Jesse - RIP

7/10/10: We lost poor Jesse yesterday. This boy had a very rough start in life. He was dumped at a shelter by his family. He was skin and bones, weighing only 82 lbs when he should have been around 125 lbs. His family just didn't want him anymore. He was heartworm positive, covered in ticks and had swollen feet from infection. He was scared and unsure and you could see in his eyes that he only wanted someone to love him.

Jesse was pulled from the shelter and placed in a wonderful, loving foster home fully prepared to care for him and make him healthy so that he could finally find his forever home. At first, all seemed well with his personality. Unfortunately, as he started getting more comfortable in his foster home, his rough past started to catch up to him. He started having random, unpredictable and escalating aggression towards the people in his foster home. There were no triggers, otherwise we would have stuck by him and worked with him through his issues. It was decided that it was not safe to adopt him out knowing how unpredictable he could be and knowing the damage that a dog his size could cause so his foster mom and another volunteer helped him cross over the bridge...feeding him yummy treats, petting him and letting him know what a good boy he was as he was laid to rest.

Jesse is just one example of what neglect can do to an animal who only wants someone to love and care for them. It can change them...break them down. Most times they are grateful for the help they get through rescue...sometimes they are so damaged that the only thing we can do for them is let them go peacefully. For the last few weeks, Jesse knew love and affection thanks to his foster family. Jesse knew what it was like to have a home and someone to be there for him, care for him and to have food provided to him. Jesse did not leave this world unloved for he had his rescue friends and his wonderful foster family there for him until the very end.

With rescue, and especially fostering, there comes love, sweat and tears. Becoming attached to a foster dog is very easy to do but learning to let go is much, much harder. To have to make the choice to release a foster from their demons is one of the hardest decisions one could ever be faced with. You can't help but wonder...what if he had come to us sooner? Could we have saved him? What if I'd done more? If I'd just given him more time? But in the end, you know you did the right thing for the safety of those around you and because, if only for a short time, you loved that foster so much that you knew he/she deserved the last kindess that you could offer. There is another star in the sky tonight...and it's name is Jesse. Please keep Jesse and his foster family in your thoughts.

6/30/10: Jesse is a young Dane who is completely emaciated and heartworm positive. At his first vet appointment, he weighed 82 lbs. We are estimating due to his size that he should be around 125 lbs. He was covered in ticks, and his feet are swollen. He is being evaluated by one of our veterinarians for any additional health problems. Heartworm treatment alone will cost $400, but he can't begin that until his body is at a better weight. Jesse will be undergoing treatment over the next couple of months and will be available for adoption as soon as he is healthy enough. Estimated cost for his heartworm treatment alone is $400. If you are interested in donating to Jesse's care, please contact us and we will tell you how. NO amount is too small!!