DRC BEHIND THE SCENES - MEET DIXIE DOODLE

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

 

Dixie is an 11 month old F1B Labradoodle surrendered to DRC by a self-professed "rescuer"  who adopted her from a local shelter in rural Alabama and had her as a pet for  5 months. Within that time, Dixie went from being  a happy-go-lucky, sweet doodle puppy to being a sick, miserable, sad and horribly neglected dog. 

 

Dixie's original shelter picture

 

 

Dixie had been banished to the backyard living outdoors because her "rescuer" thought she smelled bad and couldn't be bothered to teach her potty manners or to take her to the vet to be vaccinated and put on heartworm, flea & tick preventatives. She also neglected to have her spayed.

 

This "rescuer" watched and did nothing as Dixie scratched her increasingly irritated and stinky skin until it was red, raw and bleeding and her once beautiful fleecy locks began falling out in clumps. 

 

Yet even then this "rescuer" did not bring Dixie to a vet.

 

She instead complained to the shelter where she had adopted Dixie from that the dog was sick, impossible to train, that her personality had changed. She said that Dixie was now scared of everything, everyone and completely unresponsive to humans. She mentioned to the shelter that she was going to have Dixie euthanized.

 

Thankfully the shelter referred this person to DRC.

DRC foster volunteer Kristen Fuhrmann went to this rescuer's home to pick up Dixie for fostering and found her almost completely bald, totally covered in festering sores locked in a large 40x40' pen with 5 other dogs. 

 

Below are pictures of Dixie the day that she arrived at Kristen's. They are difficult to look at.... But it is important that you do look and see just how a woman who has the audacity to call herself a "rescuer" treated an innocent animal in her care. This sweet girl came readily to Kristen her eyes pleading for any kind of attention. Kristen immediately took Dixie to the vet where our suspicions were confirmed..... This poor baby girl was suffering with a severe case of advanced Sarcoptic Mange.

 

Kristen & Dixie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dixie has been receiving treatment for the last 2 weeks at the vet and she is  no longer contagious to humans and other dogs. She is slowly healing....

 

Dixie came home this afternoon....

 

 

We have given Dixie a new name (she was Midnight in her prior setting) and she is not only  the friendliest, sweetest, and most grateful doodle in the world she is a strong southern girl who is on the road to recovery from the abuse and neglect she has suffered at the hands of humans.

 

Thanks to Liz Syring for facilitating Dixie's release....Thank you Kristen for taking such wonderful care of her...And to all of our volunteers, friends and extended family for supporting DRC rescue efforts, thanks to you, Dixie will have a second chance for a happy, healthy life and a forever family to call her own.

 

We'll keep you posted on her progress.....

[F, Calla & Luca]

This is a tragic and heartbreaking story. I think Kristin is heroic in caring for this doodle. Dixie already looks 200% better.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

F, Kristin is truly an angel....She still has Cleo at the house after seeing her through her heartworm treatment and rehabbing..It was a long haul!.....Cleo goes home next week ....Now Kristin will nurse poor Dixie back to health too. She's a trooper and we are grateful to have her and all of our wonderful volunteers.....We feel blessed to have such an amazing group of dedicated rescuers as part of our family....Without you all there would be no DRC....

[Kyoko]

Thank you DRC for taking care of all doodles who need loving and caring home......

This is heart breaking.... How terrible she looked.... :*-(
But in the most recent photos, she looks as that she knows she is safe and loved now.....She looks relieved.
Thank you Kristen for taking such a great care of her.....

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Her most recent photos show the start of a remarkable recovery. Thanks to all of you who are helping.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

THIS JUST IN FROM KRISTIN:

"Dixie is enjoying her first night. She has been playing with the other dogs and looks so happy. I wanted to share these with everybody!"

[Kyoko]

What a resilient girl!!

[Amy & Bernie]

Such a sad story! She looks so much better already, Kristin is an angel! I just hugged my Bernie extra hard!

[Pocket & Beth]

Awe, Dixie-doodle! Glad she is in good hands now, and keeping her in my prayers for a quick recovery!

[Shelley and Riley]

The first pictures brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for putting up the new pics of her doing well.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

What an amazing organization the DRC is, along with people like Kristen and other volunteers these beautiful, loving dogs can get back what they give. I hope to be able to adopt one day when our circumstances change....perhaps in retirement. Thank you for the beautifully touching story and look forward to the forever happy homing.
Dixie's story is sad no more!

[Holly St Pierre]

All I can say is thank GOD for Kristen. This poor baby!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

It never ceases to amaze me what people are capable of.........what a sad story. Thank you to everyone involved in her rescue. She looks so much better now.