I took this photo of our newest arrival, Kasha, and Alayne this afternoon. Kasha arrived late Thursday night. Alison James, our new development director, was planning to head to Spokane last week on personal business, and kindly offered to pick up Kasha and bring her out to the ranch for us. (Alison starts her new job with us tomorrow, on Monday, and will help Alayne and me on the office side of running the sanctuary.)
Kasha is much smaller than we expected, weighing in at about 30 pounds. This photo — like the original photo the shelter took of her — makes her look bigger than she is. She actually is barely up to our knees. Kasha is very skinny — I might even call her emaciated because all her ribs stick out — and clearly her life before getting to the shelter was not a nice one.
For example, she began digging under the wooden fence in our isolation yard so she can get out to be with the other dogs, and when I went up to the fence and said "No!" in a loud, firm voice, Kasha slinked away and disappeared into her cottage. I found her cowering in her crate, too afraid to come out. Once I coaxed her out — she urinated submissively on the floor on the way to me, however — and made all over her, the dark cloud lifted and she became a playful, bouncy puppy again.
I guess, having had a foot chopped off, it’s amazing she isn’t more afraid. But most of the time she is a very happy girl. She’s been going on walks around the ranch, and she loves these opportunities to explore. Kasha’s a bit of a tugboat, in fact, and it’s hard to believe she had a limb amputated a few days ago. She just wants to get up and go! She is such a sweet, loving little thing.
On Wednesday, when Kasha was discharged from the hospital in Spokane, a kind lady named Christie fostered her overnight for us until Alison could pick up Kasha on Thursday afternoon. I wanted to share part of an email Christie sent me Thursday:
"I just want to thank you and your group for the work you do. I have worked in a vet clinic for 10 years. And have been a foster home and rescue transporter for 8 years. NEVER have I seen a rescued animal have the ability to receive the best services in town. Most rescues are fixed by local veterinarians who donate much of the costs just so treatments can be done. Treatments are always the bare minimum. Kasha is very lucky to have such a group as yours caring for her."
When I thanked Christie for her note, I told her we were able to provide this kind of medical care for our disabled animals only because we are blessed with incredibly generous supporters from across the U.S. and Canada. Yes, Kasha is lucky in many respects — lucky to be alive! — but we are lucky to have such kind and compassionate people supporting our work with these wonderful animals. It’s what makes possible everything we do here.
(Click on photo for larger image.)
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