This story was shared within the framework of the Fur Fam Storytelling Contest. You can submit your own story through December 5. Voting will take place from December 6 to December 31. The three grand prize winners will receive a $500 prize, plus $2000 cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. Share your story here!
I adopted Callie from Gail’s Second Chance Pets in Oakdale, Arkansas. (The rescue is run by an 80-year-old granny who is the sweetest ever!)
Callie was shot in the head and died in the woods of Arkansas by what we assumed was her first owner. Luckily, someone found her and took her to the emergency vet. Her life was saved by this person, but not without scars. She lost her right eye, part of her ear and skull on the same side.
You can feel the path of the bullet. In fact, she still has shrapnel in her skull. (We learned this here in Wisconsin after she needed an X-ray of her teeth.) Unfortunately, the wonderful person who saved her life passed away, and she ended up at Gail’s. . That’s when I come over and when she becomes part of my family.
I actually saw her on Petfinder. I want a smaller dog, but not a puppy. And the German Shepherd is a must! But she was only 9 years old then (now 10 years old)! I emailed the rescue to see if they have out-of-state adoptions. After they said yes, I filled out the application and within an hour Gail called me. Within two weeks I was on my way to Illinois to meet a trucking crew to pick up our sweet Callie! My daughter and I hadn’t seen her up until that point!
Everyone says she’s lucky she’s with us, but we’re the real lucky ones! She is a very special dog. I have two dogs (and three cats, all rescued) and I love them equally, but no dog can compare to Callie. That’s how special she is, to anyone who meets her! But her story doesn’t stop there!
In January 2021, I sold my apartment and bought a house. I worked with a great realtor who was afraid of the Shepherd after having a scary incident with one. I assured her that Callie was the sweetest but said I would put her in another room when she came to visit. The first time it happened, she insisted on meeting Callie and was immediately inspired.
She is inspired to help dogs, like Callie, in need of good homes. My realtor donates money from every home she sells in 2021 to HAWS (Humane Animal Welfare Association).
This story was submitted by Jessica Valerine, with support from the Humane Animal Welfare Association of Waukesha County. To share your own submission for the Fur Fam Story Contest, click here!
