Saving Sandy

Saving Sandy

Sandy tells her story as understood by the heart of Diana.

Diana B. Mahoney

Copyright © Diana B. Mahoney, 2023

All Rights Reserved

This book is subject to the condition that no part of this book is to be reproduced, transmitted in any form or means, electronic or mechanical, stored in a retrieval system, photocopied, recorded, scanned, or otherwise. Any of these actions require the proper written permission of the author.

A Note by the Author

This book is dedicated to all of those wonderful friends who followed Sandy’s Facebook page throughout her life with us. Their steadfast and loving support helped give Sandy the very best life could offer, which she so richly deserved. Their cards, emails, comments and messages were a daily inspiration, and we felt as if we had gained a whole world of friends. At its highest point, Sandy had over 16,000 followers on Facebook. Many of you, like Rex, Nancy and Michelle and Diana, Sallie, Suzi, Rocky, Elizabeth, Robin, Erica, Glenda, Janice, Mamy, Sue, MaryAnn, Sandy, Rose, Fiona, Agnes, Charles, Mary, and on and on, thousands of you have kept in touch, and this book would not be happening without your encouragement and persistence. We know your names by recognition and are forever humbled.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Ruth West, owner of Karma K9 Mobile Acupuncture of Wake County, North Carolina. Dr. Ruth’s compassion, gentle nature and skills allowed Sandy much comfort on the days when she needed it so much. Her visits to us were always welcome, and we became true believers in the practice of acupuncture to relieve Sandy’s tension, anxiety, and discomfort.

In addition, the answer from my husband, Well, we have to save her, was life-changing. He never wavered in the work to be done, the patience required, and the dedication to making Sandy’s life wonderful. He is a good soul who loves animals deeply, and Sandy was lucky to have him as her Dad. Special thanks to him who shared this journey, who put up with my late hours so I could keep her Facebook Family up to date and who gave his heart to this beautiful dog.

Acknowledgments

At the beginning of Saving Sandy, a wonderful woman became one of Sandy’s most loyal followers. Through the years that have passed, Jo Ann McKahan Gilbert has stayed in touch and, early on, took a special interest in the possibility of a book. She offered her assistance in editing this book, and I am eternally grateful for her talents and willingness to undertake this part of publishing. Jo is a former reporter/editor for the Panhandle Press, the Columbiana Ledger, a former reporter for The Vindicator and Morning Journal and currently a freelance journalist. I have great appreciation and admiration for her talents and a friendship that will last forever.

To my Amazon publishing team, I am blessed with their work and support in making this book a reality. My work with them was cohesive and thorough, and their knowledge was a guiding light.

About the Author

Diana Blackburn Mahoney is a native Virginian and resides in Midlothian, Virginia, with her husband, Michael. She grew up in Waynesboro, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Diana and Michael met as students at the University of Richmond, where Diana majored in journalism, psychology, and secondary education and later did work on her Master’s degree in psychology. Her work career was spent with Procter and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson and Altria. Her husband, Michael, is a former owner of several jewelry retail stores and has been CFO of two corporations. Prior to his working career, he played in the NFL. They are both now retired.

They live with their German Shepherd/Huskie mix and their black Labrador Retriever, both of whom they adopted from rescues. Juniper was adopted as a pup from Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue, and Rocky was adopted from Lab Rescue of Virginia. Their cat, Lulu, was also rescued from Tabby and Pup in Midlothian, VA.

Diana volunteers with three rescue organizations; Best Friends of Kanab, Utah, Doobert East Coast Animal Transport, and Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue.

Prologue

In preparation for the 2014 Christmas season, there was the usual discussion with family members about the exchange of gifts. Our family is small in number and, traditionally, giving amongst us had always been heartfelt but extravagant in comparison to the lives we lived as children. Our post-WWII parents had always seen to the needs of our family, and the wants were kept in check by very slim sums in the checking accounts. But that said, we always had pets. We had cats and kittens, and puppies and dogs. We had turtles and hamsters, goldfish, and a garter snake. We loved them with all of our hearts and wept over each one when they made the change from now into forever.

Well, back to the exchange of gifts. No one seemed particularly responsive to requests for lists, and we began the realization that we could make a difference by doing something differently. We decided each family member could choose a charity or foundation, and a gift would be made in their honor to the charity of their choice.

Among their choices were non-profit organizations like Corolla Wild Horse Foundation, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and others. My sister and her husband were dedicated owners of two dearly loved German Shepherd dogs, Maggie and Boz, so one of the gifts included a donation to Southeast German Shepherd Rescue in honor of my brother-in-law. Obtaining the certificate and donating the gift was done online, and thus my name and information was given to them. I don’t recall if I checked any box saying I’d be willing to adopt or foster a dog.

