Animal Education & Rescue

Sophie's Journey Thus Far

By Sandy Kamen Wisniewski
Posted February 08, 2010

This past spring a lab mix pup lived outside 24/7 days a week without shelter, food or water. She was a beautiful pup, with creamy-colored hair and doe-like brown eyes. Compassionate neighbors saw this poor pup wasn’t being cared for so they brought her food and water. But after a horrific thunderstorm where the pup curled up in a ball against the side of the house the neighbors said, “enough is enough” so they called us to help.

Our investigators went to the home and spoke to the owner. They pointed out what needed to change and gave the owner a chance to rectify the situation. But after two weeks the neighbors noticed that the dog was back outside and not being fed. They called us and again we went out to the home. That time our investigators contacted the police for assistance.

After seeing that the dog had no rabies vaccine and the conditions the dog was living in the police took the dog and the owner was charged with a Class C Misdemeanor. The pup was moved to animal control and waited to find out her fate. But as time ticked away, day after day and week after week with court dates being postponed and the pup in limbo our investigators became very concerned for the dog’s well being. They visited her at animal control where she was becoming increasingly more traumatized by her living situation and withdrawn.

Concern for her mental health our investigators contacted the attorney in charge of the case and asked for their help. They agreed to let AEAR put the pup in foster care and said if the owner relinquishes the dog they will drop charges. The puppy was taken out of animal control and moved to a foster home where she was named Sophie by her new foster mom. Our investigators contacted Sophie’s owner and wanting to avoid court the man signed her over to AEAR. Sophie was free to get adopted!

Sometimes with a very poor start in life a dog will have issues that need to be worked out. Sophie was skittish, jumpy and confused. After time she bonded with her foster mom, the first person who she could truly count on. She began to thrive. But shortly thereafter she got adopted and moved just over the border in Wisconsin. By now Sophie was seven months old.

Sophie’s new family were first time dog owners and being a lab mix she proved too much for them so they returned her. She went back to the foster mom. The bond still strong, she began to “protect” the foster mom from the other dogs. The foster mom couldn’t have that so Sophie had to leave.

Without an open foster home Sophie ended up at a kennel and stayed there for four months. We begged and pleaded for someone to adopt her or foster her. Finally, a wonderful family who had previously adopted from us wanted to give it a try.

The first month went well and Sophie was doing wonderful with the mom and dad and loved them very much. But as with the other foster home Sophie began to get protective of her “parents” and would fight with the other two dogs. Who could blame her after all she had been through? She knew she had a good thing and she wanted to keep it. But in her child-like brain they couldn’t reason with her that she needed to share her people. So with a heavy heart Sophie was given back.

Fortunately for Sophie our director, Sandy, had room in her offices to take Sophie. It was a real blessing considering the only other choice was back to the kennel she had stayed at for months. This turned out to be the best thing possible. Sophie is thriving there. She is being the perfect girl, going in her crate without a peep, going potty outside and getting used to and loving the people that visit her. Sandy is working with volunteers to get Sophie to not to be so scared of new people and working on good manners on leash. Sophie loves tug-of-war, fetch and sharing her toys. She is loyal and loving.

Please consider Sophie if you want an extremely loyal and affectionate best friend. She’d do best as an only dog, and since she is young and big (60 pounds) older kids or no kids would be best.

Let’s make this Valentine’s Day a super special one for a dog that has had such a rough start in life and deserves the very best from here forward. For more information, contact us or fill out an application online at www.aear.org.