Lee Asher of the animal sanctuary and rescue group The Asher House received a call from a Good Samaritan about a neglected and abused dog she rescued. Quickly, he went out to meet her, and he was glad he wasted no second.
Xena, a German Shepherd, spent her entire life locked up in a cage. She lived with her previous owner who deliberately neglected to feed her. She was so tiny and emaciated because she received no nutrients at all. She didn’t even have water in her cramped-up cage.
What the dog suffered was severe animal abuse and yet no one stepped forward to report her situation. She lay on and was covered by her own excrement. She was pretty filthy, rancid, and was a complete mess. Luckily for her, someone with a noble heart came and pulled her out of her hell-hole.
Because of what she’s been through, Xena feared people, particularly men. So when she met Lee, she was hesitant to let him get close. She kept hiding behind the recliner and refused to have any form of interaction with him.
The rescuer knew it wouldn’t be easy but he was determined to gain the dog’s trust. He stayed with her for several minutes and guaranteed her that he meant no harm. He worked his way through until finally, he was able to hold her in his arms. It was a huge accomplishment but he knew he still had lots of work to do.
Lee figured out it was time to go to the vet for some much-needed medical attention. But before that, he took a stop-over and got Xena a cup of puppucino. He wanted her to enjoy her freedom ride and she surely did.
Xena was restless on their way home. She paced and didn’t want to relax. But within about an hour later, she decided she can fully trust Lee and settled down. She lay at the back of the car and just waited until they arrived home.
The sudden change in her environment was a bit overwhelming but Xena found her way into Lee’s pack. With the help of his dogs, she gained confidence and figured out life has so much more to offer.
Source The Asher House