Saturday, February 8, 2014

SO WHAT MAKES A RESCUER TICK?

Who in their right mind would put up with pee, poop, and vomit in the backseat of their new car? Who would stay up all night worrying and tending a sick foster kitten or dog? Who would lose sleep while the new foster dog howls all night long in his crate? Who can handle the heartache of losing a tiny kitten who never really had a chance at life due to the horrific hoarding situation they came from? And hair, hair, hair, no matter what color you wear, there is always a contrasting color of hair on your outfit. And, believe it or not, this is just the tip of the rescue iceberg. Today we will take a peek into the selfless life of one of my favorite, amazing Planned Pethood fosters, Nancy Fisher.

Nancy has fostered cats and kittens for a good decade or more and she branches out to include dogs now and then too. She unexpectedly ended up with two foster dogs at the same time through an accident of fate and they detested one another. She had committed to a hyperactive juvenile black lab named Gunner when a young cattle dog appeared on her porch one evening. Yep, Roo chose his own foster home. Nancy and her husband distributed flyers, contacted shelters, and did the whole nine yards to find his home with no luck. Both dogs were young males who had been newly neutered and they hated one another with a passion. Any meeting outside of the crate and it was on. Unfortunately for Nancy, it takes 4 to 6 weeks for that boy-dog fighting testosterone to dissipate and calm the savage beast. She was hilarious describing the tiff. Roo could not stand the “Richard Simmons” energy possessed by Gunner. He would flit around the place with his excitable energy and Roo, believing he was the cop on the beat, assumed his official duty of putting an end to that kind of nonsense. So Nancy was in the unenviable position of having to play musical crates, when one was in, the other could be out. Nancy has a large pack of her own dogs and they take turns hiking the long walk to collect the mail. On one memorable occasion, she believed Roo was confined when Gunner was invited on the walk. She described it as if she was participating in a Clint Eastwood movie, as a figure emerged from the mist at the top of the horizon. You guessed it, Roo’s figure became distinguishable from the fog and the boys were at it once again.

Things began to sort themselves out when Gunner was adopted to a wonderful family and Roo’s family finally saw one of the flyers posted and contacted Planned Pethood. Come to find out, coincidentally this was the same family who lost a steer that Nancy was involved in rescuing, yeah that’s right, a steer! This 1000 lb. beast had busted through his enclosure and went on a stroll. He was near the e-way and there was fear things would end badly. So, get this, Nancy got a skinny little LEASH from her car and tried to lead this equivalent of a truck to safety. It did not work so well to say the least. After several failed attempts, the group ultimately called a neighbor who showed up with his lasso and gear to finally corral the big dude. Long story short, Roo’s peeps paid his adoption fee to Planned Pethood and took him home…temporarily.  But within days, guess who was back on Nancy’s porch? Roo obviously enjoyed her company. But back he went again to (hopefully) live happily ever after. 

Nancy has one of the kindest hearts I have ever seen in this business and that is saying a lot. We all participated in a mega adoption event with many rescue agencies including a couple of kill shelters. The next thing you know Nancy is crossing the lot leading an elderly and really chubby pit bull named Raina.  She had just adopted her because she knew no one else would. She had been seized from a working girl with an arrest record as long as your arm. I am happy to say that Raina is now fit, healthy, and happy with Nancy and her pack.

But Nancy is no traditional rescuer, no way. She acquired a flock of alpacas who were ditched by their owner. Yes, you read that correctly, guard alpacas no less who warn them when someone is approaching the house. She has many hens and feral, unadoptable barn cats who no one else wanted.  

Many of Planned Pethood fosters are nurses and teachers. I think they bring their compassion from their day jobs. Nancy has helped me so many times with her knowledge and experience. You may remember the story of Elphaba who freaked me out when she appeared to turn feral. I was afraid her little head was going to spin all the way around. No, Nancy explained, she had been traumatized by her trip to the vet. Then she explained the swaddling technique which saved the day. Thanks for that and all that you do that seems to go unappreciated! The list could literally fill a book. You make the world in general and our community in particular a much more civilized, kinder place. Nice work, sister!

by Judy S

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