My husband and I are Mom and Dad to four rescued four-legged children. Tipper; a tortoise shorthair kitten of a feral cat who landed in my sister’s yard, and Lulu; a mostly Maine Coon kitten of a rescued feral mom, make up the cat part of the family. Annie, a probable mix of golden retriever and border collie, came in 2006 after being found as a six-week-old pup abandoned in the barn where our daughter’s horse was stabled. Buddy, a tri-colored cocker spaniel mix, traveled to the east coast as a result of my visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to volunteer in Kanab, Utah at the Sanctuary. I traveled to Best Friends with my dear college friend, Dr. Joan DaVanzo, to volunteer as a result of learning about them rescuing the Vicktory Dogs. Their story had reached deeply into my heart. I am a Virginian and was living in the city where Michael Vick was tried and convicted for heinous crimes against dogs. Volunteers at the sanctuary are encouraged to take a pet home for an overnight stay in their lodging. All the hotels, motels, and cottages welcome these pets, and one night while there, we took a precious lonely cocker mix for an overnight. Once Buddy did a sleepover with us, there was no way Joan was going to leave him there. The next thing I knew, she had paid his airfare, and I was on the way to Dulles Airport to pick him up.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary changed my life. It was the deepest, most profound spiritual experience I have ever had. It is living witness to the intertwined spirits of living and loving and giving and receiving. It is the heart of goodness and mercy here on this small planet we call Earth. I am forever blessed by the purpose I found in this place, by the people who sacrificed to make this place and for helping to continue the mission of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

I thank them for the gift they gave to me. I thank my husband, Michael, for his understanding and never-ending commitment to sharing my purpose and for knowing the gift of loving an animal.

I have enormous gratitude for the Facebook Family I found when I established a page called Saving Sandy, thus the title of this book. They, in no small part, stood by us when Sandy was so fragile, cheered her (and us) every day and made things possible for Sandy, which we could never have done without them. Sandy’s family grew to over 16,000 who followed her. The prayers and healing energies sent her way worked miracles. This family walked through saving this German Shepherd and is proof positive that, as humans, we can form loving relationships without ever meeting face to face. In a world of so much information and access to immediate communication, these relationships continue to this day.

The Soul of Sandy

We rescued a dog.

She rescued us.

We fed her body.

She fed our souls.

We encouraged her.

She showed us courage.

We gave her a home.

She gave us purpose.

We cared for her needs.

She opened our hearts.

We were her legs.

She was our guardian.

We shared her with the world.

She shared her trust with us.

We gave her back to God to be healed.

She lives to walk and run.

We can only strive to be as loving and forgiving as she.

She set the example.

It is for us to follow.

If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.

~Albert Einstein

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

January 2016

My name is Sandy. I am a 10-year-old German Shepherd and I really don’t know why I am still alive. For so many years I hoped things would get better, and I just wanted to have someone pet me and not abuse me. Then, I realized I wasn't going to be loved, and I would stand outside in the biting rain and bone-chilling cold and smothering heat and terrifying storms until a human being would see me and realize how badly I needed help.

No one knows how long I was hungry and neglected, but somehow a policeman came along, and I finally got taken to a shelter, after what was thought to be about 10 years of people being awful to me. But …. then I realized that no one would want me at my age looking and smelling like I did. You see, I had mange all over my body, I should have weighed 85 to 95 pounds, but I only weighed 52 pounds, and my ears were so infected that I smelled. So I had been on death row for about 6 weeks, which is longer than most of my friends at the shelter. Every morning more of them would be led away and never come back. A kind shelter volunteer named Sandy worked hard every day to find someone to save me.

Then a miracle happened. Southeast German Shepherd Rescue put me on their list to be saved, and I got a bath and waited, but no one came. The shelter told Southeast German Shepherd that I would cross the rainbow bridge on January 5th, 2016. I overheard the caregivers talking and saying a loving lady named Lorraine had bought me two more days of life. I was so weak I couldn't stand up and I was really tired of my burning itching skin. But most of all, I just didn't want to be hungry ever again. I tried to show all of the people who came to care for me what a really nice girl I am, and if someone could help me get well I'd be a loving companion. Sandra thought I was pretty special, and she must have worked hard with Lorraine because all of a sudden I had to be bathed and disinfected and they tried to clean the pus out of my ears, but it hurt me so badly. The next thing I knew was that a kind sweet lady and a nice man came in to get me and she cried and cried when she looked at me. I didn't have a mirror so I didn't know how bad I looked, but I know how badly I felt. They put me in the car and took me to a doctor's office. I couldn't stand up on the floor because my legs would not hold me and because my nails had gotten so long they curled under. They tried to trim my nails at the shelter, but they had gotten too long to cut them very short and would bleed if trimmed short enough for me to walk on them.

