A catalogue of stories of connection and compassion between humans and other species for use in public exhibits. Each story emphasizes what we have in common versus what makes us different, and shows other animals as someones instead of somethings.
This story has a happy ending! Since making this short movie, Jim has reunited with his wife, and the two of them, along with Emmy and Scruffy now live happily in New Hampshire where they are forging a new life. You can also read more about Camp Unleashed here http://campunleashed.com/About.html
Amanda and her fiancee decided to adopt a puppy from a list that helps servicemen and women place their dogs if they can no longer take care of them. She describes the emotions she observers in Henry and her own heart opening as she sees how she will be as a future mother, and also how her fiancee will be as a Dad.
When Wyatt and Amy found a second Anatolian Shepherd dog to help guard their livestock, they saw how the older rescue dog taught Roxie the ropes of life on a farm at the base of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. One of the many stories for the One Language Project - an expanding catalogue of stories of compassionate ways in which humans relate with other species.
I grew up with dogs, but I had never heard of a Treeing Walker Coonhound before. Elizabeth and I had looked for a rescue dog for quite some time, but had not found the right match for one reason or another. However, the second we saw Raleigh staring into the camera with his big ears and broken leg we knew we had found our dog.
We officially met Raleigh for the first time in a parking lot in Connecticut. He was in a van filled with other dogs that were also being rescued from a kill shelter in North Carolina. Raleigh did not jump up and lick our faces; he approached us cautiously and with curiosity. On the ride back up to Cambridge, he sat in the back seat calmly looking out the window as dogs often do. We knew it would take time for Raleigh to be completely comfortable with us and our home…
His story is a bit heartbreaking. He was originally a hunting dog, but he is extremely anxious of loud noises and so he was left in the woods. I am unsure of how long he was on his own, but it likely was not long as he ended up being hit by a car – resulting in the broken leg mentioned earlier. From there he went to a high kill shelter, to a no kill shelter, and then to someone’s home. His original adopter had some sort of accident where his broken leg was either put in danger or had pressure applied to it and so he snapped. That person, reluctantly, gave Raleigh back as the accident left too many issues with trust – and a dog like Raleigh simply needed someone that had strong foundation at trust at the very start.
Knowing that story, we felt and still feel lucky to have Raleigh as a part of our family. He keeps us company when we go running. He gently climbs on our laps and shoves his head under our arms (he’s a great snuggler). And he remains a dog that needs patience and persistence: he’s ~OK with kids, not so great with other dogs, and he’s been known to cause destruction on occasion. But he’s great with us.
We were looking for a playful dog for our previous older greyhound Jade, and we looked on petfinder for an Italian grehound to be her playmate. Through a series of events we found Lou. In the photo we saw he looked so refined, with his front paws crossed and a dreamy but surprised look.
We decided to go and visit Lou to be sure. we wanted more information about why he was available. They were suspiciously avoiding talking about his past, saying repeatedly how healthy and handsome he was, and “look at his passport and see how many places he’s been!” The woman who had him before probably started out spoiling him, then realized she didn’t have the time for his energy and curiosity. He came with an enormous bag with the name Lou on it, full of outfits - from a fisherman’s sweater to an orange prisoner jumper. He also had a big dog bed that said “Dog House”. This might give you a sense of where he had come from.
Reuben arrived more than 2 years ago, on a snowy Valentine’s Day. He came as a foster dog, and, at first, it was difficult to recognize him: white instead of grey, as he appeared in his profile picture, shy and disoriented after a long truck journey from Arkansas where he had been rescued from a high kill shelter by an eccentric lady who kept 20 small dogs in her house. I took him to the vet where he was vaccinated and treated for several small chronic problems due to his tough past life. It was clear that he was sick and needed some love and attention . One day our eyes locked and that moment I knew he was going to stay. But it has become increasingly clear that, at the end, he’s been the one who has rescued me and not the other way around! Reuben has brought lots of happiness into my life. Since he arrived I have been able to make very important changes in my life.
He really brings the best out of me. We have been able to develop a wonderful non verbal relationship that is the perfect counterpoint to my stressful job in a hospital. Most importantly, I have been able to appreciate again the small things in life, the little daily routines in a household that often times go unnoticed. Think of it, I have been able to reclaim and live the present.
