We take the naming of our danes very seriously around here. Naming rights are given to the volunteer who picks the dog up from the kill shelter and escorts it to one of our rescue vets. Shelter-to-vet transports are tough because you never know what you are going to get: a crazy, bucking bronco of a dane; a dirty, filthy, stinky, vomiting dane; a dane that looks as if it is ready to give birth…and then does…in the backseat of an SUV doing 70MPH down a highway; a dane with bleeding tumors or open sores - almost all are covered in fleas and almost all are a mess. It is a far cry from the cleaned-up, healthy, happy dogs that we hand over to approved adopters. Our shelter-to-vet transporters sacrifice their vehicles (which often look like something from the TV series “CSI”), they sacrifice their clothes (after one particularly bad transport I stood in my driveway, stripped down to my skivvies and tossed my flea and gunk covered jeans and t-shirt in the trash before setting foot inside my house) and, more often than we like to admit, transporters sacrifice their hearts. It is a wonderful feeling to know you have saved a dog from a certain death and it is an equally heartbreaking experience when the dog you helped save does not make it.
So, with all that in mind, I’d like to tell you about Ruby Begonia.
Michelle, the volunteer who transported Ruby, named her after the turkey that won the Great Gobbler Gallop in Cuero, Texas . Our Ruby had a massively broken leg and the injury was so old her muscles had atrophied, causing the bones to be pulled in different directions.
Michelle was confident that with GDRNT’s help, Ruby the Dane would one day run as swiftly as Ruby the turkey. Our Ruby had been discarded, tossed aside, whatever you want to call it – she was not wanted. I know Michelle and I know her love for these dogs and I know that during her transport, Ruby realized she would be cared for. I know Michelle’s calming voice and gentle touch had to be a great relief after Ruby’s days on a concrete floor in a loud, scary shelter.
Our biggest concern was being able to save the mangled leg. Our rescue vet called in for back-up help from a very experienced orthopedic surgeon. We were told that amputation would be likely, but if they could find a way, they would save Ruby’s leg. Little did we know that it was Ruby’s heart that needed help. Toward the end of the surgery, Ruby’s heart stopped. After an unsuccessful attempt at CPR, the surgeon cut her open and massaged her heart with his hands. Unfortunately, nothing worked and the surgical team was not able to bring Ruby back.
These are the worst cases for me – the dogs that haven’t yet known the love of a foster family, the comfort of a warm, soft bed, the feeling of a full belly, the excitement of finding their perfect forever family. I consider myself pretty tough – you have to be when your life revolves around rescue work, otherwise insanity is just around the corner – but my tough façade crumbled today as I thought about Ruby and all the wonderful things she missed out on…and all the pain she suffered through with her long-standing injury. It was just too much for me. Then I thought of her warm-hearted transporter, Michelle, and the warm-handed surgeon who tried to massage her heart back to life and I have to believe that Ruby realized how much she was loved and how much she was wanted, with or without a forever family.
If you haven’t yet, please consider making a donation in Ruby’s name to our No Frostbite Online Virtual Garage Sale. Financial support from people like you is what allows us to pick up any dane – regardless of its medical condition and the potential cost to treat it – and give it a fighting chance. Without GDRNT, Ruby would have surely died in the shelter, nameless and without warm hands wrapped around her heart.
Rest in peace Ruby...
...you deserved better from the start.
Jamie, Michelle and all who touched Ruby's life DID leave her loved. You all gave Ruby so much love. I am really speechless about her condition and also overwelmed with the love given to fight for her life. Your pain is shared.
Heartbreaking
I know that being invloved means exposing yourself to heartache but I'm glad there are so many kind hearted people in this group that put themselves aside and keep going to save the lives of these broken and abandoned dogs that never asked for anything but love. I'm so sorry to hear about Ruby, it really is heartbreaking to me when they don't make it to a foster home 1st, even if just for a short while so they can be drenched with the love they should have always had from the beggining. I'm grateful she got a little time with everyone who loved on her and worked so hard to save her life. My thoughts are with all the sweet souls we have lost recently.
