I found Shade on an island on Chilhowee Lake in Tennessee. Someone had taken the time and made the specific effort to drive her to the island in a boat. They removed her collar, put her on the island and stranded her there alone. Then they left the island. She was abandoned. Then along came Douglas, my Golden Retriever, and I. We boated to the island late in the day near dark five months ago for the purpose of tying off the boat and spending the night on the floor of the boat. To shorten the story; Douglas growls deeply at around 11PM and out of the thicket came a black dog. It approached the boat carefully and cautiously. I could not get it to come close. A little dog feed was offered and that did the trick. The black dog came close enough for me to grab hold and lift it into the boat. Camp trip was over.
Nothing was more important than getting this animal to safety and inspecting it for obvious medical problems. The engine was started and the boat was backed away from the shore, spot light turned on and away we went toward the far shore at a blinding ten miles per hour. The dog was a black lab and a female possibly 3 years old and about 75lbs.
At home I picked off many ticks and applied Front Line to protect from further infestation from ticks and mites. The vet was visited next day for a spay operation and vaccination and rabies shot. Heart worm tests were negative. And home we went. The Black Lab was named Shade and she quickly became one of the gang here at my place. Douglas, Happy, my rescue terrier, and Shade became great friends and all went to the lake with me and loved to share long walks to an old Civil War ruins. Shade loved to swim with Douglas and chase sticks I would throw into the water.
(more…)