Fergus came to live with us when he was one and a half years old. He had been well taken care of by his original owner, but she fell ill and needed to return him to the breeder. I was thrilled when the breeder informed me that she had a “toddler” terrier who was “perfectly trained” and jumped at the opportunity to bring Fergus home.
Fergus is a typical terrier: he lives to bark at squirrels and mail carriers, thinks he owns the couch, and is capable of jumping to extreme heights when no one is around to retrieve a tin of cookies. He hates being left alone (sorry, I have to go to work), is gentle with children, and does crazy dive bombing onto freshly mowed grass, doing a perfect imitation of a ballplayer sliding into base. He has perfected the “Who, me?” look of complete innocence that makes it almost impossible to discipline him, thereby, of course, teaching him that it’s okay to misbehave. He is adored.
I went to the MSPCA-Angell adoption center to drop off two old comforters. Although I had been looking for a large dog to adopt, I had decided to take a break from my search; still, it is against the laws of nature to go to a dog shelter and not check out the available dogs. The sight of Eddie stopped me in my tracks; I stared and blinked and stared again: he appeared to be Max, my first dog, who had died tragically thirty years ago. I came back to visit him two more times, and on our walks he seemed forlorn, exhausted, spent, and yet so sweet, maybe hopeful—rolling on his back for a tummy rub. Upon returning him reluctantly to his pen, I gently pushed his rump inside to close the gate—and he pushed back, unmistakably. We have been communicating ever since through a nudge, a look, a stretch, a wag. On Eddie’s intake papers, was noted “lost”. We found each other. His papers concluded: “A peach of a dog.” Yes, maybe even a peach dropped from heaven.
Painter Julie Hedrick describes how her daughter convinced her to rescue a neglected dog in Brooklyn called Abby, and how Abby learned what it means to be a dog and be loved when she met Henry. Video by Miranda Loud 2013.
Our daughter was living in Williamsburg with two roommates from California. One of them had brought this tiny little puppy that was as big as the palm of your hand in a little bag on the airplane when she flew to New York. She named her Abby. They all moved in together and started school. It all fell apart very quickly. Jill didn’t train Abby, didn’t walk her. She was off at school all day so little Abigail had to fend for herself. She had no idea what it meant to go outside, walk and be a dog. She didn’t know how to be a dog.
And right around that time, we asked our daughter if she’d take care of our dog Henry while we were away for a couple of weeks. Henry came to New York and Henry got walked every day at the dog park and played and played. He would get so tired that Ari would have to carry him home in her arms, and Henry really bonded with little Abby. She kind of got a sense of what it means to be a dog. You walk, you explore, you play with other dogs.
We came home and everyone was happy, took Henry home, but after that, things went from bad to worse for Abigail after that. Soon, we received an email from our daughter with a photo of Abby with a bow in her hair and all brushed saying “Please will you adopt me?” So, we picked her up one night. It was very stealth, coming into Williamsburg. We opened the door of the car and came upstate with this little dog. We got Abby here and she didn’t know how to be housetrained, but after the first night, Henry showed her and she learned. Henry also taught her how to go up and down the stairs.
When we lost our first dog Hedda, a beautiful black lab, to cancer in 2010, our friends urged us to get another dog - immediately! But we hesitated and then we bought a new home in Los Angeles. Life became busy and complicated, and though we missed having a dog, we didn't actively look for one.
But one day in April 2012, as fate would have it, we chanced upon freeway running around loose on the up ramp to the Hollywood Freeway. He was in imminent danger of being hit by a car so we picked him up and brought him home. He had a collar but no ID tag or chip. A search for his owner came up blank. It is a shocking fact that many people in L.A. abandon their dogs next to highways expecting others to rescue them. We named him Freeway and he joined our family which also includes a cat (Sahdow) and rabbit (Dominic).
Freeway is an extremely friendly and curious dog. He is happiest when he is with people, although when he is not sitting next to us we often catch him cuddled up with our cat or rabbit. Everyone wants to know what kind of dog he is. We did a DNA test and the results were surprising. Freeway is half Toy Poodle, quarter Welsh terrier, and quarter Lhasa Apso. This is not an officially recognized dog breed, but Freeway may change this!
