T- Minus 21 Days

Training for the Boston Marathon has coincided with perhaps the busiest time in my life thus far, but I am very grateful for this entire experience.  Running has been my therapy at the end of a long, stressful day. It is my treat to myself to just go hash out my thoughts over a 6 to 8 mile run.  And I have been able to reconnect with an old teammate and friend over early Sunday morning long runs.  While I am exhausted, the final weeks of training are here!  And the taper is actually one of my favorite times prior to a race.  Most of the mileage work is logged and all I need to do is maintain my fitness, increase my confidence, and stay healthy.  Last week I received my race number and was so excited to realize that this is really gonna happen.  And I am very grateful that I am going to be able to support BTRNC through this race.  It certainly makes all those 2 to 3 hour runs worth it.  In fact, towards the end of my 20-miler when my muscles didn't seem to want to go any further, I had my husband remind me of the Bostons that potentially will be helped.  My grandmother added the comment to her pledge form, "Think of all the Bobbys you'll be helping!" 

And as if I didn't need an additional reminder of the cause of dog rescue, after yesterday's long run a little Jack Russell terrier followed my husband all the way back to the car.  He let me know that after searching for an owner, no one knew where she came from and she had no identification on. The IM fields in Athens are notorious for dog dumping due to the high traffic of dog lovers and owners. She was in heat and from the looks of things she looked like she'd  had pups once before.  Her little tail whipped back and forth as we drove her to the shelter, and during the drive I started calling her Raisin.  Raisin is going to be held for 10 days to see if she is claimed, and then we are going to call about her and start recruiting a good home.  Sadly, our little abode does not have room for another pooch, though she requires little space.  And my feelings about the local shelter were somewhat put at ease when I saw about 8 to 12 volunteers there socializing with the dogs.  But, needless to say, she is still on my mind.  I know how many dogs are homeless out there, and how much of an uphill battle rescue is, but at least one dog placed in a good home, is one dog not suffering. 

On that note, there are a million things I need to be doing right now.  3 weeks till I'll be toeing the line in Boston!!

This One Tugs At My Heart Strings

Hi friends!  I am attaching a recent rescue situation that the BTRNC.... Be prepared to tear up.  I think the best point of the story is the end... even when these sweet creatures can't recover from an injury or illness, at least the kind people of this rescue (and all pet rescues) grieve for an animal otherwise forgotten.  And at least these babies get one glimpse of human compassion....

 

Hello everyone. This is Maggie Mae. Sadly, her story doesn't end well on this earth.Please see below what our transport coordinator shared with her transport angels that had lined up to help get this sweet one all the way from Va to Charlotte.We thought she was pregnant,but what we thought was a precious Mom and her babies,turned out to be devastating news. I think Jan puts Maggie's story beautifull...y.

" The "pregnant" female - her name was Maggie Mae - turned out not to be pregnant at all but full of worms and fluid, stage 4 heartworms, and more. Rose went ahead and picked her up Thursday instead of waiting till Saturday (still thinking she was fine, just very pregnant), took Maggie Mae to her vet, and that's when this was discovered. I am so grateful for that - otherwise, Maggie Mae would have probably died in that shelter before Saturday, all alone. Turns out, the owners who took her to the shelter had said she was sick. Heartbreaking that they just turned her in like that because she was sick.

Anyway, the vet said she was suffering so they decided to let her go on God's transport last night, so we cancelled ours, which was all arranged already - everyone all ready to transport a very pregnant girl and hope she didn't go into labor during the trip. We were all a bit nervous, I think.

Shortly after I heard and was still crying for the poor girl and what she had been through (while I walked Fred around in the yard), I realized that I guess this is another function that rescue serves - we grieve for those who would have had no one to grieve.

Sorry the news is so sad on this girl. "

Jan Ramsey
Transport Coordinator
Boston Terrier Rescue of North Carolina,
a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the rescue and
rehabilitation of Boston Terriers in NC, SC, VA and GAwww.btrnc.orgSee More

To end on a happy note.... The stray dog that my friends and I found last weekend is recovering from her injury.  She had a spider bite which was very infected.  The veterinarian had to do some minor surgery, but with love and antibiotics, she is going to be just fine.  A rescue has taken her in and a foster family is giving her care while the leg heals.  They believe that a forever family is already lined up for her!!  We are very happy that "Baby Girl," which we affectionately refer to her as, will end up in a home with the care she deserves!