Grace’s Story – 01/10/2010 as Told by Lynn Shaw

     It had been below freezing temperatures for days and this morning was one of the coldest mornings ever.  Sharon and I came in to work early Sunday morning
and had started to exercise our dogs when a lady from the Jackson Fire Dept., located across the street from the shelter, came to the fence.  She said there was
a dog in their plastic garbage can and could I come get her?  She said she was alive, but looked really bad.   As I approached the garbage can, the unmistakable
smell of decaying flesh was overwhelming. I could not believe this little dog was still hanging on to life.  We turned the trashcan on its side to get her out.  Here
was a baby with a huge filthy twine rope tied around her neck.  The heavy rope was embedded in her neck and she was just skin and bones.  As I rushed her
to the shelter I could see how very weak and cold this little dog was.   She couldn’t get enough to eat or drink.  When Hollie and Janet arrived, we brought
her up to the front lobby, the only semi quiet place in our shelter.  Our first objective was to try to get the rope off her.  By now more of our CARA folks were
arriving and we had about eight concerned people trying to help while praying for this little girl.  Grace, as she was named, never growled, barked or whimpered,
even with all these strangers working on her. I think she knew we were trying to help her.  Janet managed to cut the rope off.  Her neck was infected and the rope
was so deeply embedded you could see the tendons in her neck.  We cleaned her wounds and started her on antibiotics.  Even though this process was very
painful, she still showed no aggression.  She just looked at us with those trusting eyes.  What her life must have been like for her, starved, thrown out like garbage
with a rope tied around her neck that had been there since she was a puppy!  It takes longer than a few days to get in the shape she was in. In spite of the fact that
humans had not been kind to her in the past she still had the need and ability to trust us to help. 

   Tonight, Grace wags her tail as she takes food ever so gently from the hand that is offering her extra tidbits before bedtime. She is warm in her bed of blankets
with her stuffed animal, food and water. She has people to love her.  She is safe and no one will hurt her again.  When she wakes up tomorrow, she never has
to worry where her next meal will come from or if anyone will hurt her. As Pat Sellers, one of our founders, always said when we had a new resident come to
CARA, “You are safe now, you are at CARA”. She has found a home with us at CARA until her forever home and family are found.

      It is through the Grace of God that she came to us.  Rest well tonight, Grace.  The best is yet to come for you.
We pray that CARA will continue to be here for the many other animals like Grace that need a safe place to be.