A LOVE STORY!
by Harriet Entin
(pictures below story)
by Harriet Entin
(pictures below story)
My first Sheltie, Orion, died of bone cancer on Christmas eve of 1996. I had “Ori” since he was 8 weeks old, and when he died at 12 years old, I was devastated. A year prior to his death, I had adopted Sheeba from Sheltie Rescue. Sheeba was sweet and calm, and I know she extended the quality of Ori’s life. While I did not know it at the time, a big bi-blue merle Sheltie named Smokey came into Sheltie Rescue almost to the day of Ori’s death. I didn’t know then that Smokey and I would become family.
It took several months for me to feel ready to open my heart to another dog. When I called Tracy Buck to tell her I was ready, she invited me to come meet Smokey. Smokey had been removed from a severely abusive situation when he was only about a year old. Tracy has photos showing his little body full of red welts and infected flea bites. He was traumatized, afraid, and looked like he had been through a war, which he had. I told her I’d like to meet him, and Sheeba and I went out to the Buck home in April of 1997. I had never seen such a HUGE Sheltie! (Smokey weighs 44 pounds and stands 20 “ high at his shoulder!) Nor had I seen a Sheltie that was grey and white! Smokey was shy but followed Sheeba and I, and I simply fell in love with him and adopted him on the spot!
For two years after I adopted Smokey, he remained insecure and suffered from terrible allergies. He was nervous and lacked confidence. I kept him on a consistent schedule of feeding, walks, and tried to get him out and get him socialized. But he tended to freak out around other people. So I backed off and took it slower. I worked with a holistic veterinarian as well as an animal communicator, to get him healthy. I had a deep sense of his core resilience and knew he was trying to heal. Smokey told the animal communicator that his original owner rarely fed him, and let him roam the streets. He ate rotten garbage and I’m sure some of it was toxic. Through a variety of treatments, his body was detoxified, and his allergies were resolved with the addition of acupuncture. I fed him high quality dog food mixed with fresh vegetables and fruits. The animal communicator suggested I give him a Bach flower remedy called “Star of Bethlehem” which aids in transformation from trauma to wholeness. I did this and it really helped. The remedy’s name also felt significant since Ori died on Christmas eve, and Smokey came into Rescue then. (Even though I am Jewish, this still had meaning for me.)
As Smokey received consistent love and help, his eyes and heart opened up, and he gradually gained confidence and trust. Sadly, Sheeba died of cancer a year after I adopted Smokey. I believe she was Smokey’s guardian angel. I now have 3 Shelties from Rescue: Smokey, Cassie and Lexi. Smokey has been the “patriarch” of this pack, and is the picture of health and confidence! He is totally trustworthy, and has never had an accident or been destructive in my home. He guards our home with a fierceness that lets me know how bonded he is with our “pack”.
I have a horse, Shadow, and Smokey loves to come out to the barn and show off by jumping the horse jumps out in the field. He prefers to have an audience when he does his “jumping show”, and gets many treats for his efforts! He has great stamina for long walks, has a silky coat, bright eyes and walks with a wonderful bounce to his step! He is well behaved, and a gentle, amazing soul. He has taught me that miracles are possible, and that even horribly abused animals can heal with the right care, patience and love. (Lucy Blue is another example of this.)
I am grateful to Tracy and Carl Buck for their rescue, care and love of Smokey. To this day, Smokey will follow any man who has Carl’s build, and Tracy gets to see Smokey at all the Sheltie reunions. Smokey is always on perfect behavior for Tracy! He knows she saved his life. (Plus she gives great treats!)
Smokey is now 9 years old, and everywhere we go, people are drawn to him. People tell him he is beautiful and handsome and smart and sweet. And he is! I tell Smokey how much I love him, and how I cannot imagine my life without him. Smokey and Ori continue to have a special connection. I have Ori’s ashes in a container on a shelf, and Smokey frequently goes and lies by this shelf. I know he and Ori are having a good visit, and remembering that special Christmas eve that Ori passed into the next world, and Smokey passed through Sheltie Rescue into my heart.
It took several months for me to feel ready to open my heart to another dog. When I called Tracy Buck to tell her I was ready, she invited me to come meet Smokey. Smokey had been removed from a severely abusive situation when he was only about a year old. Tracy has photos showing his little body full of red welts and infected flea bites. He was traumatized, afraid, and looked like he had been through a war, which he had. I told her I’d like to meet him, and Sheeba and I went out to the Buck home in April of 1997. I had never seen such a HUGE Sheltie! (Smokey weighs 44 pounds and stands 20 “ high at his shoulder!) Nor had I seen a Sheltie that was grey and white! Smokey was shy but followed Sheeba and I, and I simply fell in love with him and adopted him on the spot!
For two years after I adopted Smokey, he remained insecure and suffered from terrible allergies. He was nervous and lacked confidence. I kept him on a consistent schedule of feeding, walks, and tried to get him out and get him socialized. But he tended to freak out around other people. So I backed off and took it slower. I worked with a holistic veterinarian as well as an animal communicator, to get him healthy. I had a deep sense of his core resilience and knew he was trying to heal. Smokey told the animal communicator that his original owner rarely fed him, and let him roam the streets. He ate rotten garbage and I’m sure some of it was toxic. Through a variety of treatments, his body was detoxified, and his allergies were resolved with the addition of acupuncture. I fed him high quality dog food mixed with fresh vegetables and fruits. The animal communicator suggested I give him a Bach flower remedy called “Star of Bethlehem” which aids in transformation from trauma to wholeness. I did this and it really helped. The remedy’s name also felt significant since Ori died on Christmas eve, and Smokey came into Rescue then. (Even though I am Jewish, this still had meaning for me.)
As Smokey received consistent love and help, his eyes and heart opened up, and he gradually gained confidence and trust. Sadly, Sheeba died of cancer a year after I adopted Smokey. I believe she was Smokey’s guardian angel. I now have 3 Shelties from Rescue: Smokey, Cassie and Lexi. Smokey has been the “patriarch” of this pack, and is the picture of health and confidence! He is totally trustworthy, and has never had an accident or been destructive in my home. He guards our home with a fierceness that lets me know how bonded he is with our “pack”.
I have a horse, Shadow, and Smokey loves to come out to the barn and show off by jumping the horse jumps out in the field. He prefers to have an audience when he does his “jumping show”, and gets many treats for his efforts! He has great stamina for long walks, has a silky coat, bright eyes and walks with a wonderful bounce to his step! He is well behaved, and a gentle, amazing soul. He has taught me that miracles are possible, and that even horribly abused animals can heal with the right care, patience and love. (Lucy Blue is another example of this.)
I am grateful to Tracy and Carl Buck for their rescue, care and love of Smokey. To this day, Smokey will follow any man who has Carl’s build, and Tracy gets to see Smokey at all the Sheltie reunions. Smokey is always on perfect behavior for Tracy! He knows she saved his life. (Plus she gives great treats!)
Smokey is now 9 years old, and everywhere we go, people are drawn to him. People tell him he is beautiful and handsome and smart and sweet. And he is! I tell Smokey how much I love him, and how I cannot imagine my life without him. Smokey and Ori continue to have a special connection. I have Ori’s ashes in a container on a shelf, and Smokey frequently goes and lies by this shelf. I know he and Ori are having a good visit, and remembering that special Christmas eve that Ori passed into the next world, and Smokey passed through Sheltie Rescue into my heart.
 |
||||