I was concerned to hear that Gladys would put a harness on that tubby body and try to pull her.. It must have been like dragging a brick..
Gladys took very few pictures to post on Petfinder, and tried to stave off the inevitable. She bravely shooed away potential adopters-- rejecting them for sound reasons such as 'working during the day' (as IF), having other pets, talking excessively about human relationships that could interfere with 24 hour Candy focus, or otherwise seeming vaguely not 'right' for Candy.
And then, D- day.. The perfect application.. Elke. A wonderful person, from Brookline, MA, who had a great home and wanted to adopt Candy.
Gladys scoured the application for flaws- but came up dry. She forwarded it to me but I couldn't find a problem either. Panicking, I called Elke personally, but unfortunately, she seemed like a very cool person who was very ready to embark on this commitment. As a last resort-I tried to tell her everything about the dog which could be construed negatively. I tried to make the motionless thing sound boring-saying "its really just like having a stuffed animal, but its warm.." It was no use.. The wheels of fate were in motion.
Elke came to NYC and patiently waited while Gladys put Candy's green dress for the last time as the whole clan fought back their tears.
When asked why she picked Candy/Penny, Elke said "It was totally the profile. It was written in this funky, funny way. I never wanted a chihuahua - I wanted a weiner dog. I initially only clicked on Penny's picture (formerly Candy) because I was just wondering what the heck she WAS. SO weird looking! She was all wall-eyed and obese and crazy looking. I was like, is that a cat? But the profile said something about her being disinterested in self ambulation and went on to say that she looked like a cross between a cat, an alien and a dog and if you wanted to win frisbee-throwing contests she would not be the dog for you. The profile was just so funny and non-traditional while still making it clear that the foster mom really loved Penny a lot and didn't want to let her go. So this picture that at first I only clicked on out of morbid curiosity turned out to have a description next to it that hooked me right in. Next thing I knew I was on a bus to New York to pick her up!"
When I was fostering Candy I really saw it as my job to do what she seemed to desire of me-- and I fed her high fat people food. When Gladys had her she incorporated 'health' into planning the diet of this obese (not fat, OBESE) dog. Candy lost a touch of her girth (when I had her she had udders like a cow that you could see from the side when she stood up- CUTE). Elke continued and extended the bizarre traditions that Gladys had initiated- less food, healthier food, and exercise. Back when we pulled Candy/Penny from the City Pound, we were told she was spayed.. But soon after Elke adopted Penny, Penny got her period! It was understandably scary for Elke. She just got this dog and had just taken her to the vet and Penny started suddenly and unexpectedly bleeding, copiously. But Elke cleverly called us and we worked it all out.
Elke: "Also, I cannot stress enough how helpful you all were when I was getting all stressed out about her health problems that first month. Spending all that time on the phone and emailing me, you really got me through that initial fear. Now we just take it all in stride and have our routines and everything is settled down. We are so so so happy!"
We didn't know it then, but that health scare was the first sign of an emerging transformation as Penny's dormant body started to function again under Elke's care.
Elke worked with Penny, gave her love, vet care, more love, and taught her to walk more and actually enjoy it, rather than protest on the leash by planting all four feet into the ground and looking up with big, resentful bug eyes.
Elke: "You would not even BELIEVE her now! It turns out she has hypothyroidism and just two pills a day has turned her into a totally new dog! The girl runs me ragged, I'm telling you. It's been such a joy to watch her outlook and personality improve and become more active and outgoing. She does stairs! She can walk for miles! She wags like crazy and gives kisses to everyone. I cannot thank you all enough for rescuing her. "
"Penny has a bunch of health issues but it has been such a joy to suss them out and treat them and see her blossom as she gets healthy. She was not spayed when I got her and the surgery was difficult for her, but she's all better now. She has bad allergies and takes antihistamines twice a day (otherwise she scratches her skin right off). She also has hypothyroidism and takes soloxine twice a day. She has yeasty ears so I have to clean and medicate her ears a lot. I bathe her in a special shampoo twice a week and she has been on antibiotics a couple of times for infections. That may sound like a lot, but it's just the way it is around here. Penny gives so much love back now that she is feeling up to it, that I have no problem whatsoever treating her for whatever is wrong. She is a very grateful puppy!"
Elke really understood what it means to RESCUE a dog. "...there was a page, I think, on the website, about adopting rescue dogs and these are things you need to know. They are not like puppies from a breeder, these are the problems that rescue dogs often have. It made me feel like there was real honesty there. Like no one was going to sugarcoat Penny's problems or try to trick me into adopting a pet that wasn't right for me."
Elke totally got that rescuing a dog is not without trials and surprises, but seeing these dogs blossom is sooo much more gratifying than getting one ready made..
What Elke has done with her is amazing.. Its shocking that its the same dog. This video says it all..
This miracle is completely due to Elke's incredible and diligent parenting..
Thanks too, Elke, for saying such nice things about Waggytail Rescue!
"There were other factors, though, as well. The whole process of adopting her was very smooth. Such a prompt response after I submitted my application. A sincere and thorough, yet non-threatening conversation with Sarah. Meeting her at her foster mom's home where I could see her outside of a cage, sit on a couch with her, meet her, pet her, etc."
When I look at pictures of Candy I still feel wistful. They just don't come like her. We see a lot of special dogs. But there has not been another Candy, and I know now that there wont be.. I just take heart in one truth that I am still learning about dog rescue.. All rescuers, even the BEST rescuers, all have different gifts to offer. A Shelter dog is a bundle of secret treasures that need to be sequentially unlocked in their new home, and not every person has the right keys. I worshiped Candy like a GOD. But I didn't see that there was a slim, active, playful girl inside her named Penny that needed to be let out, with diet and exercise and hardcore veterinary diagnostics and medical follow up along with the love. Her mom was ALWAYS Elke. Thats why I was so confused, even before I had heard of Elke. I did not UNDERSTAND why I didn't take the steps to adopt this dog-- who touched me like no other dog has since. But now I see. Penny needed Elke, and Elke needed Penny- and in some way, they were waiting for eachother. Penny was meant to be with Elke, her REAL mom, who has given her a second life that I truly believe that no other person in the world could have given her..
/>"When I adopted Penny her name was Candy. She still doesn't know her name because I usually just call her Shweetness."
