Sammy Tales
(Happily Ever After Stories)
The pictures and stories on this page are those of rescued Samoyeds that have been helped by North Texas Samoyed Rescue, Inc. Their "happily ever after" tales are the reason we do what we do, and why it is such a worthwhile effort. Won't you consider adopting a rescued Sam and adding yet another "Happily Ever After" tale to our collection?
Special Delivery From
Santa:
Stormy's Story
This
Christmas story actually starts in the middle of a blistering summer. Stormy's former owners were moving cross-country in an
un-air-conditioned van so packed with stuff that Stormy could not even
sit or lie down. Stormy had the misfortune to become heat- and
car-sick, and he found himself summarily jettisoned - like an empty soda
can or a crumpled candy wrapper - at the halfway point of his family's
journey. Unknown to him at the time was the fact that he did have the
tiny sliver of luck to be dumped in one of the five states where NTSRI
actively rescues Samoyeds! Before his abandonment probably even
had time to sink in, NTSRI volunteers were on the road, making the
hours-long trip to rescue him and get him into foster care.
A few months later came the most remarkable part of Stormy's story: In an event unprecedented in our history, NTSRI was contacted by Santa himself! A little girl on his list was asking for a Sammy for Christmas, and Stormy would fit the bill to a tee. Arrangements were made for Santa to make a stop to pick Stormy up from his foster mom and deliver him on Christmas morning. Perhaps the rest of the story is is best told by the lucky little girl's dad:
"Everybody but Sara was wide-awake, and Stormy was beginning to make himself at home. We led him into the room were she was sleeping, and he jumped up on the bed and started playing with her.
" 'What the heck! Is that a dog?' she said. When she knew she wasn’t dreaming, she came unglued. 'He is the best present ever!'
"Trouble was, the tree was full of gifts and all of the other stuff that Santa had dropped off. She had a hard time getting excited about anything else.
"Stormy was instantly a part of the family. He sleeps on Sara’s bed or at least in her room at night, and he stays crated during the day when nobody’s home. We have had a few incidents when he has reminded us that we were not putting things away. But he hasn’t had a single accident in the house, and he doesn’t bark unless he needs his belly rubbed. He plays wonderfully and is an excellent talker.
"Thanks to all of you who rescued this precious little man."
So...You can draw your own conclusion: Did Santa fulfill a good little girl's Christmas wish, or was Stormy the lucky recipient of the special Christmas gift of a loving, forever home? We think it was both.
Another Roadside
Rescue:
Dakota's Story
It's
a testament to the dedication of NTSRI volunteers that, when the phone
call came late one Sunday night that a Samoyed needed help near Waco,
Texas, the volunteer didn't blink an eye before jumping in the car to go
to his aid. When she arrived, she found Dakota and his owner on the side
of the road. The owner's girlfriend was a long-haul truck driver
who had kicked man and dog out, pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
Although the owner did not want to give him up, there was no way for him
to return to his out-of-state home with Dakota, so tearful good-byes
were said. Although NTSRI tried to work with the owner to return
Dakota to him when he was financially able to take him back, that sadly
did not materialize, and Dakota found himself up for adoption.
It wasn't long before Dakota was spotted on our website, and it was love at first sight. Since his middle-of-the-night rescue and subsequent adoption, Dakota and his new forever dad have become inseparable. When "dad" and his fiancée were recently interviewed on television as contestants in a wedding giveaway contest, the photogenic Dakota was right there with them. The couple won the contest, which includes such prizes as the wedding dress, flowers, rings -- and photography. The photographer has already told the groom-to-be, Dakota's proud "dad," that he wants to include Dakota in the engagement photograph. So, it looks as if Dakota has not only found a loving forever home, but he's also become a "media darling" as well!
Reunited, And It Feels
So Good!
Fritz And Sophie's Story
We're
convinced that sometimes fate steps in to help our rescued Sams. A
few years ago, a loving mother contacted NTSRI. She was trying
desperately to find a Samoyed for her son. Their beloved Sammy had
recently passed away from cancer, and Mom had been unsuccessful in
finding a Samoyed puppy to help ease her son's inconsolable grief over
the loss. She spotted our website just as she was about to give up hope.
The timing of her call to NTSRI couldn't have been more perfect -- not only for the humans, but also for two very deserving Samoyeds. It happened that NTSRI president Lynn Sluder had been contacted that very day by a man who was ill and could no longer keep his two Sams. Since the man lived fairly close to the Mom, Lynn put her directly in touch with him.
Says Mom, "We went over that night, and he only wanted a home for the female. She did not look like a Sammy to me...She was gray and matted - scrawny, too - but she jumped in our car. We took her home and left our phone number in case he changed his mind about the male.
"As soon as we got home, we bathed Sophie, and she
miraculously turned white! She immediately jumped in bed with our son,
and we had one happy boy and one happy Sammy.
