The Ginger Twins!
Date posted: February 8
Hello… I wanted to send you a note and let you know how well Cady and Zack are getting along. I have attached a picture of them romping in the snow – they just love it! My girlfriend calls them the “Ginger Twins”. Cady and Zack act like they are long lost siblings – they love being together! Where Cady is a reserved and shy girl, Zack is a big goofy doofus! He’s learning his manners and is doing well with dog obedience classes. Cady and Zack went to the vet together, and the doctor pronounced them happy and healthy! I feel like the luckiest person in the world! Thank you to everyone at the shelter who helped me with this decision!
The Great Escape Artist
Story originally posted July 2008
The first time I saw Cady, she was sitting at the door to the kennel. She was dirty, matted and had an undercoat that needed to be combed out. She was a sad looking mess! After multiple visits and spending time with Cady just grooming her and getting to know her, I decided to adopt her! I had her about 30 minutes and she slipped her leash and took off running north. She ran north, south, east and west for the next 3 weeks. The Brecksville and Richfield Police were on the lookout. Animal Wardens from both counties were looking. The Brecksville Animal Warden borrowed a large Havahart trap from Independence. She was spotted at Lubrizol, so for the first 2 weeks, the trap was in the woods on the Lubrizol property. I traveled from Fairlawn to Brecksville 2-3 times a day to open the trap, check it and close the trap at night so I didn’t accidentally trap a racoon or a skunk! The trap was baited with steak, pork chops, spare ribs, sausage, Alpo, dog gravy, biscuits and treats. Nothing. However the trap was stripped of food overnight with the cage closed! Racoons, nature’s little maid service, I supposed. I passed out flyers with all the information and her picture on it to the businesses along Brecksville Road. The 3rd week she was spotted twice, and the Havahart trap was moved about a mile south. Same routine, only this time she was spotted near a fast food restaurant so I baited the trap with cheeseburgers. Still nothing.
On the 20th day, I decided that she was never coming home. I called the Brecksville Animal Warden and told her I was closing the trap and giving up. I figured if she got into an enclosure that someone would call the police, but I felt she was trap savvy and didn’t want to be caught. I went to the trap one last time and closed the trap for the night. I went home. At 7:15 the next morning, a man called and said “Your dog is in the trap”. I said… “What?” He repeated, “Your dog is in the trap”. I said, “IN the trap?” and he said “Yep”. I couldn’t imagine how that happened. If you have seen a Havahart trap, you know they are not “accidentally” opened. Accidentally closed, yes, but it almost takes 2 people to open and set it! So I said, “I’ll be there in 30 minutes”. When I arrived, there she was… just sitting in the cage. Not panicked, no growling, no barking. Just sitting there. It was a miracle. To this day, I have not been able to find out how the trap was opened on that night. Maybe it was St. Francis of Assisi? Since Cady has come home, she and the cats get along really well… she has gone to the office with me… and she goes in the car with me every time I go anywhere! She’s quiet, calm and happy. She’s been declared “no worse for the wear” by the vet, and she was fabulous for the groomer. She wears her St. Francis medal everyday! She follows me from room to room, and we’re still working on her trust; she must have had a tough start to her life. But she rounds out our family, and I already can’t imagine life without her. She’s just beautiful. – Jeni
