Every day behind the scenes

Most people have no clue how dogs and cats come to reside at shelters. Many believe they are all given up by their owners or simply appear by magic in a kennel.

The story of Myles happens every day in this country. Every day another stray is held for 5 days, and depending on space, health and temperment, put on the adoption floor or euthanized.

Iris had gone to Animal Services to pick up a rabies certificate. That was all. She was admonished to make sure she didn't return with any more dogs. She was told to not even look at them.

When she arrived at Animal Services, the worker there asked her was there any room at Satchel's Last Resort. Satchel's is in the same boat all the rescues and shelters in this area are in. FULL, with capital letters. No space at all. Not even an empty crate. It was explained this dog was picked up as a stray, had a couple of small medical issues and was extremely fractious.

Although Iris knew there was no room at the inn, she took a peek at the dog.

He is young, only 10 months, and when she was told he had less than 24 hours to live, she went into save mode. This required getting on the phone, going back to Satchel's to try and figure out if we could put this dog in with another, trying to figure out which dog and then going forward.

Suzy, a highly social, friendly pit bull had room in her kennel but would the new dog accept her?

Time for a meet and greet with a dog who the kennel staff at Animal Services had not been able to approach for 5 days.

When Iris retrieved the dog from the kennel at Animal Services and took him outside, she said the change was dramatic. He turned from a fractious animal who no one could approach, to a 10 month old puppy who loves people and other animals. He play bowed to Suzy and the race was on.

First battle won. Now we needed to get his medical needs taken care of. He needed to be neutered, have his ears and mouth, which were bright red with inflammation treated and get his shots. We were lucky in he was not heartworm positive. The vet had room to take him in and now his medical needs were addressed.

He arrived back at Satchel's a different dog than the one Iris met on Thursday. He was hours away from dying and now he is a young, American Bulldog looking for a home. Now, he has only been at Satchel's for a couple of days, but all indications are he is going to make someone a wonderful pet.

If you have room in your heart and home for a wonderful, new family member, please contact Satchel's at comments@satchelslastresort.com . Sometimes it is the smallest victories which mean so much. They mean alot to this guy. His name is Myles and he is looking for a permanent home.

Multiply this save with hundreds of others which happen in this country on a daily basis and you realize there are still angels who never give up and will never give up until the animals don't need us any longer. Become an angel to a rescue dog. They will never forget it.