Photo Contest

Pet number and name: 008- Naddie

Submitted by: Terry - NY, USA

25% of profits to:
Northcentral Maltese Rescue

When I lost my Maltese, Missy, I was so heartbroken. I knew I'd get another 'one-day' but needed 'time'. Then out of the blue I was lead to a pet rescue that had little Naddie. She was the victim of severe abuse/neglect. She had been surrendered into a kill shelter where the policy is to euthanize 'surrenders' within 24 hours. Thankfully, a member of the humane society checks this place and learned of Naddie and contacted a local rescue foster mom. She was 'pulled' 15 minutes from being PTS.  I am going to explain some of her condition because I feel it is important but warn it is a bit graphic.

She was taken immediately to vet and had to be anesthetized  in order to shave her down. Under the 'inches of matted helmet' there were 'beasties' eating off her flesh, she couldn't eat because her mouth was matted shut. One leg was pulled up against her body from mats and needed 'therapy' to get it functioning because it had atrophied.  One layer of mats 'held her eyes open' while another layer come over that and caused infection to her eyes. She was malnourished and with internal parasites and heartworm positive.

The rescue and her foster mom over months of care and rehabilitation nurtured her back to health, and to where she could be put up for adoption. I will be forever grateful to them !!!
She did have some 'issues' of severe separation anxiety and was' confused' as to potty manners. (She seemed to feel she had to go 'in secret', possibly due to being severely punished for "accidents") 
 
When I read her history I KNEW she was meant to come to us. I KNEW we could help this little girl 'blossom'.  I also knew we NEEDED HER as much as she needed us... we NEEDED each other!

I applied and was approved. That was 3 years ago and she is one of the best little dogs I've ever had.

We worked thru all her issues , it only took a bit of time and patience. She loves everyone she meets...and they love her! ...  she's such a loving little soul!

She's the first rescue I've ever had and from now on it is the ONLY route I will take in seeking any dog.

To help a little dog come into their own... to see them become happy and secure little beings gives an unbelievably rewarding feeling! Plus, I can't begin to express the gratitude to her for helping heal my aching heart.

I shutter when I think how close she came to losing her life but for the "angels" who saved her. What a waste that would have been!
I feel she deserves to win because she's a perfect example of how rescues make such a difference. She's also the perfect example of how, in spite of her terrible early history of neglect/abuse, she 'forgives and forgets' and simply goes on to love and trust simply based on the acts of human kindness toward her.