"Six weeks later, the man called to come and get the male, and Sophie was reunited with her brother, Fritz. The dogs made themselves at home. We took them to the vet for their first-ever shots. With proper nutrition, their coats grew in shiny and white.
"Now, we need a bed that is bigger than king-size. Two Sammies (78 pounds each) and Mom and Dad -- I am not sure we all fit!"
Like we said, sometimes fate steps in...
From Hard Luck To Lucky:
Delilah's Story
Delilah
and her four ten-week-old puppies, products of a "backyard breeder,"
ended up in a shelter, because they managed to escape their yard once
too often. When NTSRI learned of their plight, some of the puppies
were already exhibiting symptoms of Bordatella, also known as "kennel
cough." In the shelter world, a sick puppy isn't treated; it's put
down! So, time was of the essence to get Delilah and her babies
out of there as quickly as possible.
NTSRI successfully rescued Delilah and her family and got everyone over the kennel cough. Next came Delilah's spay surgery. Complications ensued, and Delilah nearly bled to death! Fortunately, a second, emergency, surgery saved her life, and she is now fine and in a loving, forever home. All of the puppies also found homes with families, most with children, who adore them. It's a very happy ending that could well have been a tragedy instead.
Bitten But Not Beaten:
Sasha's Story
Sasha
was rescued from an animal shelter. When the NTSRI volunteer went
to pick him up, the shelter employee just "happened" to mention that he
had a tumor on his neck. The volunteer noticed that the "tumor"
was bleeding profusely, and the dog emitted a very strong, unpleasant
smell. An immediate trip to the vet was definitely in order, and it was
this quick action on the part of the NTSRI volunteer that saved his
life! The "tumor" turned out to be a series of BITES that
encircled Sasha's neck almost completely; he had apparently been attacked
by a pack of dogs. These bites were severely infected, and the
tissue was dying. Only the tender loving care of another NTSRI
volunteer, who administered antibiotics and daily dermabrasion of the
wounds, pulled him through. Throughout the painful treatment,
Sasha remained good-natured, grateful it would seem, for the help he was
getting. He even voluntarily stepped into the tub every day for
the painful dermabrasion bathing. Today, as you can see, Sasha lives in
the lap of luxury, surrounded by a loving family in his "forever" home.
The "smile" on his face in his "after" picture is all the reward NTSRI
volunteers need.
The Happy Ending That Almost Wasn't:
Harley's Story
Harley's happy ending almost didn't happen! Some juvenile delinquents in Harlingen, Texas put him in a sewer and abandoned him there. We're not quite sure how long he languished in that horrible place, but fortunately, someone finally discovered his plight and rescued him. He eventually came to NTSRI.
But
Harley's troubles weren't over yet! In addition to his generally
poor condition from the traumatic experience he'd just survived, he was
also exhibiting strange symptoms that mimicked some type of brain
damage. For example, he could take only a few steps before he'd
simply fall over! Extensive testing was done, and Harley was
diagnosed -- not with the brain tumor we had at first feared, but rather
with erlichia, a disease that is transmitted by ticks.
Harley was adopted by a loving family and now lives with Barker, another NTSRI rescue success story.
At Long Last, Love:
Tasha's Story
Before coming into North Texas Samoyed Rescue, Inc.'s program, Nellie (now Tasha) had spent the previous three years of her life in an outdoor kennel run. During transport to her foster home, she discovered for the first time the pure ecstasy of air-conditioning; she planted her nose in the nearest A/C vent and kept it there for the entire journey!
At first, she was terrified of the other dogs in her foster home, cowering in the farthest corner of her crate whenever they came anywhere near her. Eventually, however, the patience of her foster "mom" paid off, as Tasha realized that she had nothing to fear. Over the course of several weeks, she was gradually introduced to the other dogs in the household. Eventually, Tasha went from "wallflower" to "social butterfly," as she and her "roommates" became fast friends and enjoyed energetic romps together.
Tasha found her
"forever" family in a very loving couple who had previous experience in
being owned by a Samoyed. In her new home, she has discovered the
tiled entryway with the A/C vent that blows directly on it, and this is
"her" special spot. Her best buddy (besides her humans, of course)
is the cat that shares her home. Daily walks and practice with
obedience commands have replaced the lonely hours in a kennel run, and
Tasha is blossoming, her Samoyed spirit fully restored thanks to the
love of her new family.
We Want Your Sammy Tales!!!
To know a Samoyed is to LOVE a Samoyed, and that's especially true when it comes to rescued ones! The stories about how they have enriched the lives of those who cared enough to adopt them are testament to this. We'd love to feature YOUR Samoyed rescue story on this page. If you would like to share with us and the rest of the Samoyed-loving community about your "fur baby," please e-mail us at ntsri@att.net. Pictures are much appreciated! We'd like to have as many "Sammy Tales" as possible, to rotate on and off of this page. Thanks so much for your contributions!!
