I was the President at PAWS, a no kill animal shelter in Belle Chasse La. I went to our local municipal shelter to pick up some cages they weren't using. As we walked through I saw two little eyes starring back at me through the bars of a dog run. He was cowering in the corner as the 2 large dogs on each side of him were barking. I was shocked that
he was even in that area. I was then told he would be euthanized the next day because he was crippled. Keep in mind the lighting was very dim so I really couldn't see every detail on him. I took him out of his run, stood him up and said I'll take him. I was not able to get him until the next day. I thought of him all night because I knew he was scared to death and not living well in this particular shelter and I also knew we didn't need another dog at home. We had 6 of our own that we dearly loved but we didn't need any more expense. Because I was working the next day someone else picked him up from the shelter and brought him to my vet for me. Remember I had only seen him in a dim light. My vet called and said, this little guy is really old, he's in terrible shape and should really be put out of his misery. I was surprised because my vet would go to great lengths to heal an animal before even thinking of such a thing. I accepted his decision and remember crying because I was so sad for him. The phone rang again and my vet said he couldn't do it because he was heartworm negative. Well I couldn't believe it. Almost every animal we rescued was heartworm positive. I was so happy and couldn't wait to get there to pick him up. When I saw him I felt sick. While I had been in the rescue business for a while I had not seen anything like this. His smell was unbearable from the infection in his skin, he was filthy dirty, emaciated, had no hair, he was loaded with fleas and he was crippled, so much so that his head actually pointed to his tail. Honest to God! I thought what have I done? I can't place him for adoption. I started second guessing myself and thought I would now have to be the one to decide his fate but when I looked in his eyes and saw that little tongue sticking out I knew I could save him and that underneath all that sadness was a precious, loving little boy. And so began me and my husbands journey with Drew. He walked so crooked it was heart breaking. I would massage his little body daily, which he loved and we had him on medication for all sorts of issues. All of a sudden his hair started growing back and I noticed he was starting to straighten out and walk better. Soon after that my boy was running through the yard and following my husband as he cut the grass. Oh, by the way this little 6 lb Pomeranian was the alpha dog over our other 6, even our daughter's 4 pit bulls didn't mess with him!
Everyone that encountered Drew loved him. He had become a little celebrity in his own right and was one of the most beautiful poms I had ever seen. During our 5 years with him he had some sickness but always survived it. That little sweetie was a fighter. My husband doted over him all the time and our life was devoted to him. We knew the day would come when our love for him just wouldn't be enough and he would leave us so in 2010 we said goodbye to Drew as he was sent to Jesus. Our grief was unbearable but I knew in my heart he had been sent to us for a reason and I had to share with others the joy he gave to us. I know this sounds strange but he could make anyone smile, he had this magnetism about him that just made you feel good, he was just such a gift. I can't think of any other way to describe it.
To honor Drew, The Drew Pet Foundation was established. We are a nonprofit, all volunteer, 501c3 organization helping Senior Citizens keep their pets. We help with food and medical needs in the hopes of never seeing another dog or cat given up to a kill shelter because they can no longer afford to keep them. Sometimes all the elderly have is a pet that loves them and gives them a reason to get up in the morning.
Please help us keep Drew's memory alive and join our fight in keeping pets at home with their loved ones.
Written by Sue Sampey
