Friday, June 4, 2010

You don't need to be rich or famous to make a difference


PeoplePets.com It was a call Sheila Zachar won't soon forget. Her friend, James Beavers, a homeless veteran living at an abandoned car wash in East Memphis, Tenn., had just rescued a 40-lb. dog from a 6-ft. pit of oil, and desperately needed Zachar's help getting her out of the disturbing—and messy—situation.

Earlier that day, Beavers had noticed a truck speeding away from the car wash, followed by the sound of a dog in distress. He couldn't pinpoint where the wails were coming from, but as the whimpering continued, he kept up the search.

That's when he found the 8-year-old German shepherd mix struggling for her life amid oil, stagnant water and trash. The dog had just recently given birth, and her abuser used the pit, formerly a hole for dumping runoff oil and water, as a cruel grave.

Left for Dead
Beavers yelled for help, but when no one responded he took matters into his own hands, using rope to pull out the dog. He then called his friend Zachar from a payphone. The retired respiratory therapist, who rescues animals with her husband, threw on some old clothes, grabbed a few blankets and drove out to the scene. When she arrived, she saw the dog drenched with oil.

"When we got there, Mr. Beavers had already gotten her out of the pit," Zachar tells PEOPLEPets.com of the May 13 rescue. "He had a blanket on her, and he was just beside himself. ... It's so strange how God works. Here's a man that most people would consider has been thrown away, living in a thrown away area, and rescues a dog that has been thrown away. I really think it was divine intervention that allowed him to save her."

Although the dog couldn't stand, Zachar says the shepherd was strong enough to hold her head up and peer out the window on the ride to the shelter. "We just scooped her up and put her on the floor in the back of my car," Zachar says. "Oil was globbing off of her. Everything we used, anything that oil touched, had to be thrown away. It took a couple of days to get the stench out."

John Robinson, a manager at the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County, helped welcome the dog to the shelter. "When I went out to the truck to get her, before I even crossed the parking lot, you could smell how much she was covered in the oil and stagnant water," he said

One Tough Dog
The dog had to be rushed to animal emergency care due to the amount of time she spent submerged in the toxic pit, yet she remained strong. "Usually dogs like that are almost laying on their side," Robinson says. "They can't lift their head, and they're very out of it. She was not. She was still alert, still holding her head up. She's a fighter. She's tough."

To remove the thick, sticky substance from her coat, doctors had to bathe her repeatedly. Robinson says the resilient canine is now doing much better than when she arrived, yet she still needs two or three more baths to remove the oil residue from her coat.

Since the incident hit the local news, her owners have come forward to claim the dog, whose name is Harley. They brought pictures of the shepherd with them to the shelter, and Robinson could tell by the dog's excited reaction that they were her family.

The owners say they let her go out into the front yard, and they believe that someone in the neighborhood picked up Harley and threw her into the pit. She had already given birth, so her puppies were safe — but the family will soon surrender all five of the pups to the shelter, where they will be spayed and neutered and put up for adoption.

Harley is also being spayed and microchipped, and will go back home June 4 after Robinson and his team talk to the family about how to safeguard their pets.

"She's a whole different dog," says Robinson. "She's got a lot of energy ... (and) there's not an aggressive bone in her body. She's kind of the star of the show up here."

The cruel act is still being investigated. No reward is set at this time, but anyone with information can contact the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County.
National Canine Cancer Foundation

27 comments:

bbes tribe said...

What a terrible but great story. Terrible in that someone did that to her but great in that she was saved & reunited with her family.
Tailwags,
Ernie,Sasha,Chica
PeeEss: When you visit us you can "pick up" your award.

A MilShelb Mom said...

I am constantly amazed at both the horribleness of some people and the incredible bravery and generosity of others. It is amazing just how different people can be. It breaks my heart that that dog was ever put into a situation like that, but I am so glad someone was able to save her.

the magic sleigh said...

