Shadow and Clancy's Struggle

It was a frigid December morning in Ridgecrest, CA, when Kern County Animal Control Officer Ashley got a call that chilled her to the bone.

A couple hiking off the beaten path in the desert had come across a wire crate with three big dogs inside. Two of them were alive, shivering from both cold and fear. The third dog lay lifeless between them. Shotgun shell casings and swerving tire tracks surrounded the abandoned cage.

Temperatures had dipped below freezing the previous night, so it wasn't clear whether the dog had died hypothermia or something else. Either way, Ashley knew she must act quickly to save the other two dogs from the same fate. She put them in front of the heating vent in her car and took them to safety.

The two dogs, whom shelter staff named Clancy and Shadow, were transferred to Lake Isabella Animal Shelter, where I picked them up the following day.

When I met Shadow and Clancy, they were more shaking, petrified souls than dogs. They knew nothing but fear. After hours of steady coercion I was able to get them out of their kennels and walking on leashes. They came to understand in that if they put their trust in me, everything would be okay.

We loaded up in the Motor City Mutt Mobile and made our way to San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital to have the dogs examined. They both had what appeared to be superficial flesh wounds, but Clancy was x-rayed to be sure there was no further damage. When his x-rays came back clean, the vet assumed that both dogs' injuries had been inflicted by other dogs, and that they would heal physically in no time.

After a week of close supervision by vet staff, both dogs were released to begin their journey of psychological and emotional healing. Clancy went to his foster home in Bear Valley; Shadow came to my place, so that we could address the anxiety she had begun to show around other dogs and people.

Both dogs' rehabilitation began. Clancy's foster family worked tirelessly to teach him that he didn't have to be afraid and hide, and could open up with them and his canine foster siblings. Meanwhile, Shadow ran with me, hiked with the pack, and learned to tolerate – even to like and play with – the other dogs.

After being my Shadow for weeks, our girl was adopted by a wonderful man named Robbie. This was an especially magical pairing because Robbie had recently been released from prison after 12 years of incarceration. A reformed and gentle soul, Robbie was looking for a friend with whom he could continue his own spiritual rehabilitation. He found his soul mate in Shadow. Undoubtedly, these two would walk a peaceful path together, back into a world that once had shown them only violence.

After a few weeks of blissful bonding between Robbie and Shadow, Robbie called me, and with controlled panic in his voice said, "Bro, I don't know what to do. Shadow is coughing up blood." We immediately sent Shadow to the hospital for x-rays and blood work. The x-rays revealed what we had feared (but was overlooked) in the beginning: Shadow had been shot. And she had a bullet lodged in her chest. When the following morning came and her condition had worsened, the Mutt Militia kicked it into high gear!

Holly and Rick – a couple of our most dedicated foster parents – volunteered to fly Shadow from Lake Isabella to as near to LA as possible, while I reached far and wide over the phone. I spoke with Eldad Hagar, a friend and well-known animal rescuer from southern California, (who was in

Israel at the time), Jillian Dunn from the Cesar Millan Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. Grossman, Amanda from Panda Paws Rescue, and the list goes on.

Everyone wanted to help, and help they have!

We located a hospital that is primed to deal with the kind of emergency surgery Shadow would inevitably need, albeit incredibly expensive. We got a Fundrazr.com page up and running, plastered it all over the social-mediasphere, and generous pledges from across the globe started pouring in.

I was en route to Bakersfield from down South, and so flipped U-turn after the Grapevine and headed to Agua Dulce Airport. I met Holly, Rick and Shadow on the tarmac, swapped our burned puppy, Chance, for Shadow, and hit the road at the speed of Life! Less than 45 minutes later, we arrived at VCA All Care Animal Hospital in West Los Angeles, where our brave girl would be seen by a leading specialist who was well qualified to help save her life. And by early the next morning, she and her team had removed a .40 caliber slug from Shadow's body, along with a portion of her lung.

Against all odds, including a severe bleed during surgery, Shadow survived. She stayed at VCA receiving round-the-clock care for three more days. Robbie arrived every day when the doors opened, and didn't leave until visiting hours forced him out.

The imaging, 24/7 care, specialist consultation, medications and surgery will cost north of $15,000 and we are still asking for help.

Not only do we need donations, but we want to spread Shadow and Clancy's story far and wide...to raise awareness of Kern County's abandoned and abused animals. Also to inspire people and restore others' faith in humanity. As that is what these dogs – their stories, their particular challenges, and their loving souls come back to life – have done for us!

To donate to Shadow's medical bill fund, please visit http://fundrazr.com/campaigns/chTM2.