The Human Condition

Maggie of Nashville.....ready for her next adventure!

This past week began the next chapter in the story of the new trainers in Charleston. I say new trainers when in all truth the completion of our first year is quickly approaching.

This new chapter will see us partnering with Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary of Jackson and their sister rescue Silverwalk Hounds of Cape Girardeau. This is a partnership that has already seen extremes from both directions.

In addition to having more dogs in the program, we have also gained concession in our weight limits. This has allowed the inclusion of two of the large hounds from Silverwalk and a Catahoula mix from Safe Harbor. Over the next few weeks I would like to share the progress of all the new dogs being included in this incredible journey and the insights I have gained from time spent with trainers truly dedicated to this cause.

The first dog I want to spotlight is Mercedes, the Catahoula mix. I first met Sadie last year when she was dropped at Safe Harbor. She weighed all of 23 pounds, had little to no hair and was stone cold deaf. This is a recessive genetic condition I have seen before in this same mix.

Like most deaf dogs, her need may be special but it should by no means be considered terminal. Like Emma before her, Sadie is loving, happy go lucky and a real charmer. It is a challenge for an experienced trainer to work with a handicapped dog. This will be the first time this group has worked with a dog physically damaged. Do I have any doubts they can handle this challenge? Absolutely not!

Almost immediately we had a failure involving one of the dogs from Silverwalk. Monk was picked up and taken back to the only home he really recognizes. This was heartbreak for all of us involved in this project. Up to date we have accepted all challenges and risen above all adversity. In this case, human error was the culprit and it was in the best interest of both dog and handler to step back and re-evaluate the situation.

There are many nay-sayers that view this project with disdain. After all, what could possibly be gained by teaching compassion and responsibility in a group that is considered outside the realm of acceptable society? To these folks I am driven to remind you about the old "saying" that begins judge not......

After this much time as a member of this team, I can tell you we take our failures with the same passion we have accepted our successes. You see we really are a team and that is what a team does. There is no I in team and despite having always thought that statement was a little cheesy, I know what it means now.

Ours is not the only group working toward a common goal. I have met many individuals recently that have the same passion and the same drive to succeed that our team has displayed. One of our numbers made a mistake but we will come together as a group to learn from this and make ourselves stronger. We are dedicated to saving the human spirit that makes a project like this possible and the dogs that depend on us for their very lives.

I think I can safely speak for the other people involved when I say these next few weeks are going to be exciting and fulfilling in ways many people never get to experience. I continue to be honored to be a participant and look forward to sharing the journey.

This week's photo is Maggie, a Pit Bull that decided she no longer wanted to live chained in someone's backyard. Unfortunately, no one told Maggie about what happens when you run into a busy street. When the car hit this pretty girl, she was still dragging her chain behind her.

The young man that hit Maggie is a struggling musician in Nashville. He quickly got her to a vet clinic for emergency treatment but like so many of us, he lacks to the funds to fully pay for the necessary care. On top of the medical issues, Pit Bulls are not adopted out of the shelters in Nashville. Her only hope is to find sanctuary in one of the already overwhelmed rescues or a permanent adoptive home.

For anyone that wishes to contribute to Maggie's medical bills or would like more information on providing her with a home, please contact:

Animal House Vet Hospital

223 Largo Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

(615) 834-6441

She is a beauty!