EVERYBODY LOVES GEORGE!

That's me and George in the picture. He's sooo adorable. He came to Good Newz Rehab from a shelter and his future wasn't looking great that is for sure. He was a hunting dog originally and eventually he just got used up and left behind. I hate how hunting dogs get treated. I stopped a relationship with a good friend of mine over a dispute with how she treated a hunting dog a couple of years ago and I've been sensitive to the plight of these warriors ever since. I hated to lose the friendship, but I felt I had to take a stand and let her know that disposing of a hunting dog was WRONG.  I learned alot back then about how hunting dogs are sent to shelters, or are disposed of when they no longer are up to snuff. Often there is no respect for the life of a dear soul who spent their entire existence trying to please their owners by hunting for them and doing everything they could to win their approval. They are instead left at the end of their lives to die alone or worse are killed brutally.

Back to George. He is about 8 years old and when he walked through the doors of Good Newz he looked to be a dog of at least twice his age. He moved slowly yet purposefully and his eyes looked beaten down with time and hardship. His name was / is Spirit but the moment I laid eyes on him, I saw GEORGE. He seemed to take to the name immediately and now though his warrior name is certainly Spirit, because he has the spirit like no other, his fun name is GEORGE and that's how everyone has come to know him and it seems how he has come to know himself!

George has scars all over his body. I try not to look at them when I bathe him for fear I will be overcome with sadness for him and won't be able to help with his healing. When he came to Good Newz he also had a unique issue that I've never seen before. Some say it was his nipples, I say it was loose skin because I'm in denial, haha others say they don't know, however, he had two long pieces of skin hanging from his belly. Whatever they were, they were visual reminders of neglect and abuse like the scars on the rest of his body. I loved George immediately but I had trouble with those pieces of skin. They looked horrible and at times seemed to touch the floor as he walked by. As I gave him hugs, I made sure not to touch them because to me they seemed painful to him, but apparently they were dead pieces of skin. One day I was playing with George and cuddling with him on the floor when one of the pieces of skin hit me smack in the face. I thought I was about to die but I didn't want George to think I was reacting to him in a negative way so I kept my feelings to myself. I wanted to run and shower myself but I stuck it out. UGHHH I sure loved him from the start!!! I'm happy to report that George's dead nipple or 'whatever skin' has been removed. He's also had an operation so he won't produce puppies, he'd never had that, and he's healing comfortably.

I give George lots of hugs when I visit and when I bathe him, I try and give him some gentle massages to help heal his many scars. I am looking forward to the day when he prefers his cuddly blankets and own bedroom (crate) as opposed to lying in dirt. Even when there is a soft cushion, warm grass or shade near by, George tends to find the dirtiest dirt to curl up in and rest. I am sure, these cuddly things are very foreign to him. It is awesome to see him jump up from a dirt filled nap and head to the bone shaped pool that is in the backyard. He loves getting in the pool to cool off and maybe it helps him feel clean from the dirt too. I always get a kick out of every time he heads to a pool and it's so comforting to see him bask in the spa like atmosphere. When I think of the life he must have lived before, I can't think of any other dog more worthy of Good Newz Rehab's facilities. There are so many more Georges out there though and so many more people who don't understand how animals hurt. It is very disheartening to say the least, however, I have felt better this summer, doing my small part to help heal the lives of some of these wonderful creatures. I LOVE MY FRIEND GEORGE. :) Peace, TaMarah