A nice lady and man came into the examining room and were so soft and gentle with me. I wondered if someone was going to put me back in the cold and rain and starve me because I knew it wouldn't be long before I died if they did. But, the new people put me in their car on a big soft thing they called your bed and brought me to their house. I had to go to the park first with my new foster dad, so my new foster mom could bring some new friends to meet me. Their names are Annie and Buddy, and they were very nice to me. It turns out that they are my new foster family, and they actually wanted me to come inside their house. They helped me get out of the car and we went inside where they put that soft thing your bed on the floor. Then it was a miracle! They gave me a big bowl of food and all the nice things made me really uneasy. But I hurt so badly and was so hungry that even though I was starving and tired I was a little out of it. I couldn't believe the food and the your bed.

Notes from the Author

My name is Diana, and my husband is Michael. On a Tuesday evening in January 2016, I got the phone call that began the end to Sandy’s abuse and neglect. We met the rescue at the veterinary office, and although I thought I was prepared to see this German Shepherd named Sandy, I was panic-stricken when we entered the exam room. My heart broke and I felt so helpless because this girl was in such horrible condition. I didn’t know if our love could heal her, if we had the skill to nurse her, or if she would live long enough to get through the night, but I knew we were her only chance. With faith and hope, we barreled ahead with an overwhelming knowledge of the commitment we were making and the determination to make at least her last day or days filled with comfort and love.

Sandy joined our family in January 2016.

Today we reside in the Midlothian Virginia area along with Lulu, who is still with us, Juniper, and Rocky. We have mourned over the loss of so many of our pets; Sandy, Buddy, Annie, Cash, Tipper, Katie, Simone, Sunshine, Will, Ladybug, Morris, and Noodle. Their lives made ours better. We are happy to share this wonderful story told in the voice of Sandy, who reached over 16,000 people through her media page.

The Call

When the Man waked up he said ‘What is the wild dog doing here?’ And the Woman said ‘His name is not Wild Dog anymore but the First Friend because he will be your friend for always, and always and always.’

~ Rudyard Kipling from The Jungle Book

2016

Unexpected calls with no caller ID rarely get answered by me on my cell phone. I was leaving rehearsal with the North Carolina Master Chorale when my phone rang. For some reason only known by the universe, I answered. The caller identified herself as a representative from Southeast German Shepherd Rescue.

The call came one evening in January 2016 about a German Shepherd named Sandy, who was on the kill list for Friday, January 15. I was told that the dog was in terrible shape and was begged by the caller to foster this helpless dog. I was at a loss for words, my mind was racing, and my questions came so fast that I could not even ask them. All I could say was that I was on my way to a rehearsal, and I needed to speak with my husband about it. I asked if she could call back in the morning.

After a thoughtful drive home following rehearsal, I decided to rely on the more practical judgment of my husband. I talked it over with Michael, whose response was simply, Well, we have to take her. We can’t just let her die. I immediately went online, as instructed, and filled out the foster parent form. I would receive a call the next morning.

Sure enough, the call came, and our paperwork and approval had been expedited. The lovely lady from Southeast German Shepherd Rescue came to our home to make sure we were fit foster parents. After the home visit, we went to shop for an orthopedic dog bed. I received pictures of the dog, and they were horrifying. She weighed 54 pounds, up 20 from when she had been confiscated. She had terrible mange from head to tail and infected ears. We were told we could pick her up at noon the next day. I was praying Annie and Buddy would be OK with a new housemate.

We met the Southeast German Shepherd Rescue lady at noon at a veterinary practice about 20 minutes from our home. My account of this meeting was the beginning of documenting Sandy’s story.

My heart broke as I walked into the exam room to see Sandy lying on the floor because her nails were so long she couldn’t stand on a slick floor. They had been cut as far back as possible (they were curled under when she was confiscated), and she was a nervous wreck. The skin was literally hanging off her poor neck, and there was no hair on 90% of her tired body. Her mange was horrible, her poor body exhausted from trying to survive, but she had the gentlest spirit, and her look was begging someone to help her.

