Angels for Sheldon: A Scottie Rescue Story

May 3, 2014 | 2014 Articles, Animal Rescue Adventures, Lee Juslin, Pets

by Lee Juslin

When Sheldon, a two-year-old Scottie, was picked up as a stray by a Kentucky shelter, he would prove to be a tough get for Scottish Terrier Rescue because among their regional rescue volunteers there was no one for Kentucky.

Scottish Terrier Rescue, co-chaired on the national level by Erica and Jean, depends on a network of regional volunteers to rescue Scotties from shelters, handle owner turn-ins, etc. One of their volunteers checks Petfinder, Craig’s List, and Pet Harbor every day to keep up on Scotties in need around the country and reports her finds to the coordinators. So, when Erica and Jean got word about Sheldon, without a regional volunteer for Kentucky, they had to search around for someone to go to the shelter to pull him and then someone to foster him.

dog

Sheldon

Because there were no Scottie Rescue volunteers available, a foster mom with Col Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue out of OH agreed to drive down, pick up Sheldon, and foster him. Eventually she adopted him, and this would have been the end of the story if Sheldon had not been a Scottie.

Sheldon, like all Scotties, has big, really BIG, teeth, and he began attacking the Cairns. His mom called Scottie Rescue and said they would have to re-home him because he had injured several of her Cairns. Like many Scotties, Sheldon loved people but other dogs? That was a different story.

When Scottie Rescue could not make immediate arrangements to pick up Sheldon, he was placed in a boarding kennel. It was holiday time and everyone was busy so Sheldon languished in the kennel for more than a month. Erica and Jean worked the phones trying to get him back into foster care, but every plan fell through.dog

Finally a couple who had adopted a Scottie rescue several years back, heard about Sheldon’s plight and agreed to not only pick him up but also drive him from Ohio to Erica’s home in New Jersey. “They had to first drive across the state of Ohio to get him because they lived on the opposite side of the state,” said Erica. “Then, they brought him back to their house and started out early the next morning for New Jersey. They even refused to accept any reimbursement because, as they told me, they were so grateful to Scottie Rescue for the first Scottie they had adopted. It’s angels like this who make all the work and frustration of rescue worthwhile.”

Because Sheldon was young and in good health, he was easy to adopt. “Plus,” added Erica, “it didn’t hurt that he was a cuddly, snuggly boy either.”dog

Sheldon has found his forever home with a single woman who works as a realtor and, having recently lost her male Scottie, was eager for another to be her spoiled and much loved companion. She arrived at Erica’s home to meet Sheldon, and it was cuddles and kisses at first sight. Sheldon is finally home but his story would not have had a happy ending were it not for the work of some dedicated Scottie Rescue volunteers.

If you would like to learn more about Scottie Rescue, donate, volunteer, or apply to adopt a Scottie, visit their website: Scottish Terrier Club of America.

You can find more animal rescue, therapy animal, and other pet related articles in our pet section.

Want to know how to see your ad like this at the end of an article? Email KRL at life@kingsriverlife[dot]com by replacing the [dot] for more info. 10% of all ad sales goes to animal rescue.

Lee Juslin is a free lance copywriter living in North Carolina with her husband, Scott, and her band of misfits: Tarquin, a Wheaten Scottish Terrier, and three handicapped cats. They can be seen on their website: Hampshire Hooligans. She owns I B Dog Gone, a small embroidery business and is the author of the Nurse Frosty books for children and Frosty’s Story: Tales of a Therapy Dog. She supports a number of national and regional terrier rescue organizations.

4 Comments

  1. Scottie angels save the day and the dog. Thanks Lee for another hearth warming story

    Reply
  2. Thank you Lee for another great story with a happy ending. I know this was very heartwarming for you because of your love of Scottie’s. We are both getting over the lose of our beloved pets and maybe someday instead of writing about someone else having a happy ending you or I will have one too.

    Reply
  3. That’s what rescue is all about — people helping people help dogs – pay it forward –
    if you live with a dog from a shelter, a stray that you kept, or one from a rehoming organization – there is always room for you to help. Volunteer today – at your local shelter, or call them and see which groups they work with and see if they need help.

    Reply
  4. several years ago I ‘worked’ with Erica to save a Scottie who was neglected but the cause of the neglect he was about to be put down because he was just ‘turned out’ to do his business and he did what a lot of Scottie boys did,… chase kids on bikes. Thirteen times he owner was told she had to contain him but she didn’t… pleading cancer made it impossible (ack when I had cancer I had 5 of my own terriers … Cairns,, Scotties maltese and a Golden Retriever, plus Ciarn fosters and a Dandie Dinmont foster… and they managed to never get out and be lose) Erica co-ordinated a rescue.. and the couple who rescued him kept him for the rest of his days… ERica IS a true Scottie tireless angel

    Reply

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