Shirley Temple Australian Shepherd Kiowa, OK

Shirley Temple's Story
-Written by Shirley Temple, a 6-week-old, 5lb female Aussie mix.
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I wasn't prepared. I wasn't ready. Then again, I don't think anyone is ready to live through a nightmare. All you can do is survive and hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It was only a couple weeks ago that I went through something terrible. I was only 4 weeks when I was taken away from mom. I was thrown in a box with my siblings and before we could even make a sound, the box was taped up. We weren't sure what was happening. We cried out for our mom. We cried in hopes that we would be let out. Instead, we ended up being set next to a dumpster and left. Like we weren't living breathing animals. I cannot tell you how long we were in that box. I know that we were hungry though. We started sucking on any limb that we could find. Tails, toes, legs...it didn't matter. If we could grab it we tried to suck. We were starving. We were scared. We were cramped. We were hot. We were together but alone in the dark.

Eventually, someone stumbled upon us and brought us to the animal shelter. They reached out to rescues in hopes that someone could take us in. There were 10 of us! Thankfully, a foster family stepped up for us and this rescue was able to take us in. I am glad to because the shelter was so full and it gave me the creeps. I really didn't want to have to stay there. I ended up in a really awesome foster home along with my siblings. I would have liked to say that my worries were over, but they weren't quite yet.

I am sure you have noticed that my tail is missing fur. Along with some of my toes. That is a result of my siblings trying to nurse on me so hard. We were hungry enough and sucked hard enough that we ended up killing some of the tissue. The vet was concerned that due to the damage that was done...our skin may die in those places. If that happened, we would have had to amputate. At only 4 weeks old, I was told that I may lose my tail or toes. What was I supposed to do with that? What had I done to deserve what happened to me? And even though I survived that nightmare, I still faced something equally as tragic.

Thanks to my foster mom always rubbing healing oils/vitamins on my bald spots and the meds from the vets, it looks like I am going to be okay now. I don't know that my fur will grow back there, only time will tell. But that is already so much better than the diagnosis I received a couple weeks ago.

What I went through should have broken me. I could have given up. I could have shut down. That isn't me though. I have been given a second chance at life and I am not going to waste it! I spend my days playing with toys or with my siblings. I enjoy cuddling with my foster but only for a little. I do like my naps, but I like food even more.

I am your typical puppy. I am working on my potty training and turning into quite the playful and loving girl. I am good with other dogs and figure I will do just fine with kids and cats given my age. Now with that said, I do believe the kids need to be at least 5 years old. I am still a baby myself and do not understand that my teeth/claws hurt during playtime and would hate to accidentally hurt a kiddo.

I want a playful family. I want someone that will include me on their adventures. I want a family that has another playful dog or one that is home all day. Or even both would be amazing. I have already been betrayed in one of the worst ways possible by those that should have protected me. I am not looking to be anyones until dog. I know forever is a long time and a lot of things can happen, but family is family. And you don't give up on family. It doesn't matter if you are moving, having a new baby, getting a new job, etc. If you adopt me, we are in it for the long run! If you believe that we were meant to be together, you can apply for me at
https://www.pyrpawsandfluffytailsrescue.com/adoption-app

Once this app comes in, it will be sent on to my foster family. This is to help ensure that not only am I a good fit for you but that you are also a good fit for me! ?

I am currently residing in Sand Springs, OK. I do ask that my new family pick me up, none of that outside transport stuff. If I am going to move in with you, I expect to start our journey in the car together driving home TOGETHER. ?

Now I know that you may have fallen in love with me, but I am not quite ready to go home yet. I won't be ready to go home with you until around the end of August. I hope that you will still apply to adopt me though, that way after my final vetting with this rescue I will already have a family waiting! ?

My adoption fee is $300.
That will include two sets of puppy shots and wormings. I will also have had a bordetella. I will be micro-chipped, have a fecal done, be de-wormed, be spayed/neutered, and will be current on heart-worm and flea/tick prevention.
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EPILOGUE
-Below is an excerpt from Shirley Temple's foster family.

"Shirley Temple is happy, active and loves playing with the others. She follows others around when exploring outside. I love her dreamy eyes. She loves cushy beds, mealtimes, and playing. Not a fan of baths. She will be vocal with the others if they play too hard."