Look at that smile! Courage gets adopted. Photo by Kyra Kirkwood
Almost everyone who sees Courage, the starved German Shepherd now on the mend at a German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County foster home, cries.
Before, people cried at the tragic sight of his 37-pound, beyond-emaciated frame. Now, they cry to see how far he's come in just a little over two weeks. So far, Courage has put on 20 pounds, learned to play and is beginning to see the joy life offers. Watching him, still painfully thin but filling out, explore the world with childlike delight touches people's emotions.
Especially his foster mom, who is now officially Courage's forever mom. She will be adopting him as soon as all of the "red tape" surrounding this case is settled.
In this, her first interview, Jane Johnson*, a volunteer with GSROC, explains how she's been with Courage since the start, and how he captured her heart. Johnson was with Courage the night he arrived at the Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove, Calif., and she saw how close the dog came to dying. His horrid condition broke her heart, but Courage's spirit melted it, she said.
"I watched the doctors and vet professionals go to work on him," Johnson said. "He was so weak, he couldn’t lift his head. One of the technicians was cradling his head in her arms while the rest of the whole team worked on him. She leaned down to him and he licked her face. I cried."
Despite her decision to just foster Courage, it wasn't long before she decided he needed to stay with her forever.
"Seeing such a beautiful animal in such appalling condition made my heart hurt," Johnson said. "It also brought up that protective maternal instinct."
Physically, Courage is recovering nicely and astounding the medical professionals who worked to keep him alive. Johnson feeds him a nutritious mix of food daily, making sure she's never without her handy bag of treats, too. Despite nearly starving to death, Courage is a very gentle eater; no snapping or gulping. He knows his "sit" command and is starting to play with toys. Johnson's other GSD is teaching Courage how to be a dog and how to play.
"He doesn’t seem to know what to do with toys," said Johnson. "I play fetch with my other dog, and Courage watches and acts like he want to try, but doesn’t know what to do."
Day by day, that's all changing. Courage is getting stronger, both mentally and physically. He seems tolerant of most everyone, and he loves to voice his opinion.
"He’s very kind, but when he wants something he lets you know," Johnson said. "He actually talks to me. And he lets me know when he doesn’t like something."
Johnson tries to encourage this three-year-old dog to rest and help his atrophied muscles recover, but now that his strength is back, Courage wants to explore everything.
"He’s very inquisitive and wants to cruise around the house," she said.
This spring, as his health improves, Courage plans to attend dog school to learn manners, socialization and obedience skills. His new mom is a huge fan of helping dogs learn to be good family members and not just giving up and relegating them to the backyard because they bark or jump. Teach them better habits, says Johnson. She also wants to work with a trainer to help unravel some of the psychological trauma done to Courage throughout this ordeal.
(*Names have been changed for privacy issues.)
For more on the story--including first-ever pictures of Courage--click here, here and here.
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Comments
I can't get enough of happy news about this cutie pie!
many well wishes to foster mom now "forever mom" and Courage, may both be blessed with many years of love and laughter...and doggie treats and toys...
What a wonderful end to a story that could have been much different. Thank you to the forever mom. You sound like an amazing human being. After all, you have quite an incredible dog. Best wishes for a healthy and long life for you Courage. I am now quite sure that you will be just fine....I love happy endings.
I'm so so so so so so so so Happy that Courage is doing so good now. All of you who have helped him need a BIG HUG, Thank you for your help, you are all a blessing.
I'd like to remind people that there are many more 'Courage's out there that are also in need of a good home. You can find over 60 of them at the German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County website www.GROC.org
Now they need to get this woman that did this to Courage. I wonder if child services has been involved, if she can do this to her dog how does she treat her children? Im so happy Courage has someone to give all that love to now.
What a beautiful dog! We raised shepherds when I was a kid--they are such intelligent, loyal, protective family animals! Shame on the person(s) who left that poor dog to die. Glad to hear Courage has found a home and is putting on weight: 20 lb w/ probably another 30-35 lb to go. I'd be interested in getting another update on Courage in a couple of years to see whether there has been irrevocable psychological damage. For now, though, I am happy to see he's on the mend and found a forever family.
He is such a handsome guy! And so forgiving of people after all they've put him through. I hope Jane will give him EXTRA kisses from all of us!
God bless his forever mom!!!! Please love and kiss him everyday!! I have a Shepard that looks just like him. I to rescued him. Lucky for my boy he didnt have to go through that much pain and suffering. God Bless you both!!!!!
