• Anna Bettina Johnson
• Anthony Holloway
• BL Ochman
• Bridget Pilloud
• Janet Roper
• Dr. Jill Elliot

The rescue of Mighty Dwight, a Lab tortured and left to die in a foreclosed house

Dear Pawfun readers: I guarantee you’re won’t forget Dwight’s story. Please be sure to read this post to the end to learn how you can help the thousands of dogs being abandoned in foreclosed homes.

By Vanessa Saunders

When our beloved Golden Retriever Chloe passed on after 16 wonderful we were devastated. The thought of owning another dog was unbearable at the time, the loss was just too much to bear to ever go through again.

About two weeks after her passing, one of my Real Estate clients, Jen, called me. “I’ve found the perfect replacement of Chloe for you!” She announced excitedly. .. The last thing we wanted to hear.

“We just aren’t ready yet Jen. We aren’t even sure we will even get another dog”. I said quietly.


A real estate dog
“But this dog has to be yours – He’s a real estate dog! – found tied up and dying of thirst and starvation in a foreclosure house in the projects of Philadelphia” She pleaded.

That got our attention.

“What happened? How do you know about this dog? Are you in Philadelphia? Is it OK? Where is it now? The questions flowed.

Abused and left to die
“He has been badly abused, scars from cigarette burns, and his feet were all broken from being tied up with nylon ties. You have to have him, a Real Estate rescue, he has your name written all over him!” she continued excitedly.

Tim, my husband shook his head, “Not ready for another – not sure I’ll ever be. Any way, this dog is bound to have problems”.

“I’m staying with my friend in Philly en route to Pittsburgh for the week end, this dog was on the news a while back. I was telling my friend about you and somehow the fact that you had recently lost your beloved Chloe came up. My friend remembered the news article about this dog and how a Realtor saved his life – I just know that it’s a sign that you should have him….I made some calls and found the pound he’s at.

He’s all fixed up now, re-hydrated, paws fixed and he’s putting on weight. I’m off to see him for myself right now. I just know you have to have him,” she continued excitedly.

There was no amount of pleading with her not to bother, we just weren’t ready, especially for a problem-child with issues. We could only imagine what this poor pup had been through and how he would react to people now.

Time is running out
“I’ll call you when I find him.” And she rang off.
Tim and I discussed the situation and resolved that this just wasn’t right.
An hour or so went by and my phone jingled, a sound that signified a picture file had just arrived. And there he was. A filthy scrawny yellow English Lab. Sitting behind bars, head tilted intelligently with a sad but inquisitive, brown eyed, heart melting plea.

“Don’t leave me, I’m scared” his eyes cried out to me. “No, no, no” said Tim when I showed him the picture. “Oh the poor thing, look he’s lovely” I said.

“He doesn’t look lovely, he looks pathetic” Tim sighed, already knowing that I was caving in .. ”Besides, we don’t know a thing about him. Some family will be bound to feel sorry for him, he’s a Lab. Someone will give him a good home.”

The phone rang as I continued to study those deep brown eyes..
“Oh Vanessa!” Jen’s sad tone said it all. Pease consider taking him, he’s not going anywhere else. His time is running out. Yes, He does have some issues, but I know you will sort him out in no time.”

“What issues? Really, Jen we really, really aren’t ready – especially for a problem dog…”
Silence.

“What issues? “ I asked quietly again. “Well,” she said, “he has terrible separation anxiety. He gets violent when you try to leave him. He can’t go to a family or someone that goes to work. He can’t be left alone, he goes crazy. That’s why he’d be perfect for you don’t you see? You both work from home most of the time – Your situation is perfect for him…. You are probably his only chance too. He only has till Monday” she begged.

Busting him out
That did it for me. I handed the phone to Tim, with tears in my eyes and he spoke quietly to Jen for a couple of minutes and looked at me as he said. “OK, bust him out of jail and bring him home with you.”
He didn’t look happy as he said it.

I was apprehensive, and more than a little concerned about what we had decided to do, but a little later we got another picture of “Dwight.” He was outside on a new leash, looking apprehensive too, and my heart went out to him. I couldn’t wait to give him some much needed love.

It took time for Dwight to love us back. Several months of constant companionship, regular meals, long walks, a warm bed next to ours and many rides in the car with me. Both of us were bitten in the process when trying to leave the house without Dwight. But little by little he began to trust, and change.

No more pain
No one would ever know his violent, tragic past when you meet him these days. A handsome, strong and happy Lab with a tail that wags so hard beware of anything on coffee tables! His only scars are the visible ones from the cigarette burns he once endured and his strange broken feet that turn up at the toes. But no pain anymore. And only sometimes do we see hints of old memories, but no longer the violent fear.

Back Story: I met Dwight, a beautiful Yellow Lab, while spending a weekend at Audrey’s Farmhouse B&B with my dog, BennyBix Ochman Labradoodle, my cousin, Karen Strauss, and my neph-dog, Izzy.

Dwight’s story got me directly in the heart. Research shows that his story is increasingly common. Thousands of pets are being abandoned and left to die – of thirst, hunger, and often, of injuries – when their owners vacate foreclosed houses. These houses often stand empty for months, during which time the animals die a horrible death.

Please, please, if you live near a foreclosed house, find out if there are pets left behind and get them some help.

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3 Comments

Amber Cleveland

It never occurred to me that someone would leave their pet behind like that. I am happy your friend insisted that you have him and that you saved him…I’m sure in some ways he saved you too after your loss of Chloe…

Happy to know that there are people willing to get involved.

BL Ochman

Vanessa and her husband have given Dwight a great life, and he, in turn, is a terrific dog. he has his fears, of course, but he’s healthy and happy and he knows he’s got a forever home.

it boggles the mind that people would do something like this to their pets, but it’s a growing problem.