Success Story – Dixie

I had made the decision to foster our 17th foster dog, and was eagerly awaiting the German Shepherd mix that was being surrendered. At the last moment, I got a phone call telling me that there was a starving stray who needed a place to go, since arrangements hadn’t worked out. Sure, I could take her, I said – a little apprehensively. I had been told that she was a sled dog type, and huskies were not my favorite breed!
That day, a bony, frightened dog that looked a little bit wild was delivered to me. She had been running with a pack, although she had a collar with a length of chain around her neck. She had scars on her that spoke of fights, and when we let her loose in the back yard, she ran to every corner, howling like a wolf, and looking for a way out. She was startled into flight by any sudden movement, and often slammed straight into a wall in her haste to flee!
We named her Dixie, and my girl has come a long way since then. She has gone from having to be trapped in a corner to catch her – to insisting on joining me in the bathroom! She is an independent hunter and racer at the Off Leash park – truly amazing to watch – and a loving pet who leads our occasional ‘Family Howls’. There was no way I could not adopt this wonderful dog with such spirit!
I thought I would have to stop fostering now that I had three dogs, and since Dixie seemed to need me so much. Amazingly, she has turned out to be a tolerant and patient girl even now when we have other dogs come to stay for a while. She has completed our family, and proved herself a loyal friend in so many ways.