Anatolian Shepherd Rescue

by Elaine

(South Africa)

This lovely Anatolian Shepherd dog is now in a safe place on a farm with a foster family who have become so fond of him they will probably keep him instead of rehoming him again.

He'd been wandering around our small town whenever he could escape from his miserable life and confines with abusive owners. After having arranged a foster home, we simply spirited him away one day before he could be impounded or harmed in some way.

He was so thin, and very listless. His hindquarters, under the thick fur, were skeletal. The vet diagnosed Ehrlichiosis, which had become chronic.

For more than a week he lay on the cool tiles in the bathroom of his foster home, barely lifting his head. He had to be helped up to go outside.

He was prescribed three weeks of antibiotics, and being a firm believer in homeopathic remedies, I contributed from my own stash various remedies including those for injury, trauma and shock, immune boosting and the Bach Flower Remedy Hornbeam for weariness and moving forward.

From the start it was clear that Jack had a wonderful temperament - surprising in view of the beating and abuse he'd suffered. We had no idea how old he was - he looked like an old man.

We were amazed when the vet told us he was only about a year old. Three weeks later now, and he is a well and happy dog, kind to everybody, and well integrated with the household dogs - a white German Shepherd and a golden Labrador Retriever - the family and friends.

Everyone involved in the rescue is contributing to dog food and veterinary costs. Can you believe that when people phoned the owners to tell them their dog was on the loose in the village, they said "shoot him". That was the husband. His wife, when formally approached about finding an appropriate farm home, said she wouldn't just give him away, she'd paid a lot of money for him and had found a buyer. Who knows where, if he'd lived, he would have landed up.

We pray for a long and happy life for Jack.