Aspin

Aspin

Aspin

I was rescued, now what?

At Dogtown we often get calls about dogs in dire need of rescue. The circumstances of the rescue missions vary but the end result is almost always the same. Rescue, Rehabilitate…. but what about the all important Rehoming part of the journey.
Take Aspin as an example. In June 2016 we were horrified when we received the call about Aspin. She was rescued from a township, literally just skin and bones. The photos speak for themselves. Aspin was so weak, she could not hold her head up during the vet examination. That pitiful image of her will forever haunt me, her head bowed down, eyes cold and empty and a soul completely given up. How did she come to be in such a desperate state? How many people walked past her on a daily basis and did nothing? When we were asked to assist with her rescue, it was knee-jerk reaction “of course we will”. There was no question about it. This girl needed us!
Aspin spent weeks at the vet getting all sorts of treatments. She was anaemic, full of worms, her skinny body covered in ticks and fleas and her physical scars told a story of abuse. Ears hacked off and a kind touch was foreign to her. When she was first rescued, social media went crazy in support of Aspin. We were flooded with words of support, donations, the vets even got calls from the public asking about her progress. We threw everything we could at her, the best medical care available, the highest quality diet and a strict feeding regime so that she can pick up weight slowly for her body to cope.  When it was time for Aspin to come to Dogtown, we spared no expense to make sure she is comfortable and that her skinny body could rest softly, possibly for the first time ever. Her physical rehabilitation is one thing but this girl needed behavioural guidance too. We dont believe that Aspin ever had any positive interactions with other dogs, she did not know how to react appropriately around other dogs. Our behaviourists and trainers spent hours and hours assisting her and guiding her on how to act around other dogs. She was trained how to walk calmly on a lead, how to walk without pulling. She has aced her basic manners program which again was hours, days, weeks that our staff dedicated to Aspin and getting her ready for adoption.
Aspin gained weight slowly and it was incredible to see her fill out and blossom into the incredible dog she is today.
That was back in 2016…. the support for Aspin dwindled and we now get the occasional “oh I remember her, shame”. The rehome part of her journey has never happened and its becoming less and less likely as she gets older.
Aspin is one of many cases where our team pull out all the stops to rescue dogs from dire situations. From drains, from highways, hit and run cases, dogs buried under piles of rubbish… the list goes on. Our team never hesitates and we go to the extremes to get these dogs to safety. Our trainers and behaviourists are fully dedicated to each dog in our care to help them overcome their issues. But the rehome part never materialises. Dogtown is full to the brim of “incredible rescue and rehabilitation cases” and sadly the majority of them end up spending the rest of their lives waiting.
We are asking you as our supporters to please help us change this. We are asking you to be their voice and advocates, please help us share  their appeals. There is a home out there for Aspin, we know it.
She was rescued, but now what? Let’s pull out all the stops and get this girl the happy ever after she has worked so hard for.
adopt@dogtownsa.org