By Amy Remark
Published: July 10, 2015
IT’S NO secret that I love dogs…and cats and pigs and horses and goats and cows and, really, all animals, but I especially love dogs — they have a special spot in my heart. In fact, as I type this, I’m holding my left arm in an awkward position so as not to disturb Fetcher who’s cuddling with me on the couch. The other is at my feet alerting me to any strange noise he hears outside. I’ve nicknamed them Fletcher the terminator of love and Bentley the wonderdog, or garbage guts, because he’ll eat anything!
I think dogs are sweet, loving, forgiving and loyal and we humans could learn a lot from them. I’m learning so much from Fletcher, the newest member of my furry family. He came into my life six months ago while I was visiting a friend in Tempe,
Arizona. I’ve had a dream of starting up a dog rescue for many years now and I think I met Flether so my passion could be fuelled into action.
I’d passed by Fletcher many times on my bike to and from the bike trails while in Arizona and kept an eye on this cute dog as he lay in the dirt curled up in a tiny ball. I would think about him at night while Bentley snored away on the bed with me and felt sad that he didn’t even have a soft bed to lay on. And then one day it wasn’t just Fletcher tied up in the yard anymore; a new dog had been added along with four tiny puppies. I was disturbed every time I went by and wondered how they could just be left outside like that all the time.
On Sunday, December 28th as I rode past the yard on my way to the trails I noticed momma dog was calling out in distress and I thought it was because one her puppies had run off. I searched around and quickly realized she was in very bad shape from starvation and dehydration. I ran into the yard and sent my friends home to grab a vehicle so we could take her for help. At that point I made the decision to take all the dogs – momma, puppies and the young male.
My friends and I decided to name mama, Chief, and the young male, Fletcher. I knew right then that these dogs would never go back to that yard.
We rushed Chief to the vet and learned she was in very bad shape. I claimed responsibility for her so she could be treated as she required 24 hour emergency care. She had given everything she had to her puppies as they were deemed healthy and uber cute. Chief received the best care and I sat with her for hours to keep her company and will her to live. She sadly passed less than two days after being rescued — I was absolutely devastated, but I know she passed peacefully and surrounded by love.
My friends and I were on 24-hour puppy duty until we found a great shelter that could take them in and care for them. They’ve now all found loving homes and Fletcher is back here in Squamish with me. He’s a total goof ball with a big heart despite what he’s clearly been through — the marks are permanently on his body to show he had a rough start to life. My biggest lessons from him thus far are patience and understanding. I am constantly reminded that his world was tiny before we met and there is so much that is still new to him, but I’m so proud of how far he’s come in just a short six months!
Fletcher certainly has lit a fire for me, and now I’m on the hunt to purchase or lease some land so I can open a rescue for dogs because they will always need rescuing and I want to help. I still have a campaign at gofundme. com/doggielove to help with some of medical bills for Chief and Fletcher, if you feel inclined, please check it out.
