Reader Rescue Stories: Tazo and Tiny

This week’s reader rescue stories are about a dog that had spent most of his life tied to a tree, and another whose life was saved thanks to social media but still needs a furever home. We hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as we did.

If you are the pet parent of a rescued dog, we want to share your story, too! For information about submitting your story, click here.

New Beginning for Starved Sled Dog
By Teresa M. Ouchterlony-Cooper

I met Tazo at Vancouver Airport last December. A team of wonderful ladies all across Canada helped to make his adoption possible.

A man with hundreds of sled dogs had become homeless and moved around, squatting on different pieces of land with many of the dogs, and tying them to trees. Gradually they were fed less and less, to the point where they were eating their own feces to survive.

When the story broke about the sled dogs in Quebec last year, I picked up my phone and called Dee-Ann, the lady heading up the rescue.

I got to know her via phone, and we chatted often. I have friends with wolves, Huskies and other similar breeds, and have always wanted one. I finally decided to get Tazo, one of the sled dogs that was being fostered in eastern Canada. A lovely lady offered to fly with Tazo to Vancouver. I drove there from Oregon to pick him up.

Tazo, who is 4 years old, had been tied to a tree most of his life. As you can imagine, this caused some behavior issues when I first brought him home. Just a few months ago, he shredded anything in sight – towels, beds, shoes, plastic, even remote controls!

He now sleeps on a bed, cuddles, loves cheese, crosses his paws every time I take a photo, loves my 4 year old and will walk on a leash if you’re strong!

Tazo has even claimed one of the patio chairs in the backyard as his, and likes to sit out there when it’s warm.

He howls like a typical Husky, which is amazing, and I even have neighbors that love him and volunteer to walk him.

He is very cuddly, loving and loyal. One of my favorite things about Tazo has to be when he crosses his paws – so cute!

Rescuing Tazo is one of the best things I have ever done.

Facebook to the Rescue!
By Joani Kautz Ellis

Good things really do come in small packages. Tiny Nelson, a sweet, very social, 6-pound Parson Terrier, is healing nicely in Sarasota, Fla., thanks to the efforts of a dedicated rescue group that used Facebook to coordinate his safe return to rescue.

Tiny is 9 months old, and was found as a stray in Miami, Fla. He was rescued by Florida Poodle Rescue from the Miami Dade Animal Services the day before he was to be euthanized.

Tiny was placed at a boarding kennel while transportation to Sarasota was arranged. By mistake, Tiny was placed on a rescue transport heading for northern Ohio (there were two dogs called Tiny at the boarding kennel). The mistake was discovered, and Tiny, now Tiny Nelson (because his theme song became “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson), was pulled off in Bluffton, S.C., where he spent a few nights with one of the transport volunteers.

Tiny was returned to Sarasota with the help of many volunteers, transport drivers, donors and Facebook.

Tiny’s right leg was broken and had begun to heal improperly. He underwent extensive surgery that realigned the bone and pinned it back in place.

He has been in a cast and has had to be crated or carried for the last six weeks. Hopefully, his pin will be removed soon, so this little social butterfly, that has captured so many hearts will be able to hang with the rest of the fosters while waiting for his forever home.

To learn more about Tiny, or to adopt him, please contact Joani Kautz Ellis.

PHOTOS: Teresa M Ouchterlony-Cooper, Mary Lundberg

i Love Dogs, Inc.

i Love Dogs, Inc.’s three websites – ilovedogs.com, ilovedogfriendly.com and findavet.us – provide information and up-to-the-minute news to keep pet parents aware of all things dog. A premium canine vitamins and lifestyle company, i Love Dogs is famous for its line of diamond dog collars. The name says it all — at i Love Dogs, we are committed to the health and happiness of our canine companions.