Michael and I went into OK, we’re going to manage this mode, and after six prescriptions and a shot, we brought her home. She lay on her new bed in the back of the car, occasionally whimpering. I dropped Michael off with her at the playground in our neighborhood, and she could hardly walk because she was so weak.

Another reinforcement of why I don’t like people who don’t like animals.

THE BEGINNING:

By Sandy

Treat me kindly my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of mine.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me to do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside…for I am now a domesticated animal no longer used to bitter elements…and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth…though had you no home, I would rather follow you through the ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land…for you are my god…and I am your devoted worshipper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play, and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

And, beloved master, should the Great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest…and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands. – Beth Norman Harris

January 9, 2016

It's Saturday afternoon and I'm getting ready to take a nice nap. I had the energy and strength to stand up and eat my breakfast today. And the most wonderful thing was that I went to the bathroom, down two steps to the yard all by myself. I've been inside a shelter and indoors for so long in a small concrete cage that I had to stand in the yard and look around with my eyes squinted to just breathe and check out the next-door neighbor's dog through the fence. My nice doctor gave me some Rimadyl because my ears and skin hurt so badly, and my new foster mom knew my whining was because I really hurt all over. So, she called the doctor, and she went and got me some Rimadyl. I had a great breakfast and a nice lunch. I haven't been off of my bed except to be carried into the yard until today. My foster dad was sitting on the sofa, and I went over to see if he would rub my head. He did and he didn't hit me or fuss at me so I think he likes me. My foster mom put down some funny thing on the hardwood floor that is spongy, so I went through the door they go through every night to see what is in there. I saw two other your beds in that room and I think that's where Annie and Buddy sleep. My foster mom cleaned my ears out again and she was really trying to be gentle. The icky stuff in my ears must be better because she didn't work on them as long as she did yesterday. I'm really sleepy now. Thank you to all my people who are sending their love my way. I never knew anybody would care about me this way. I hope it doesn't stop.

Hi, I’m Diana, Sandy’s foster mom. She stood up to eat this morning and ate two cups of food. She was able to walk out of the door to the stoop and down two steps to go to the potty not once but three times today with just some encouragement but not being carried. I called the vet to get some pain meds for her as her ears were making her moan. We went out for four hours, and she was perfect while we were gone; there was no mess in the house, and she acknowledged us when we got home by holding her head up and looking at us. She ate two more cups late afternoon and another before bedtime. I’ve sprayed her skin every twelve hours, but it takes one-quarter of the bottle every time because there is so much mange-covered skin. I have let the vet know I need more. The Rimadyl seems to give her some relief. I did a light cleaning of her ears, and she let me gently wipe them out. They are so infected and pus-filled but actually look better than yesterday. She is more alert, and we did not have to use the lead on her tonight to go outside. She was more willing to fall asleep once bedtime came and is sleeping deeply while I write this. I want her to feel good and am impatient about the misery she has to go through before the meds really work and the skin is ok. She’s getting food with probiotics and antioxidants, and vitamins, so her little body is going through quite an adjustment with antibiotics, antifungal and pain meds and topical ear ointment.

January 10, 2016: (Second full day with us)

She slept all night and got up on her own this morning to go outside. She manages the brick steps but it is still very hard for her to come up the steps. I am concerned that her very long nails are part of her discomfort, so I will talk to the vet on Monday. I ordered a Dremel for pets so I can work on them if she will let me. I cleaned her ears out pretty thoroughly. Her right ear is the most sensitive, and she moans if it gets uncomfortable while I clean it. It is definitely looking better with less pus and more just plain brown infection and sloughing off of bad skin. Her left ear is still a bit pus-filled but she let me clean it out and put drops in both. She was able to give her head a full shake without falling over. Her skin still itches and she tries to scratch behind her ears with her hind paws but just isn’t strong enough to manage it. She ate a total of 5 cups of food today and her digestive system is working better. She is getting fed three to four times a day, and she eats gently and willingly. We are crushing up the meds and putting them into her food. She is holding her head up more, and she looks at us with more recognition. She does better going outside with Michael. Her tummy seems full but the hanging skin will take a while to fill out. The mange is caused by an autoimmune problem so she is getting probiotics in her food. Tomorrow, we are installing a shower head that has an attached hose so we can bathe her in our walk-in shower. She has to have at least two baths a week. She fell asleep all stretched out and seems to know she is safe.

