Cookie's Story!

The Saddest Dog

After completing the application process and finding a match, I was so excited that Cookie was coming to live with me. The problem was Cookie was being fostered in Warrensburg MO. and I live in Kakabeka Falls ON. Can. I wasn't sure how to get her home but the Dachshund Underground Railroad came to the rescue. 10 amazing volunteers took turns driving her all the way to where I could meet her. She spent 2 days on the road and an overnight in a strange home. The lady with whom she spent the night said Cookie was the saddest dachshund she had ever seen. She was right, Cookie has the biggest, saddest eyes -it breaks my heart.

When I picked Cookie up from the lady who drove her over the border, she said that the customs officials were rude and somewhat confused: "Why would anyone adopt an old, abused, ugly dog?" Cookie is only 7 although she looks about 13 due to the stress of being a puppymill producer, and she is not ugly. She is the most beautiful little girl with her big brown eyes and her silver face.

The lady who met me was also concerned that Cookie would not have eye contact with her. I realize that this can be a bad sign, but for a rescue dog who has just met 10 new people in 2 days, it's not suprising. Maybe she never would look anyone in the eyes ever again, that would be understandable.

Anyway, I loaded Cookie into the passenger seat of my car and headed for home. We had only been on the road for about 15 minutes when I started to cry -Cookie was finally here, safe and sound. Almost immediatly, Cookie got up from her seat, crawled over to me and with her front feet on my lap, looked straight up at me -right into my eyes. I had to pull over and have a good cry with her. She was concerned about me when she was the one who had gone through hell.

I thought that adopting a rescue was about helping dachshunds, but it's more than that. It's also about bringing home someone to love me and care for me.

Cookie is still a very sad looking dachshund, but since I've been taking pictures almost continually, I can see her expression slowly changing as the months pass. If it keeps up at this rate, soon she'll be the happiest dachshund you'll ever see.

Serena Ireland