Thank U thank u .... wishing U a life of much love & happiness with Courage, well done , best wishes ..... x0x
Oh my..what a BEAUTIFUL dog! His face is like a furry angel! . God bless whoever brought him in..We all need to get more involved when we see something wrong . His Mam looks so happy with him..as he does with her . PLEASE keep us updated on Courage!
Of course while reading that, I had tears of joy again! The whole story has touched my heart and I am so happy that it is having such a happy ending! God Bless you all for taking such good care of him and giving him a second chance at a REAL life!
The best news ever - congratulations to forever mom. I think she has made a scoop - just look at that sweet face. Best wishes from Denmark, Europe
Congatulations to Courage and his forever mom. I had a feeling she would end up with him. Its hard to let one go after going through such an ordeal with him. He is a fighter and I am sure will make a great friend and a wonderful companion. He is a such a little angel.
Robert J, I am proud to say that every single one of my animals was adopted from a shelter. I currently have a lovable black lab mix and two quirky cats; collectively, I call them "my babies." Love them to pieces and they make me lol every day!
With so many beautiful, loving unwanted pets out there looking for forever homes, the local shelter should always be the FIRST place to look.
Despite so many evil humans & cruelty in this world, I revel at how many good souls are still here to step up & do what ever is needed to care, protect & defend innocent, voiceless & defenseless animals! Courage had the will to live & now is on the mend! So Please to know that he has found a loving & caring forever home!
my tears have become tears of joy! lucky dog, beautiful dog, the spirit in his eyes! thank you so much jane, for giving courage his forever home. i am so happy for both of you!
So happy for Courage, his story definitely pulled at my heartstrings. I'm so happy he got a happily ever after=-)
Your story is very well told. I would encourage people to adopt from a NO KILL shelter to help those facilities keep that policy. Search, in depth before donating money to any organizaion. All are not what they appear to be advertising. Eugene, Oregon Dogs Examiner
I love seeing this story in the top five! People LOOOVEEEE COURAGE!!!
I first read Courages story on Facebook, and it broke my heart seiing this beautiful animal reduced to a skeleton....I cried so hard at what he had suffered. Now I see his picture and I cried for the miraculous recovery. God Bless all those who have been taking care of him and for his new 'mum' for giving him a new chance in life with a loving family!
i am so glad courage is on the mend and the owner should be ashamed and prosecuted for letting this happen in the first place.
If she couldn't look after the dog he should have been found a home long before he got to this stage, Now he has a loving caring and a special friend to settled down with.
lovely to hear is getting his little life back together
jo
Thank you to all the wonderful souls who were part of Courage's rescue and rehabilitation. And thank you Courage for allowing us to be part of this miracle.
I wish you and Jane and the rest of your new family a long, happy and healthy life.
Thank you for the updates on Courage. What a handsome miracle he is!!
It would be great if you could let us know how his blood tests are coming out. We wish him only love and joy from here on out.
Hi Miss, Jane Johnson, it's been almost a month now, any more pictures of Courage, How much does he weigh now, hopefully about 70lbs. He is so beautiful and his eyes are so bright and full of Life. I am so glad you decided to adopt him, the love and adoration he will shower you with would be better than winning the Mega Millions. Even though with $165 million dollars you could help a lot of well deserving shepherds. Please, take more photos and video and share Courage's amazing recovery with all of us who love shepherds so much, Thank you for what you have shared Jane and Give Courage a warm and hardy hug for me. God bless you for your strength and commitment to him as well. Take care and My email is sean168lr@hotmail.com and when you do an email blast to gsroc or the examiner or whatever please include me too!
We've been following the story of this brave dog and his Vets and Carers, and it just fills us with joy that Courage has recovered so well, thanks to the love and faith of his human 'family'
God bless all of you, and I wish Courage a life full of love and good health.
Great news on Courage. Thank you to all involved in his rehab, care, rehoming and SEAACA for evidence gathering.
EVERY adult in Nizato's family needs to be criminally charged and jailed for their treatment of Courage, because they ARE horrendous criminals and, most likely, emotionally disturbed people incapable of any caring or redemptive socialization.
All children in this house need to be permanently removed from this family's custody and permanently forbidden any visitation with the children - NO exceptions. Further, Nizato needs to be sterilized, so that she cannot bring any more children into the world. All of the adults in that home are guilty of extreme animal cruelty/neglect and are unworthy of any good in their lives from now on. If only we could brand a big DOG ABUSER on their forehead, so people would know them for who they are. The only justice would be if the Nizato adults in that house were treated like they treated Courage. I am SO tired of people molly-coddling people like this.
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