This story was written long ago, before JournoDog found her “Forever Home” in 2007 and was still a young pup. These words were passed down, and are shared now for the record to know where this dog came from — as much as history allows. Some names have been changed to protect identities that didn’t give permission to share.
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A black lab retriever was first seen Dec. 5, 2006 standing in the road in front of Girl and Boy’s grandparents’ home in a suburb of Central Indiana.
The Boy and Girl’s grandma first spotted her when going outside to get the morning newspaper, and the dog was standing in the street. They locked eyes, but the dog was not willing to come any closer from the street.
She was in very bad condition. Her usual coat of black fur was a dull grey color and she was very thin. She was obviously very afraid of people and would take off running away when anyone tried to approach her. Perhaps someone had abused her – we will never know.
The next day, the Boy and Girl’s grandma spotted her resting in their backyard, far from the house near th wooded area behind their property. The Grandma got a silver pet food bowl filled with kitty food, which is all she had, and a small cooler full of water and took them to the back deck. She held them up to show the dog, and called for her to come. The Grandma then went back inside, hoping she would come to eat and drink if no one was there. She finally did after about 10 minutes had gone by.
This was the daily routine twice a day for about 1-1/2 weeks, only instead of kitty food the Grandma bought dog food for her at the nearest grocery store. All this time she would not let the Grandma nor anyone else near her, although she would often be in the backyard and see the Grandma leaving the food and water each day.
Winter was setting in and temperatures were getting very cold. The Grandparents purchased a large dog house, put blankets inside to help keep her warm, and there she slept every night for a few more days before she’d let anyone near her.
Finally, a break through! The Grandma prayed on a Friday night that the dog would trust the people trying to help her. Neighbors were also doing what they could to help in the effort to save her.
The next morning on Dec. 16, 2006, the dog was on Grandma’s front porch when she went outside to get the morning newspaper. When the Grandma stepped outside the door, the dog about knocked her completely down trying to give her kisses and wanting to snuggle.
From that day on, she spent most of the time in the Grandparents’ family room, where she had her own cushion and plenty of doggie toys to play with – the favorite being a green tennis ball. She wanted to play “fetch” as long as you’d play. Every night, she slept in a very large dog crate with two blankets.
The Boy came to visit and they’d play frisbee in the backyard. Even though the kids thought their Grandparents should keep the dog, a permanent “forever home” there just wasn’t possible. With two cats, they didn’t feel they’d be able to give the young dog all the attention she wanted and required.
After several months working with the local humane society and staying with a Foster Day, the dog’s original owners could not be found. But after several months, in May 2007, Mr. and Mrs. Editor adopted her through a pet adoption program.
This is the photo that appeared in the local newspaper ad about pet adoption.
She has a wonderful home with people who really love her and take excellent care of her. The Grandma still misses her, but is so happy that she has a good permanent home. Mr. and Mrs. Editor stay in touch with the Grandma and invited them over to their house for a second visit.
In sharing this story, the Grandma and Grandpa hope the dog’s story will inspire other people to try to help animals who have been abandoned or are lost. There are many success stories, and pet adoption programs can help find them permanent homes. If they’re lost, sometimes the oner can be found by advertising in the newspaper or by contacting the local humane society.
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Editor’s Note: This dog who eventually took on the role of JournoDog, found a great home and lived the remainder of her days in happiness. She lived to be almost 15 years old, crossing over to cover the news across the Rainbow Bridge on Dec. 29, 2020.
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JournoDog Chronicles 