A Horrifying Realization
Elder Hagar couldn't move. Surely this had to be some kind of joke. His mind was clouded by questions, his heart racing. After ten years of working at the animal shelter Hope For Paws, he thought he'd seen it all, until now.
He stared in amazement, a shiver running down his spine when he took a closer look at what he always thought was a dog. But just then, he made a horrifying realization. This was no dog.
Another Monday Morning
For Alicia Smith, her Monday started just like any other day. After downing her first coffee of the day, she got her kids up, cooked them breakfast, dropped them at school, and then came back home to spend the morning cleaning.
But this devoted mom of two had no idea what was coming to her.
Going For A Walk
After spending the morning cleaning, Alicia decided to take a walk around the block for some fresh air. Passing by her cheerful neighbors she breathed in the fresh air with a beaming smile slapped on her face.
Today was looking like a good day! Alicia had no idea how wrong she was.
Anxiety
You see Alicia suffered from anxiety, and at times her anxiety left her feeling awful. But for the sake of her kids, she tried her hardest. She found that cleaning and going for walks helped her struggle with anxiety.
But little did Alicia know, she was about to stumble across something that would turn her world upside down.
What Was It?
Alicia had been walking outside for 45 minutes now and she was working up a sweat. She took a sip of water and stopped at the end of a street to catch her breath.
Then suddenly, in the corner of her eye, she saw something across the road, and a terrible feeling hit the pit of her stomach.
Something Across The Road
Alicia slowly inhales and exhales, while her heartbeat pounds in her chest. Her eyes are fixated on what she can see across the road. What exactly was it?
It looked like a dog or some sort of animal. Alicia had never seen anything like this before. What was it doing out here? Kids play around this neighborhood hood; it’s a friendly place. Then, whatever it was, it got up, its eyes looking straight at Alicia.
An Animal?
What Alicia saw looked like a dog, but it was gigantic, and it looked completely worse for wear. Alicia exchanged glances with the animal and a shiver ran up her spine.
She knew she needed to get help so she snapped a photo on her phone and texted Hope for Paws, an LA-based animal rescue specializing in saving animals from neglect and abuse — the poor animal on the side of the road certainly seemed to have suffered both.
Hope For Paws Animal Rescue
Unfortunately, this sort of report wasn't anything new to the team. However, it didn't take long for it to turn into something very much out of the ordinary.
Upon receiving the photo, Hope For Paws co-founder Eldad Hagar knew that the animal in the picture was disoriented and clearly very sick. But he and his team had no idea what was in store for them.
Looking For It
After roaming the neighborhood, the animal rescue team was able to find the animal and upon closer examination, they discovered that she was suffering from severe swelling caused by a number of infections. Not only was she covered in open wounds, but she was also incredibly malnourished, nothing more than skin and bones.
But now, the team had to somehow convince the “dog” that they were there to help, a tall order when dealing with skittish strays.
Making Their Move
The team finally found her and noticed that she was about to walk into a yard. Elder Hagar slowed down in front of the gate while his colleague Lisa Chiarelli opened the door and jumped out before he even came to a complete halt.
Then, in one swift movement, Lisa brought to a close one of the trickiest parts of the rescue. She quickly shut the gate, locking the dog in the yard.
Closing In
When they closed in on the stray, though, the rescue team realized just how bad the dog’s condition really was. Her frail body was a war zone plagued with open scabs from infections that were slowly killing her.
And if that wasn't bad enough, when they looked closer, they found something even more tragic.
They Had To Be Quick
The dog had an old rope tied to her, which immediately made Elder realize that someone owned and neglected her to a criminal level.
But even the hungriest, saddest dogs have trust issues. However, the Paws team knew what to do. Lisa laid out a series of scrumptious treats for the dog, beckoning her closer with each morsel. But it wouldn't be that easy for the rescuers. Even though she was beyond starving, the stray was overly cautious. Carefully and gently, the dog inched closer to Lisa.
20 Minutes Later
The entire ordeal of coaxing and soothing took 20 minutes before Lisa could slip on the group’s “lucky leash” around the dog’s neck.
Strangely, upon seeing the leash, the dog was unfazed. Perhaps she realized that these humans were in fact there to help?
Almost Safe
Although the dog was pretty nervous getting in the car, in the end, her new friends convinced her that they were trustworthy.
From there she was whisked off to the Veterinary Care Center in Hollywood, where a battery of tests would reveal something incredible.
Poor Condition
As soon as she entered the clinic, the dog had to undergo a series of tests to determine what type of infection covered her body. And just as the team had guessed, the poor homeless pup was suffering from demodectic mange.
And as the Paws duo began treating the dog, her transformation astonished them.
Uncovering The Truth
When the Paws team took a closer look at the new, cleaned-up dog, they could clearly see that they were dealing with a canine of more wild ancestry.
In fact, they started to believe that they had actually rescued a wolf-dog, a hybrid of canine and lupine genetics. It couldn’t be, could it?
Part Dog Part Wolf
Wolves and dogs can mate and produce offspring, but these hybrids can’t ever really be at home in the worlds of wild wolves or domestic dogs.