My best day in a very, very long time. I didn't feel like I needed to wrap myself up into a ball to be safe because I think these people like me. I have gotten really good food for three days in a row and I can't remember the last time that happened. My nails are so long that it hurts me to walk so my foster mom is going to talk to my doctor about them. I actually was able shake my head today without falling over when I got medicine in my ears. My skin still itches terribly but I get a medicated bath again tomorrow. I don't know where they will put me in the bath. I'm getting a lot of medicine but it's mixed up in my food and so far it isn't bothering me. My ears feel a little better. I'm not strong enough to scratch them with my hind leg yet but I sure would like to. But the good news is that I'm not all balled up outside in the rain and I've decided it's time to stretch out and say good night. To all the people who have liked my page and who are praying for me to get better, please don't stop because I think it's beginning to work a little.

January 10, 2016

Today I had a visit from the wonderful lady who came to the shelter to keep them from putting me down. I walked around the yard for her and she was so happy and it made her cry. I had more energy this morning than I do tonight. It was not a fun afternoon because I had to have a bath for my skin treatment. I don't know why my fosters think going in that big glass box and standing under water is any fun. But my foster mom had put down mats so I wouldn't slip and a lot of dirt -or whatever it was- came off. It made me really tired and stressed me out but I still ate and even wagged my tail when patted. My rescue lady and my foster mom took a funny-looking long thing that buzzed and held it against my toenails today. It didn't hurt but they say we will have to do this every few days to get my toenails short enough that I can walk right. I guess I am staying here for a while because I also got a clean your bed. I feel bad for the little buddies that were still at the shelter and wonder if they got a rescue too. My rescuer, Southeast German Shepherd Rescue, truly snatched me up at my last hours. They've spent over $1,500.00 on me. I never knew I was even worth a dime. They get their funds through donors; that's how they found my foster mom and dad. So, if you ever wonder if that thing they call donations really works, I'm still alive and I can't believe I am not put out in the cold like I used to be. I can't believe that I get lots of good food, I can't believe I get patted instead of pushed away. My foster parents wonder if the sadness in my eyes will ever go away. I wish I could tell them I'm just scared to hope. Thank you Facebook friends for loving me and for every thought you send my way. I think with your prayers and more days like the last three I just might be able to hope again.

We weren’t sure at all she would make it through the weekend but her eyes are determined, and beneath the mange and the broken spirit, we are beginning to see a hint of hope in her eyes and her soul. It has given us the realization that this healing will be a full-time effort and that to give her any quality of life, she will need so much medical attention. But, by looking at her eyes, we can tell she has the will to live. And so, we will soldier forward with her in this battle to restore her to a life of love and quality. My emotions are so full of complete disdain for the person who chained and neglected her. Her life has to be more meaningful now. Maybe her Facebook page will increase awareness, and even if one person adopts or fosters an animal or volunteers at a shelter because of her page, it is worth it to document this journey.

January 11, 2016

I'm on my way to a long night's rest after two major accomplishments today! I saw my FD (here on known as my foster dad) eating lunch while sitting on the couch. It smelled really good so I got up and went over to ask him for some. It didn't work, but I tried. A little later I was minding my own business on my your bed and my FM (foster mom) started paying a lot of attention to Annie and rubbing her. I wanted in on that action so I got up and walked over to make sure my FM shared the love with me.

It was really cold outside and I'm so used to being left out that I like looking at the sky and walking on the yard. But it was so cold and windy that my FM wouldn't let me stay out because I don't have any fur on my back. She gives me this brown pill every day around 4:00 and it makes me feel better. My muscles are so weak and my hind legs don't want to hold me up, but my FPs (Foster Parents) have put down long runners of shelf lining so I don't slip on the hardwood floors. My FM got one of those buzzing things in the mail today so I'm betting it has something to do with my toenails.

I know I don't smell very good because of skin problems and the ear infections but my FPs love me anyway. I love my your bed and love all of you for sending me your care and kind thoughts and prayers.

We have never seen toenails this long on a dog. It must be so painful to walk and to try to pull herself up. Our hardwood floors are unmanageable for her. I resorted to pieces of shelf liners to place between the rugs from room to room. After realizing I could use yoga mats, I got them ordered. Her ear infections are requiring cleaning twice a day, but I think the antibiotics are beginning to work. Thank goodness I have small fingers and she lets me clean them with cotton pads even though I know it must hurt her.

January 12, 2016

Today I've been a really good girl! I got up on my feet to eat all of my meals and I can't believe my tummy is not aching and empty anymore. My FPs are so nice to me and I have gone to the sofa several times to get head rubs. It is really cold out and I don't stay out long when I go but my FM says we have to walk around tomorrow for two minutes so I can try to build up some strength in my hind legs. Guess what! Some hair is growing back on my paws and my chin so I look like I have the