Wooos! what a sad story with a happy ending. Thank Dog fur those humans to take it upon themselves to help that poor girl.
God bless them
~husky kisses~
-Kira The BeaWootiful

Martha said...

We are glad there was a happy ending but a very sad story.
love
Martha and Bailey xxx

Sue said...

The cruelty of people never ceases to amaze me. How someone can intentionally hurt a small animal or child is something I will never understand. I'm glad that this time there was a good ending, too many times there isn't.

JacksDad said...

I didn't want to cry today, so I'm so glad there was a happy ending!!

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

What a kind, thoughtful man. I can not imagine how anyone could be so cruel to a dog and he probably can't either.

Sagira said...

I say this a ton of times everyday...but I just don't understand some people. :(

Mrs. JP said...

How can people sleep at night after doing something so cruel! Praise God for her knight in shining armor and the people who are taking care of her. I'm glad the pups and mom are getting fixed. What's the problem w/ people? Why, oh why.
Still, it's a good story and thanks for relating it.

houndstooth said...

I am so glad that she was reunited with her family! As for the rest, I have no words!

♥I am Holly♥ said...

I am so happy that story had a very happy ending!! The cruelness of whoever did this act really gets to me though. I just can't understand how anyone could do an act so horrid. It did have a happy ending thank goodness thanks to wonderful people. Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

Teddy Bear said...

Such a sad but happy story. We're so happy that Harley was found and returned to her pawrents. It's disgusting how some humans can be so cruel.

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

How nice fur that happy ending -

She's a beaWOOty and khwite the spirited one!

As fur the piece of khrap that did that to her.....

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Khousin Merdie

Sam said...

That's one lucky dog. I hope that her family will see that it's a blessing that she's coming back to them alive and will be more careful with her.

Piappies World said...

It is so sad how people can be so heartless sometimes. It is indeed a blessing that Harley was found, rescued and been reunited with her pups and hoomans.


-Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai, Wai-Max & the Piappies

Lola and also Franklin, too said...

It's hard to understand what kind of mind would do something like that to a dog. I hope the person is caught and has to pay bigtime for that. I'm so glad that there was a concerned human able to help. Now it would be nice if the human could find a home, too, wouldn't it?

wags, Lola

Tweedles -- that's me said...

"Doggy angels" helped.
That is what made it good
love
tweedles

Unknown said...

I'm so glad it's a happy ending. Thanks for sharing this .

KB said...

Awful, awful, awful. But, at least a hero came to her rescue. Animals bring out the absolute best in some people but there are those few people who are the opposite.

I hope that she's safe with her original family.

Taffy said...

Yay for Harley and double yay for James Beavers! Seems strange that someone would steal a dog just to dump her.....something just doesn't seem to add up here but I am so glad that she was rescued!!!!
Snuggles,
Twix

Helping Shepherds of Every Color Rescue said...

We are always amazed at the goodness and the badness out there.
THanks for creating awareness.
Turke and Mom

Becca & Mandy said...

It just makes me so mad when people abuse animals in such a cruel and purposeful way! I'd like to throw them in the pit and see how they felt about it! Thank god we have people in the world that will do anything to save a dog that's not even their own!

ocmist said...

There are 6 corgis, a Border Collie, and a Grammy GROWLING BIG TIME around here! We'd like to get hold of that... creature... that would do this to this poor baby! We are just so glad that she was rescued by that sweet man... a REAL man!!!

Dogs in Bahrain said...

It is really terrible how some people can be so cruel.

Arran, Arthur and Mum said...

Thanks for sharing this story. I so like happy endings.

the teacher's pets said...

Furrst of all, thank you for visiting my mom's blog and furr leaving a comment! I like your blog sooo much that I convinced my mom to become your newest follower! It would make my mom happy if you would become our newest follower too!
I can't wait to read more of your furry interesting stories and to meet everybuddy on your bloggie!
Love,
Daisy the Coonhound

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

There is terrible bad in the world, but also compassionate good...we are so happy that this doggie was rescued by that man and may his life be fuller because of his heart...