I wrote a story about Abby’s life on a page entitled “My Best Friend”, because that is what she was to everyone she met. She was given so little in life, to a world that demanded so much from her. Before we adopted Abby she spent most of her years being used as a breeding dog at a puppy mill, her paws showed the years of living on chicken wire. This was the only floor they gave her. She was never let out of her cage, except for breeding and birthing.
After ten long years living like that, she was put up for sale at one of the puppy mill auctions. A hunter who bought Beagles from the auction would buy them, then try to make hunting dogs out of them. Abby like so many, was frightened and would not go near the man. Rather than find her a good home, he threw her out of his truck window while driving along a dirt road in Maine. A lady walking her dog in the woods watched in horror as Abby lied there in the snow bleeding and shaking. Her jaw was broke, her leg too and several of her teeth had fallen out. Her auction tags were still on her ears and the local police traced her back to him. However, they did little more than ask the man to surrender her. When I first saw Abby I could not get over the sweet and gentle nature of such a beautiful Beagle who had been beaten and treated cruelly by man. Abby healed from her broken jaw, a broken leg, several cuts and bruises. We spent a great deal of time caring for her and trying to find her a permanent home, but we were all getting attached to her.
She was not at all afraid of me or my children. She was terrified by men, who could blame her after all they did to her, my husband understood her fear and did the best he could to make her comfortable around him. We felt she needed a home with an older, single woman looking for a gentle companion.
The rescue who originally took her in, found her a home in Gloucester, Massachusetts about 30 minutes from our animal rescue. When the women finally came to see Abby, she could not get over her scars and twisted leg that caused her to limp. She found her difficult to look at and decided she was not the dog for her.
I never wanted Abby to feel unloved or unwanted ever again. We become her guardians and with time she was comfortable around my husband and most men.
Sadly, Abby was not with us as long as we had hoped and battled one bought of Cancer in September, 2001 just two months after we got her. She was treated and we thought it was a success, but it came back only to steal her away from us for good on January 2, 2003.
Even though she only spent a year and a half with us,
it was one of the best years of my life.
She depended on me for all the love she lost over the years and we were happy to oblige. Her bed is empty now and I sleep curled up with her blanket. It comforts me through these dark hours. I know in time our pain will heal, but for now I will hold onto to her blanket, just a little longer.
She will live on in our memories of her and fondly recall the “Best Beagle” we ever had the grace to be loved by. God Bless, you all for feeling our pain. Abby my sweet, until we meet again at the Bridge I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts.
With All of Our Love,
| Abby |
| Diandra |