Weight gain

Here's proof that she filled out nicely:

Healing from Surgery

Hey y'all, it's Heike, Shelby's foster mom.
Shelby is healing nicely from the surgery. She is no longer wearing any post-op socks, and is back to her usual level of energy, meaning she plays hard with Waylon, takes naps with him on the couch, and is a loving licking lap dog.
Here are the two happy siblings:I have read somewhere that pit bulls are very maternal and adopt all kinds of animals in lieu of their own offspring. Shelby definitely has a very caring side to herself. She constantly surrounds herself with stuffed animals: she has built a "nest" in the yard and carries all her toys (and Waylon's, too) outside, then puts them around her favorite sunny spot. It has been raining during the past few days, so she has a "nest" inside:
The red blanket was a gift to me. My former roommate Patrick gave it to me for Christmas one year. I wrote my dissertation wrapped in it, and have never shared it with any dog until Shelby came along. It's warm and fuzzy, and she loves it.
Whenever I pick up after her and put all her toys in a basket, she is right behind me and takes them out one by one, and puts them around her "nest". It's simply too adorable.
In this picture, you can see that her paws are healing very well. She looks a bit goofy, like a three-toed gargoyle. Shelby keeps the wounds clean and doesn't chew on the stitches at all. She will be just fine.

Foot Update

Shelby Angel is home from the vet. She had toes on 2 feet amputated, and hopefully she will finally be on the solid road to recovery. In usual Shelby Angel style, she is in great spirits and happy to be back with her foster mommy. The minute we pulled up into Heike's driveway, she got so excited and happy. She ran straight out with her two bum feet to play with Holly and Waylon!

Oh yea- and she now weighs 49 pounds- she is up about 20 pounds since I found her! I told you she was starving! Now she is a chunky monkey- not overweight (yet) but definitely a solid little girl!

If all goes well with the feet, we may be starting heart worm treatment soon. Will keep you posted!

Catching Up!

Where have we been?  Sorry to take so long on an update.  Shelby is doing well and thriving at her foster home.  She may even be thriving TOO well, as she is the opposite of starving now :)  hee hee!

I had the pleasure of dog sitting Shelby this weekend.  She was welcomed by Rooney and Cayenne and had access to our big backyard filled with old running shoes for play toys.  (and old running shoe, I have found, is like heaven to dogs).  

She did as well as I expected- meaning she was super sweet and got along with every one.  As usual, no growls, barks, or mean faces.  She was even sweet when it was time for her injections- ouch!  We spent the weekend playing, and Shelby Angel even got to snuggle with me, Rooney, and Cayenne in bed when Dave when to work!  

I am normally great at taking pictures, but I actually did not get any this weekend!  This is a last minute shot I took before I had to take Shelby Angel back to Heike's.  The picture makes me laugh- for one, because all 3 dogs have huge ears, and two- they have those sad puppy dog faces as if they know I am leaving to go to work for the day.  

So, I am happy to share with you that again, Shelby Angel has been amazing company.  What a great dog-I love spending time with her.  

How Cute Am I Looking?

I am constantly stealing pictures off of Heike's facebook page. I just can't help it! Too cute! (I hope Heike doesn't believe in copyright...hee hee!)


Look at me, look at me!  I am filling out and looking great!

And I will jump on boys to give them kisses.  I am a girl, after all. :)

Why does Damie always put me in pink?  I thought Damie did not like pink.  She must secretly like pink.  I don't remember her ever asking me if I wanted to wear pink.  

Catching Up!

Tonight my sister and I went to foster mom Heike's house to catch up with Shelby Angel and write some thank you notes.  With the exception of her feet (please, please heal!) she is looking so great!  She is a beautiful girl, and she is still as sweet as ever.  

Here she is with my sister, Rebekah.  When Shelby Angel was still living at the vet for treatment, Rebekah used to go check on her during her lunch breaks from work and help take care of her feet.  Rebekah has been a big part in helping with Shelby Angel's recovery.  

And there really have been so many people that have helped in Shelby Angel's recovery.  This is just a glimpse of Rebekah, Heike, and myself taking some time to thank the people that have given Shelby Angel so much support.  We have so much thanks to give- we haven't even scratched the surface with the depth of our gratitude.  

We are thrilled, excited, and honored to have so many thank you letters to write! (Plus, the more thank you letters we have to write, the more excuses I can come up with to visit Shelby Angel!)

Remembering

I remember calling my friend Joy about a week after I first spotted Shelby Angel and asking her:  "Was that dog we saw on our bike ride really as badly hurt, abused, and starved as I remember her?  Maybe I am just over-exaggerating in my mind how bad she is."  Joy promptly responded that the dog WAS that hurt, abused, and starved- my memory was not altered.  

Funny, but again I turned to my husband tonight and said, "Maybe Shelby Angel wasn't really that bad of a case of abuse."  My husband gave me a weird look and said, "It was very, very bad, Damie.  It was horrible."  

I have had a lot of requests for pictures of her when I first found her.  I really wish the camera could have captured the whole story- her inability to walk as if all of her legs were broken, every bone that could be counted, the scars and injuries all over her body from the abuse, and her feet- partially gnawed off with bugs living in them.  I think these pictures really just scratch the surface of what we saw that day.   

I know most of my friends have seen these pictures already, but I will post a few again.   

There were so many scars around her neck and chest, including an ear that was ripped so deeply she could no longer hold it up.  

Even after 2 weeks of food, you could still see every bone.    

Her two back feet, with missing toes and toenails.  

When I finally decided to make the effort to find and help Shelby Angel, Dave was not the happiest husband on the block.  "She is not coming here."  

After I got Shelby Angel to the vet, I called my husband and asked him to meet me there.  His response was, "Damie, she is NOT coming home with us."  I told him I promised not to push a dog on him, but I needed him to be there for me.  When he got to the vet, he looked at Shelby Angel and gave her a pet, then our eyes met and he understood.  From the moment he saw her, he gave his unconditional support.     

I hope you enjoy Shelby Angel's blog.  We know that she still has obstacles to face, but we are encouraged by her recovery and kind spirit.  She continues to teach us to be more supportive and helpful to one another, and we learn so much from her every day.