Cher's Story

November 18, 2014

Cher's Story

Hi......I’m Cher and I’m a rescue dog.

To see me now you’d never know I had a bad start to life. Some people know my story because my mom and dad shared it with others. It’s really not a story they like telling but it is a part of my past and who I am today.

Ya see, my brother and I were dumped at 6 weeks of age with sarcoptic mange (scabies) left to die with no regards to our feelings. Luckily we had a guardian angel who swooped in and rescued us. Ms. Wanda and BFF Pet Adoptions took us in and had us treated for our condition and got us started on our puppy shots. Once healed we were ready for adoption. My brother was adopted by an agency and was trained to be a service dog. Mom says that if he’s anything like me then she knows he’s a devoted and loving caretaker to the person he aids. Then my day came. I was excited to start my life with my new family.

Little did I know that life for me would take a drastic turn.

This is me 24 days after my adoption.

From what mom was told, I was reintroduced to scabies and never taken back to the vet for treatment even though it was fully funded by the adoption agency. The scabies were so bad it weakened my immune system causing the demodectic mite to over breed and go haywire which resulted in me having demodex on top of the scabies. (Demodex is also known as puppy mange.) Boy did I itch and instead of treating me, I was sprayed with a water bottle to make me stop scratching. Thankfully the day came when my last set of puppy shots were due so I was taken to the vet. As you can see, I was in no condition for shots. The vet immediately called Ms. Wanda explaining the severity of my condition. I was told she headed to check out my condition as soon as she hung up the phone and I am so glad she did. November 12, 2013 I was rescued a second time. This time from someone who was supposed to love me and take care of me. I was rushed back to the vet and quarantined for a week, where I underwent treatment for my condition.

Little did I know, a few days after I was adopted, I was inquired on by a different family. So when my picture came across Facebook of my second rescue, the rescue was contacted again by the same family. Ms. Wanda spoke with the family about the rescue’s policies and when she was asked about me specifically she informed them that I was being released that day and was looking for a foster for me. November 18, 2013, I moved in with that family, MY “fur”ever family!

I wasn't pretty when I showed up. I was bald. I was scared. I didn’t know what to expect.

My mom, she was so kind to me. Patted me on my little bald head. She cried as she held me and promised me she would do whatever it took to make the pain and hurt of my past go away. She said she would stop at nothing to heal me, inside and out. My dad however had to be won over. He didn’t know how to handle me. See, daddy just lost his puppy a few months previously to my arrival and he wasn’t ready to get attached to another dog. I understood, he was hurting so I made double sure to give him love and show him that I cared and was willing to be just as obedient and loving as Deacon was. Mom told me to give him time. So I did, 3 days. He was getting ready to leave for work and I blocked the doorway so he couldn’t leave. He looked at mom then back at me and he asked, “Will it hurt her if I pet her?” She said, “No” and he reached down and for the first time rubbed my little face.

The first week was the toughest. As mom searched endless websites researching my condition, I began healing and the rambunctious puppy came out. I would torment my fur sister, relentlessly. I thought it was funny. Mom and dad didn’t so I stayed tied to mom until I learned boundaries. Literally, I was attached to a leash that was tied around mom’s waist. We were both happy to find out I was a quick learner. LOL

Anyway, the weekend after Thanksgiving mom took me back to the vet for the rest of my shots. They said I didn’t look like I had improved much but I was far from the condition I was in when I was there last time. As the days went on I was so tired of taking medicine and having baths. I hated water. I hated the medicated shampoo. Mom had to sit in the tub and tie me to her to bathe me. The medicine was bitter. Mom home cooked my food. I wasn’t allowed any grains or food off their plates because mom was trying to build my immune system to help fight the mange mite. I was given all kinds of fresh fruits and veggies along with Greek yogurt. Slowly the scabs started falling off and my fur started filling in. I was quite a sight to see.

As Christmas was approaching and I was healing, mom knew it wouldn’t be long before the rescue would want to put me up for adoption. She was beginning to worry if she was going to have to let me go. Dad didn’t know Mom was stressed over it and Mom didn’t know that Dad and I already had a heart to heart and he told me he wasn’t letting me go. He didn’t care if I never grew hair back. He loved me and nobody was ever going to hurt me again.

Christmas and New Year’s came and went. Things got back on track after the holidays. Mom and Dad went back to work. My sisters were back in school. Life was moving forward for us all. Then January 7, 2014 happened. Mom got the call. Ms. Wanda doesn’t know but Mom had a mild heart attack and anxiety attack when she received the message. What Ms. Wanda did know, my mom would in fact be a foster failure. They spoke briefly and worked out the details. Mom came home from work to inform Dad of the conversation and he said, “My baby girl isn’t going anywhere”. Mom was so relieved because she didn’t have to tell him she already agreed to adopt me. I was a very sensitive subject for Mom and she got super emotional when she thought I may have to go live elsewhere. God had it all planned out for me and I gained my “fur”ever family that day. I was blessed with a Dad, a Mom, 2 human sisters, 2 fur sisters, 2 fur brothers and a very large extended family who loves me beyond words. I’ll make sure Mom posts pictures of them all so y’all can meet them. But my story doesn’t end here.

In February Mom noticed I was scratching by my tail and had hair loss. The weather was beginning to warm up a bit and we were spending more time outside on our walks so Mom and Dad thought I got into some chiggers. Mom took me to the vet and was mortified when she found out I still had a skin infection so severe that the vet didn’t know how I was still alive. I was started on more nasty medicine and medicated baths weekly. Just when we thought I was on the fast track to full recovery, we have this set back. Mom cried the whole way home. Luckily, she had quit her job in January and was home all day so she could watch me closely. I ended up losing 80% of the fur that had just grew back. My family reassured me that even though I was bald, I was still beautiful.

After several weeks, multiple vet visits, lots of baths and medicine and massive amounts of prayer, I fully recovered from my skin infection only to figure out I am allergic to heartworm pills. Luckily, I don’t have the bad side effects like seizures and stuff. Mine is just severe itching to the point of gnawing my skin. Mom says it’s been a long journey but at least we know what causes my issues. I’m happy to say I’ve completely recovered physically. I have very little scarring as a reminder of my journey. Other than my slight hatred for baths; I’m healthy, I’m happy, spoiled rotten, and deeply in love with my family. I’m Daddy’s sweet girl and Mom’s puppy princess. I’m involved in all aspects of their life. All vacations are designed around me so I can go too. There was a time when I was a timid, shy puppy who wouldn’t leave the foot of the bed to snuggle. Now I make sure to claim my space, give Mom morning snuggles, wrestle with my Dad and sisters, guard my household, have long talks with Dad over popcorn, let Kensley chase me around the house, lick Kandi’s belly, play with Keeper and Jackson, and let all of them know just how much I love them daily. I don’t know where I’d be today if angels weren’t watching out for me and I don’t want to think about it.

I just have to add; please consider adopting or fostering a rescue/shelter pet. We aren’t bad animals, we’re just animals who’ve been inhumanely treated and given up on. Spay and neuter so this vicious cycle stops. Even if you can’t adopt or foster, donate. These rescue and shelter workers pay out of their own pockets for our treatments. And God forbid, NEVER dump an animal. Not only is it inhumane, it’s also illegal.

Well, I’m going to go for now but Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Stay tuned to mom’s Facebook or Instagram. She’s always posting new pictures and updates.

My Family