I drove into Missoula late last night to pick up Emmy at the airport. She arrived on a Northwest Airlines flight from Minneapolis, and had started her journey earlier in the day in Charlotte, North Carolina. Emmy and I arrived back at the ranch at 1 a.m.
But her trip to the sanctuary really began on April 20, when we received an email about Emmy -- then named Keller -- from a dedicated rescuer named Mika V. in Asheville, North Carolina. Here are excerpts from Mika's email:
"Hello Steve and Alayne,
I was so happy when a friend of mine forwarded your website to me! I really need you guys! Three days ago a blind and deaf Catahoula was dropped off at my house by a relative of the original owners. She had saved this dog because the dog (named Keller by me) was in a pen her whole life, living in poop. The pen did not even have a door and needed to be cut open to get her out. Her food was thrown on the poop-covered ground. The owners wanted to have Animal Control pick her up, but AC said they would put down Keller because of her disabilities, and that’s when the niece stepped in and started an email campaign to find a foster. And here I am.
When she arrived she was understandably TERRIFIED. She wouldn't come out of her crate and was shaking like a leaf. She was so pathetic, she crawled around on her belly when she left the crate (not often.) I wanted to cry every time I saw her. Of course I am being as loving and calming as I can with her and she’s licking my hands. Just ate a wee bit and drank.
She is sweet as pie, so sweet she lets me pick her up when she is too scared to walk, and she licks my hands and burrows into my lap to be closer. Poor girl. I have been leading her around with the leash and my hand in front of her nose so she knows it's me.
She is the most docile dog ever. She has all the reason in the world to be non-trusting, and leave it to a dog..... she is the sweetest natured zen dog ever.
I need help! I am not an expert at rescuing blind and deaf dogs. I have no idea how to train her. Do you guys have room for one more? I would really like her to go to you, you seem to have such a nice place, small enough for her to get some individual attention."
Well, after a flurry of emails and calls, we agreed to take her. Mika arranged and paid for the dog's flight to Montana. This is the crate Emmy arrived in.
Kathryn and Beth suggested naming her Emmy today, and Alayne agreed. (As the only guy here, I find the wisest course of action is simply to agree to whatever they collectively decide.)
Emmy is every bit as sweet as Mika said she was. She has definitely come out of her shell, and even last night she was ready to plow into a late supper before I put her to bed.
It turns out that Emmy has some hearing, although just how much we can't quite tell. Mika had noticed her beginning to respond to some sounds. It looks like she has no eyeballs ... they're just white inside, which remind us of our own blind and deaf Spinner, but Emmy's eyes aren't quite the same.
She's now staying in our new welcome center for her two-week isolation. (This is the former cat house -- we moved the cats to another cottage and converted the building to a welcome center for visitors.) That's where I took the first photo. During the day she has an outdoor enclosure to enjoy, which is where I took this last photo of her late this afternoon.
Thanks to a wonderful and generous soul like Mika, sweet Emmy gets to enjoy a new life at the sanctuary.
(Click on photos for larger image.)
It is so great to see that a place was found for this wonderful dog. He's been posted for a long time on a site that I administer at http://www.blinddogs.com/ - you can see a picture of Emmy in his original pen before he was rescued on the urgent page where he's been posted for a long time - he had lived there his whole life with a little terrier mix and they had to remove the cage in order to get them out. When they first got Emmy out she crawled everywhere because she couldn't understand what being out in the world meant. So what an adventure life at the ranch is going to be! What a gift!
Posted by: Joan | June 30, 2006 at 10:29 PM
God bless Mika, for Emmy is a beautiful little blessed soul now. She will be treated with love and kindness and comfort. Can't wait to meet her. I had a Catahoula like her once. No dog should ever be treated so inhumanely. I hope the people were punished severly for their cruelty. Enjoy your new home, Emmy, and the sweet joy of Steve and Alaynes loving hearts. See you soon!
Posted by: Barbara Arenal | May 11, 2006 at 11:41 AM
Thank you RDR and thank you Mika, and may sweet Emmy know she is safe and loved evermore. I am so happy for her, there are tears in my eyes.
Give her a tummy skritch for me!
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | May 08, 2006 at 02:09 PM
In a world full of cruelty, it is good to know that people like Mika and everyone at RDR exist. Please send kisses to Emmy. She is a beautiful girl who deserves a beautiful life full of love and happiness.
Posted by: Leigh | May 05, 2006 at 02:06 PM
What horrible conditions Emmy was in! I cried when I read how she was kept! This sweet and lovely girl has paid her dues and truly deserves to be at RDR.
Welcome sweet Emmy! You can relax now because you'll be bathed in love and protection from now on.
XOXOX
Posted by: Leilani | May 05, 2006 at 01:51 PM
You guys are just amazing. I can not understand how people can be so miserable.
But you and Alayne give me hope for humanity.
Take care and have a great weekend.
Posted by: Linda Lee Balkin | May 05, 2006 at 11:44 AM
Welcome to the ranch, Emmy, you're a lovely girl. And thanks to Mika for paying your way and asking for help. You'll have a good life now, sweet girl.
Posted by: Roz | May 05, 2006 at 08:29 AM
Emmy looks like a real sweetheart. Bless you Mika for saving her from being destroyed & paying her fare to get her to RDR! You are an angel for doing all those wonderful things to save such a sweet creature.
Emmy looks like she knows she has reached a loving place. I know she will thrive with all the love and attention at the RDR.
Welcome Emmy, you have live through some horrific things, but you have arrived at your just reward!
Big welcome hugs,
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | May 05, 2006 at 03:39 AM
Welcome Emmy! She is such a cutie pie.
How wonderful for sweet people like Mika to do the right and generous thing. :o)
Posted by: Alicat | May 04, 2006 at 10:33 PM
What a heart of gold Mika has for neglected animals!
Welcome Emmy! You are beautiful and I know you will soon be enjoying the high life with the rest of the precious pooches at the ranch!
Posted by: Nina | May 04, 2006 at 10:31 PM
Thank you guys for taking in Emmy! I miss her but I know she is safe with you and will have a great life on the ranch. I hope she learns to roll with the rest of them. Please give occasional updates on who she's friends with and what's new with her.... I'll never forget her. Never ever.
Posted by: Mika | May 04, 2006 at 10:10 PM
She looks young and beautiful! Do you know how old she may be? Hopefully, young enough to have not suffered for too long (like even a day is too long) and will completely get over the memory of her days before RDR! Good job!
Posted by: Karen SA/TX | May 04, 2006 at 08:48 PM