And sadly, many people think it’s “cool” to have a dog that’s part wolf, but don’t understand the special needs these animals have.
Calling Her Julia
At any rate, Hope For Paws would have to wait for the DNA test results to be certain. In the meantime, though, they took every effort to help the dog, now called Julia to gain her strength and confidence.
Over the next few days, moreover, Hagar kept an eye on her recovery. And fortunately, she was soon eating more and growing stronger.
Happy At Last
Julia was unable to wag her tail, but she showed her appreciation by rubbing her head on the team. What a special girl.
As the Paws team continued to show Julia love and kindness, however, Julia finally wagged her tail! She was finally feeling safe, loved, and most importantly, happy!
11 Months Later
Nearly 11 months following her rescue, despite a few minor setbacks along the way, Julia is almost unrecognizable! She is now able to spend time with other dogs, learning how to socialize with other rescued dogs.
As you can see, she’s clearly doing much better! After her recovery, she was placed with Alicia, the woman who found her a few months prior, stranded and hurt on the road. But what would the DNA test results show?
Was She Part Wolf?
Not surprisingly, Julia’s amazing story of her transformation from a nearly-dead stray to the pretty pooch she is now going viral across the internet. But with most of the battle behind her, one question remained. Was Julia part wolf?
And after months of speculation, the DNA results for Julia's genetic makeup are in!
Truth Is Out
As it turns out, there's nothing wolfish about this pretty girl. She's half-German shepherd, half Siberian husky, and all adorable. Of course, Julia’s genetics wouldn’t have made a difference to the Hope For Paws rescue crew, but it would have complicated finding her a home. After all, owning a wolf-dog hybrid is illegal in California.
Thankfully, this was not the case for Julia, and she has now found her fur-ever home. Now with her identity crisis over, Julia is free to spend time with Alicia and her new family and just enjoy being a dog.
An Incredible Shelter
Julia's remarkable recovery wouldn't have been possible without the kindhearted rescuers at Hope For Paws.
To keep up with all their hard work and dedication to the animal community, check out their Facebook page, or consider giving a donation to help fund more life-saving animal rescues.
Fair Chance
Hope for Paws, is a well-known animal rescue service. They have a great marketing department and make an effort to get their name out there. The Society hosts various events and fundraisers throughout the year.
Fundraisers and sponsorships are most animal shelters' main sources of income. They would not be able to stay open without donations.
What It Takes
There are various expenses that have to be met in order to keep the shelter in good shape. These include water and electricity, rates and taxes, special animal food and medication, and veterinary treatment (which includes general checkups and serious illnesses).
The list could also be a lot longer depending on the type of animal that needs to be treated. Exotic pets such as rare birds, exotic fish, or reptiles are even more expensive to maintain.
The Animals Place
Depending on the property size, animal shelters can and will rescue all types of animals. Having a variety of animals does get difficult which is why it is important to have trained professionals when working with them.
A person who has an affinity towards caring for animals is the best type of person to work as an animal caregiver. These types of people are generally soft-hearted and kind. Animals take to them easily and they are also willing to go the extra mile for their furry friends.
Animal People
If spending time with animals is your thing, then you should definitely contact your favorite animal shelter. Most of them have family fun days where parents and children can come and view the beautiful animals.
There is usually a petting zoo. This helps kids to see animals close up. They get to experience how the animals feel and smell. This is great character-building for children.
Take Me Home
There are so many animals who need good homes. If you have the time and can afford to why not adopt a dog or cat? You would be taking care of one of God's precious creatures and giving yourself some extra love by finding a new companion.
It's a wonderful gesture to adopt a stray or abandoned animal. They will eternally be grateful to you.
Love Nature
Developing an attitude toward saving animals and conserving nature is imperative for Mother Earths' survival. We need to think about future creatures, people, and life.
Each one of us has a duty to protect those in trouble. We have to reduce our consumption and waste. Learn to reuse and recycle and most importantly save water.
Our Responsibility
It is not just animal lovers who have realized this. Many huge corporations have also seen the need to give back to the community. Corporate Social responsibility has become an important part of business today.
If companies know that they are having a detrimental effect on the planet earth, they do extra initiatives like environmental awareness programs to give back and replenish the environment.
Being Aware
Some great examples of this are those big companies giving large monetary donations to affected areas. It is somewhat of a bribe to keep locals quiet about what's happening.
Although sometimes damage to the land is irreparable, the money does help to try ad restore and replenish the land. Sometimes animals need to be relocated and rehomed, this is always costly.
Animal Shelters
With the ever-expanding industries and huge conglomerates, there is less land for animals to live free in. This is why animal shelters and sanctuaries are becoming so necessary.
They need more support to upkeep maintenance and security. At the very least the animals can be protected and out of harm's way from hunters and poachers.
Your Part
We can all do our own little bit by trying to give back. Try to get involved at your local SPCA or animal shelter. Maybe give some regular donations, adopt a specific animal to take care of, or better yet take one home with you.
Animals, especially dogs, are man's best friend. They make our lives so much better because their love is unconditional. Go the extra mile, there will be a furry tail wagging just for you in thanks at the end of the day.
To protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.