Natalie
Hi everyone! I am Natalie, a 14 year old Collie Mix who was found in early 2008. Animal Control found me in a storage locker facility, where my family had broken into the office so they could keep me safely tucked away in a climate controlled environment while they went to a people shelter for the homeless. They loved me so much that they risked being caught, all the while making sure I was comfortable as they could make me. I could barely walk due to my arthritis, and I was in need of a shave-down due to the amount of matts in my thick coat.
Animal Control brought me to a local vet, where I was treated, and though Young at Heart knew I wasn’t an extremely adoptable dog due to my age, they rescued me anyway. I’ve spent the last year in a wonderful foster home, where I have been treated like a queen! Recently my arthritis has made getting around on their wood floors tougher than it had been, and so I found my way to my new home where I will live out my days in comfort and surrounded by love. I love my Sanctuary Family, and I even have a four-legged buddy about my age to hang out on the ground floor with me! We watch birds and squirrels out the window together, go for short walks together, and best of all, get to spend lots of time with the family. I’m so happy to finally be home.
7-11-2009-- Goodbye, Sweet Natalie.
From the Director:
I can remember the phone call like it was yesterday. “I don’t know if you can help her, she can barely walk, but she won’t have a chance anywhere else.”
The phone call came in the coldest snap of January 2008. Natalie, as we named her, had been found in a climate controlled storage facility, matted to the bone and barely able to walk. Could we help her? Her owners, who the police were sure were a local homeless family, must have loved her greatly, as they broke into the storage facility, stole a key somehow, and each night before they would take themselves to a nearby homeless shelter, would tuck Natalieinto the storage facility’s office- a large bowl of water, a big bowl of dog food, a comfy couch and heat/AC. No one knows how long they got away with it, but once we heard the story, we knew we couldn’t let Natalie down. Her people had fought so hard to keep this old, arthritic family dog out of the pound where she had no chance at all. We were going to make sure we did the same.
The day we met Natalie was the coldest day of the year. The poor girl had been so incredibly matted that we had to have her sheered like a sheep at the vet’s office, leaving her nothing but a tail and a lion’s mane. She had to be sheered down to her skin, and it was freezing out. The vet sent her home in a employee t-shirt, and we immediately went and bought her many fleece jackets and blankets to get her through. Natalie was sweet and stoic, taking everything in stride, but not letting her guard down for a second. Her arthritis was terrible, and we had to help her with each step. She was immediately started on a battery of anti-inflammatories, supplements, and high quality holistic food to help her. The Krinninger Family made sure she was comfortable and loved while we arranged for a foster home that would be willing to foster her long-term. We knew it would be a long road to help her regain her strength. The kids even made Natalie her very own fleece blanket, which she loved. And then Natalie continued her journey and went to live with the Kratz Family, her long-term foster home.
Within weeks of living with the Kratz Family, she was walking easier and on her own. Soon they had her going for short walks, and then she could walk 6-8 blocks. She began to enjoy life, wagging her tail and giving little kisses, the spark returned to her eyes. We took her to adoption event after adoption event, often being the center of attention with people wanting to pet her thick fluffy coat that had grown back so nicely, but no one wanted to adopt her. She didn’t care. She was watching squirrels, going for car rides, getting love and treats from her foster family. Life was good again!
In March of 2009, Natalie became a Sanctuary Pet for Young at Heart Pet Rescue. The Losacco family took her in as one of their own, and we are certain Natalie never knew so much love. Nataliewalked into their home like she owned the place, sat down next to her new four-legged foster brother by the back door, and watched squirrels together. She knew she was home. We continued to pay for all of her medical bills, and Natalie blossomed even more than we thought was possible. Her sweet and loving nature was obvious at all times now, the days of her stoicism long behind her. She was happy.
After a year and a half of Natalie gracing us with her kind demeanor, her gentle ways, and her happy spirit, we said goodbye to her this morning. Her downturn was swift- a tumor on her heart- her goodbye was peaceful with her “mom” by her side. We are so lucky to have been graced by the presence of such a gentle soul for so long.
We will miss you greatly, Natalie. You were truly Young at Heart.
