SHARI'S ADOPTION JOURNEY

A Story of Resilience and Love

Shari was pregnant when she was brought to HES as a stray, and looked like she would give birth at any moment. Staff situated her in a quiet area, expecting her to go into labor, and come morning, find a litter of newborn puppies.

But as the hours ticked by, nothing was happening. Shari lay there, panting, extremely timid, slow-moving. Something was off. 

When the vet team arrived the next morning to find no puppies and a distressed momma, they took action immediately. Sadly, the team found that Shari’s puppies had been deceased in her womb for some time, and one that was stuck in her birth canal, likely from her body attempting and failing to expel them. She was beginning to go into septic shock. 

It became clear that without intervention, Shari would have died. 

As the doctor began working to remove the pups and complete Shari’s spay, her vitals instantly began to climb in the right direction. Shari recovered immensely well, and blossomed into an incredibly sweet and affectionate dog

, thankful that her ordeal was over and her life was saved. 

A few weeks post-operation, Shari was finally ready to find her forever home, and was adopted by a nice man looking for a companion animal. While we thought that Shari’s shelter journey had come to an end, HES received a call the following day that she’d escaped her adopter’s house and was lost in the city. 

Staff and volunteers rallied to the call. After everything that happened, we couldn’t let this be the end for this sweet girl that had captured so many hearts during her time at HES. For 2 weeks, teams of volunteers, armed with slip leashes, treats, and hope, went out searching, day and night, for any trace of Shari. 

Finally, after 17 days on the run, Shari was caught in the middle of the night using a humane trap by an HES staff member, and returned safely to the shelter. A few weeks later, Shari found herself another home, but after some months, the adopter realized Shari was just not quite suited to her home, and returned her to HES, in hopes that Shari would indeed find her perfect forever family. 

That day finally came on April 24th. Shari was adopted into a lovely family, and now has a tiny Chihuahua fur-sibling to play with every day, as well as owners to adore her and give her the time, exercise and love that she craves. 

Shari’s story is one that could have ended in tragedy, at many different points, but we are able to share her happy ending thanks to the diligence and love that was shown to her by many helping hands. Now, we can use her story to educate others! 

Shari’s dire circumstances when she first arrived at HES and the suffering she endured could have been avoided had the responsible decision to spay and neuter been made before she became pregnant. 

Her adventure out on her own after she escaped her adopter is a great lesson on the importance of what to expect when you adopt a new animal. Understanding that rescue animals can be scared and unsure in a new environment, as well as how and when to introduce them to new freedoms plays a large role in their acclimation into their new home. 

Shari’s second adoption return can be an example of the significance in researching the breed of the dog you wish to adopt. Knowing breed traits and characteristics of a dog can be helpful when picking out a new shelter pet, in order to create lasting and successful adoptions. A couch-potato Basset hound may not be suited for an adopter with an active lifestyle, nor is an energetic cattle dog going to be happiest in a home with a more sedentary life. 

Shari’s story teaches us many of these important lessons. It is also a testament to the resilience of rescue dogs, and highlights the teamwork, fortitude, and compassion of shelter workers who will go above and beyond for the animals in our care!