Day 10 :: Stroll In The Park For Kids Who Bark ~Joee's Story~

A migraine, a miserable, rainy day, and a visit to the vet for both Joee and Jacob-Milo left me short of any time to log kilometers today. So, instead, I am pleased to share the following story and the reason I founded Stroll In The Park For Kids Who Bark.

Miss Joee's Story

When I look down at the beautiful little cock-a-poo sleeping so serenely on my lap, my heart bursts with so much love. But, there was a time 5 years ago, that our little princess certainly was anything but serene! That's because Joee was rescued from a life of a backyard breeder "puppy mill" situation. And, while her situation wasn't as dire as it is for thousands of unfortunate souls, it was still a traumatic life that we have worked hard to help her overcome and forget.

In September 2013, I had just been approved to become a foster. However, two weeks into it, I was blessed to become a "foster failure" and Miss Joee's permanent Mom.

The day I picked her up, Joee (then called Josie - we renamed her Johanna (meaning a gift from God) and called her Joee -to sound as much like the name she knew) had been through a couple of days at the vet having been given a thorough exam, all her vaccinations, and a dental cleaning that very day. She was still so groggy and was continually throwing up as a result of the anesthesia. I had to take her directly back to the vet from the co-ordinator's home for another anti-nausea injection. She was so timid and introverted it was utterly painful to watch.

Joee's history is rather sketchy and a lot of details are unknown. What we do know is that the "breeder" to whom she belonged, was only willing to surrender her on the side of a country road in the middle of nowhere. She only volunteered Joee's name, "approximate" age, and confirmed her breed. To say it was a shady circumstance is a fact confirmed by the speed at which the woman wanted to "unload" her.

Now, I cannot confirm some things because no one ever visited the "breeder" from where she came (the actual geographical location was unknown) but Joee's behaviour certainly made it clear to us that her situation was NOT usual. With two outgoing and fun-loving Norfolk Terriers already in our home, Joee was immediately reluctant to engage. She would take food from her bowl and run to another room with it (although she never growled or hoarded in any other way). She never made a single peep, ever! We quickly realized that she didn't really know how to drink from a water bowl and had to teach her. She cowered when we'd walk past her and she was very nervous around loud noises. After walking her, along with the other two, she would limp after a very short distance.

So, from these things we could see that, she was at an age where she had been "bred out" and become garbage to the "breeder". Her lack of socialization was clear by how timid she was, how she took her food to another area, how she cowered even at the slightest thing and it was obvious that she had only served to produce litter after litter of puppies for the profit of her "owner". After learning more about how deplorable conditions can be in the operation of a "back yard breeder", we understood that her not knowing how to drink from a bowl was likely because her water was provided by a hamster drip water bottle, her feet hurt because her nails were so long and she had never been walked, she didn't know how to play or what toys even were. It has taken nearly 5 years for our little girl to come out of her shell; although I truly believe she'll never be completely healed.

Today, Joee is, without a doubt, a happy girl. She learned her own way to play and had bonded with her Norfolk Terrier brother Thomas and sister Teegan and mourned them both when they went to the Rainbow Bridge in the past year. But, even more so, she has bonded to a NEW brother named Jacob-Milo, just adopted in April from a shelter in Arizona and whose story will follow.

But, that isn’t the end of the story. You see, in the meantime, there are so many more souls out there needing to be rescued and with these rescues comes a price tag. Medical bills for the treatment and recovery for some of these fur-kids can add up and rescue organizations rely on donations to continue to carry out their wonderful work.

I will never forget the feeling that overwhelmed me the day Joee first filled my arms, caused me to become a "foster failure", and inspired me to expand and grow Stroll In The Park For Kids Who Bark in 2013. When I imagine how many innocent little souls are living a life of immense stress and anxiety, producing litter after litter, never to experience a normal life, my heart aches. But, for those dogs who are saved from the ugliness and despair, I want to know that, through my fundraising efforts, and with your help, there's a chance for the final chapter in their lives to be a happy one.

I'm proud and excited to continue the SITPFKWB tradition and work hard to cultivate this annual event. Making it bigger and better each and every year is important and raising awareness for homeless and abandoned animals is a daily concern. To those of my supporters who have already donated, THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. As ever, the focus of the campaign remains this; I am personally donating .50 cents per kilometer for every kilometer I walk in the month of September and I invite folks to show their support by sponsoring me either by cents/kilometer or in a lump sum. For added convenience, I have created a GoFundMe account [ https://www.gofundme.com/stroll-in-the-park-for-kids-who-bar ] but for my local supporters I am also happy to accept cheques, bank e-transfer, and cash.

In the meantime, for the month of September and always, please: STROLL IN THE PART FOR KIDS WHO BARK (in support of pet rescue)!!!

**Please note that it is not possible to provide tax receipts for donations made through the GFM website.