Maggie's Story
This article was submitted by Carrick Dog Shelter and Debbie Williams.
A DOG IS MAN'S BEST FRIEND? HOW UNTRUE IN THIS CASE!
This little girl was admitted into Monaghan County Council dog pound as a stray in August 2009. As you can see from her "before" photo it wasn't easy to ascertain what was underneath the badly matted coat. The hair hung in massive clumps everywhere, she couldn't hold up her tail and couldn't walk properly because the weight of the matts in her coat meant her little legs could not bend in the correct way. It was obvious from closer examination that this dog had in all likelihood never ever been groomed (bearing in mind that she is at least 8 years old) and in fact had been very badly neglected.
As with all dogs admitted into the pound this little dog's photo was posted on the Monaghan County Council website (monaghan.ie) to see if an owner would recognise and reclaim her. Whilst on this website Debbie Williams from Dublin happened to see her photo and immediately her heart went out to the little West Highland Terrier we now know as Maggie.
Debbie rang the pound and was told that this dog was due for humane destruction as she had not been reclaimed by an owner and was going to be too difficult to re-home due to her condition and age. She was amazed and very angry that such a sweet tempered little dog could ever have been abused and neglected by a previous owner to the extent that Maggie couldn't even walk properly.
Debbie came to the pound within days and met Maggie and immediately decided that she should be given a second chance at life despite her handicaps and asked Carrick Dog Shelter to intervene and help.
Rather than be destroyed Maggie was transferred to the shelter and has since been professionally groomed, vaccinated, micro chipped, treated for fleas and worms and been spayed. She is now living in her new home with Debbie and her family in Dublin who had the compassion and heart to save this little girl's life.
No one really knows the true story of Maggie's background, why she was treated so badly – but in all honesty how could there be a reasonable answer?
Maggie was admitted into the pound as a stray from the Lisdoonan area in Co. Monaghan and had certainly not been "man's best friend".
Although Maggie still is unsteady on her back legs she is coming along leaps and bounds and is looking forward to her new life in her dream home.
We humans are apparently the highest form of life on this planet that we share with many other species and have the ability to feel and understand compassion – what does this make Maggie’s previous owner?
Co. Monaghan is not alone with stories to tell like this, many people throughout Ireland show little regard for the life of an animal, an animal that breathes, feels contentment, happiness and pain.
Carrick Dog Shelter would like to wish Maggie and Debbie's family many happy years together and thank everyone involved in Maggie's recovery and treatment.
All we would like to say about Maggie's previous owner is that if reincarnation happens that they come back as a dog!
Well done to Carrick Dog Shelter and Debbie Williams for giving Maggie a new chance at life.
