Mollie — Throw Away Dog to Therapy Dog
by Mollie (via her mom, Hermine Scolnik)
 

     I am a very special dog now, but just five years ago, I had gotten lost and was a frightened, sick, smelly girl, living in the shelter in West Palm Beach.
     I waited there for my family to come get me, but they never showed up. It was so scary with all the dogs around me barking, because I don’t like loud noises. I didn’t have a lot of strength, and was having trouble breathing. I also had a lump on my side and I didn’t know what it was. My blond fur felt very yucky because it was covered with tar and motor oil, and I knew I didn’t smell great. I heard someone say that I would have to be “put to sleep” because I was heartworm positive. I didn’t know what any of that meant, but I didn’t like the sound of it. It sounded even worse than the other dogs barking, so I just went to sleep in the corner of my cage thinking that maybe that was what they wanted.
     Suddenly, someone opened my cage, put a leash on me, and took me out of the noisy kennel. Two nice ladies, wearing tags that said “Everglades Golden Retriever Rescue”, were waiting outside the kennel. I remember one of they saying “She’s gorgeous!” when I first came out. They signed some papers, and off we went. I didn’t feel gorgeous because of my yucky fur and bad smell, but I was glad to get into the van with the ladies. They kept the window open and the air conditioner running, during the whole trip to the vet, because of my smell,
     Wow, did it feel good to get into the bath tub. Now that I was clean, no one minded if I gave kisses. (I am great at giving kisses.) The vet removed the lump on my side and started my heartworm treatment. It made me feel horrible! Finally, when I was feeling a little better, someone from EGRR came to take my picture for the website. I must have looked pretty now, because there were lots of calls from people who wanted to meet me.
     After 5 days, I went home with the lady who thought I was gorgeous. She was going to be my “foster mom”. It was nice to be in a house with people again. I was afraid of the other Golden in the house, but he just ignored me. My foster mom told me that a family was going to come to see me, and would probably adopt me. That sounded good, but then we found out that my lump was a malignant tumor.
     Who would want a dog with cancer? Maybe they would take me back to that horrible shelter. I thought I would rather be “put to sleep” than to go back there. Well, I soon found out that my foster mom and dad really loved me and they wanted me no matter what was wrong with me. There would be no more scary shelter for me! My foster parents saw me through all of my recovery from heartworm, and then a second surgery on my mast cell tumor, to get “clean margins”. EGRR paid for all my treatments and medical bills, and saved my life.
     Once my medical problems were gone, Mom, who was now my “forever” Mom, worked with me on my confidence, teaching me that the world was not such a scary place. After a while, I stopped growling at garage doors and white vans. I learned that other dogs, like my brother, would not hurt me. I went to obedience school and learned commands, so I could understand what people expected of me. I also took time out to do my favorite things — playing ball, taking long walks, and swimming. Now it is my turn to give something back to the world.
     At first I went along with my big brother, Kasey, when he went to work — visiting an assisted living facility with Dad and to the library with Mom, where children read to us. But once I got registered with Therapy Dogs, Inc., I began my life’s work with children. For the past three years, I have been working as a READ dog, in Boca Raton, Florida schools. First I worked in only one school with third graders, who needed extra help in reading, but then I got invited to another school too. Now I work in the resource room in both schools, with learning disabled children. I can’t wait for Tuesdays and Fridays, because I get to go to work. The children sit on the floor and I listen to their stories. When they come to a hard word, they hold my paw, pet me, or give me belly rubs, and soon the word isn’t hard anymore
     This might be enough for the average dog, but I am not your average dog. Mom and I are registered with the AKC as Canine Ambassadors and we get invitations to visit after-school pet clubs in elementary schools in Palm Beach County. I get to help Mom tell the children my story. They learn about Rescue, responsible dog ownership, and how important it is to use heartworm preventatives all year round in our Florida climate. Every year we get invited to more and more schools.
     Last year, when school ended for the summer, I didn’t even take a vacation. Instead, Mom and I spent Friday mornings in a day camp with some other dogs. We taught the children about being safe around dogs, and responsible dog ownership. Then everybody practiced what they learned by walking, petting brushing, and hugging us. It was so much fun because I just love kids. The best part was that at the end of the summer, instead of paying us for our work, the day camp made a donation to Everglades Golden Retriever Rescue. I was glad she was able to help pay back the organization that saved my life
     I have another job too — I go along with my mom on Home Visits so that we can find the perfect homes for other rescue Goldens. Mom rings the bell, and I wait in a “sit-stay” until they let us in. I can always sense if this will be a good home for a Golden, and I’ll “give paw” or snuggle up if I think these are the right kind of people. If I really like the family I’ll l flip over on my back, for “belly rubs”. Everyone always wants to adopt me, but Mom has to explain that I belong to her.
     I thought all my problems were over, once my cancer was cured and I was adopted, but on Valentine’s Day, in 2007, I had a horrible accident. Mom took me to be groomed for the occasion, and somehow, my right hind leg got closed in the cage door. My Achilles tendon was severed. I had to have 3 surgeries, and 6 months of rehab, but it wasn’t all that bad. I met lots of new people — vets, technicians, and rehab specialists. I loved them all and always greeted everyone with a wagging tail, and a Golden smile.
     The best part of my rehab was getting to swim, to help my leg. The worst part of my accident was that I will always walk with a limp. Of course, I don’t let it get me down, and continue to do my life’s work.
     Because I was a stray, no one knows exactly how old I am, and because I am a woman, I’m not telling. The shelter originally thought I was about 2, but the EGRR vet guessed I was about 5, so now, in 2009, I am somewhere from 7 to 10 years old. I am white-faced, and have been since I can’t remember when, and am also energetic, so that doesn’t help anyone figure out my age either. My front teeth are worn down, but I like to scrape dead worms from the sidewalk, so even my teeth won’t say how old I am.
     I have come a long way from the smelly dog who was afraid of white vans and garage doors going up and down. Mom always says I am a true Golden, with the perfect Golden temperament, and that I have gone from being a “throw away dog” to being a “therapy dog”.

* Fifth Place Award Recipient

 

Entry submitted July 28, 2009


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