Let us not forget
I had to wait until work was "officially" over before I could read this post. What a beautiful tribute you have written Jamie. Sweet Ruby knew love thanks to Michelle and Dr. Turner's team. GDRNT did their very best to help Sweet Ruby, but it was not her destiny to find her forever home. This wonderful and caring tribute will live on forever in our hearts. We have saved many with multiple problems, and when we lose one poor soul, our hearts our torn in two. May Sweet Ruby be pain free and running free...thank you Michelle for being there and helping Sweet Ruby know a warm loving home, and thank you GDRNT for helping Sweet Ruby to know love through Michelle's home. I am proud to be a part of this magnificient group.
Judy, Scooby, and Daphne
oh man
It took me awhile to even open this post because I knew it would be a tear jerker. I opened it and was in tears and full of love for GDRNT at the same time. I know so many survivors that have found their forever homes are forever thankful to GDRNT and the volunteers/ transporters for their rescue. I just looked over and layed on the couch with Katie for awhile until she got up and went and laid on her own bed and I was "mad" that she left me! lol.
just about the time
I get over this, I get on our website. That is me in the photo with her just loving on that sweet girl. She would look at you with such adoration. Michelle did a great job getting this girl in and the medical staff that works with us along with Dr Turner, I could not have been more pleased. She did know what love is at the end, by Michelle and Dr B's staff, and I think she will be waiting for her special person to cross over with.
Heather
Sweet Ruby
Jamie, your words are so touching. You always know how to express our fur-babies feelings & how all of us feel as well. I do think that Ruby is with a wonderful forever family.......all of our other precious angels who have gone before her. They are all playing at the Bridge waiting for those who have touched their brief lives while they were here.
Nora
Thanks so much for the reminders...
It's so easy to focus on the one(s) that don't make it. Thank you for reminding me of Molly and Charlie and Gabby. They're just a few who were in the same boat as Ruby - and they're all doing so well now.
Molly - with her leg so swollen it busted open and she lost GALLONS of liquid out of it. Charlie - the poor pup discarded because of a mangled leg. And Gabby, the silly girl who had so much wrong with her we didn't know where to start...was she shot in the neck? Were those tumors on her rear? What had she been through?!?!
I know each of these dogs show you - their forever families - how much they love you every day.
I'm so grateful to Michelle and the surgical staff - all of whom worked so hard to give Ruby the same chance Molly, Charlie and Gabby had. It wasn't Ruby's time to find a forever family, but it's comforting to know that volunteers like Michelle are on stand-by, ready to jump into action when another call comes in about another dane in need - because chances are, that dane will pull through and will brighten the lives of its family for years to come.
heart broken~
Jamie~
You wrote a beautiful send-off for Ruby....she did know love, you are absolutely right. I've met Michelle and know how much she loves her boys and loves GDRNT....she most certainly comforted Ruby every second they were together. Her name is precious...and I think the story you just wrote about her will stay with me forever.
Thank you Michelle....your love touched Ruby and that is what she needed.
Stacey
~in memory of Moose~
you are not crying alone
I am right there with ya on the crying part. I am so grateful to all of you that are there talking care of these extraordinary animals. THANK YOU. Thank you for the time, dedication, and heart break that you endure and give. I know my Gabby girl was so blessed to have been rescued by this organization and that God plays a part in every one of you.
Leelyn, Draegar, Gabby, and Kira
Crying . . .
Here I am, at the office, crying while I try to eat lunch. Ruby's story could have been the story of so many of our rescued danes. Her story is so similar to Molly and Charlie Brown's (two the 132 danes Jamie gives us credit for having). Both with broken legs and atrophied muscles. They were the lucky oneswho survived their ordeal, surgery and found their forever home in Louisiana. (Of course, Molly would probably not be able to run like the wind and be a complete tom-boy if it had not been for Jamie's selfless dedication to her recovery.)
Those of us who have adopted are so grateful for the volunteers and fosters who make the fairy tale come true for so many of danes. Paul and I know we cannot foster - once they are in our home, they are ours forever.
Jamie, thank you for sharing Ruby Begonia's story.
Phyllis (La. Herd member #2)
Donation made
Just did a donation via Paypal for Miss Ruby Begonia. Thank you for telling her story...know it was hard, but shows just a taste of what a huge role all our volunteers play in saving these precious souls.
Sara (Bubba Chad's and Shammy's mom)