It is a common weekly, sometimes daily occurrence to receive another plea for help from Almost Home Foster & Rescue’s Foster Momma Felicia Stilley. This woman, upon waking nearly every day, finds another abandoned, dumped, neglected, four-legged furbaby in her yard. Word has gotten around her hometown that she cares for and fosters the unwanted furbabies…and she is taken advantage of. This is the reason as to why so many AFHK furbabies are making their way to Minnesota by way of Oklahoma. So many around this nation view cats and dogs as commodities, money makers, employees, and worse…disposable. Done with, don’t want it? Just toss it, throw it away, use it for target practice, dog fighting…the excuses and reasons are immeasurable and disgusting. More and more we find that instead of teaching our children how to properly treat and handle animals, we witness the abuse and beating of animals who, in their innate self-preservation at will growl, snap, or give warnings to the one wronging them. Then to be subjected to and suffer the consequences of ignorance.
Little Elle came to Almost Home Foster & Rescue, timid, afraid, and with the mindset that she would survive. She didn’t like to be touched and when one attempted to handle her she placed her mouth on the hand that held her; she didn’t bite, but she was truly fearful of all humans. This little three-year-old had been abused, neglected and then tossed aside.
It took time for Elle to trust. Each night we had to “catch” her when it was time to come in. Every night, she was the last one in. To Elle, this must have been more problematic than just letting us carry her, for it wasn’t long afterward that she was jumping into our laps and finding comfort in the humans around her. We knew that only the quietest homes, one where voices were soft and low, and where Elle would be able to progress at her comfort would be acceptable.
We found that family. John and Kathleen have fostered for and adopted from the metro area rescues in the past. They are well versed with the Rat-Terrier breed and love them. The meet and greet was a success and Elle settled in with her new family in her lovely home with a huge fenced yard. We checked in with Elle’s family a couple of days later…. She was sleeping with her new momma at night and loving every belly rub she could solicit from her poppa.
We are truly grateful John and Kathleen for opening your hearts and home to this little girl. Thank you for giving her the family that she needs and deserves. Heart hugs always.
