Fast forward 6 weeks, and that is where we are. I wish I would have started this from the start, but we will make due.
I can not believe the boys have been here for six weeks. It seems like yesterday, we were picking them up from the airport. In the past weeks we have undergone many changes. The whole family has had to adjust to the boys being here, but things seem to be going smoothly.
The first week or so we had an issue with the boys going to the bathroom in the house, but they quickly realized that was a "No No". We now have very few, if any problems. I think that is what gets me the most, how quickly they have learned and adjusted. I know that they have had many changes in their lives since April, but it just amazes me how fast they have learned. They went from outside dogs, that were chained up to a dog house, unless out hunting to spoiled couch potatoes, in a matter of months! They are also getting better on their leashes. They still need more work, but we are happy with the progress they have made.
Deuce's sight seems to be completely gone now. I have noticed a difference since he has been here. He has more issues running into things these days, and when we play with toys, its clear he knows they are there, but can not see them at all. He has grabbed my arm many times thinking he was going after a toy. It does not in anyway seem to effect him though. He loves to play and is much more active then Ace. Normally it is Deuce that will "jump" Ace to get him to play, who is usually found passed out on the couch. Ace does play, don't get me wrong, but he would rather cuddle. We have a host of toys that Deuce plays with, I don't think he has a favorite one, just which ever he grabs. Although he loves to play, Deuce also likes his cuddle time, and I will often find him climbing up in my lap, and wanting to be held, like I hold the girls. Its leg numbing, but so heart warming.
As I said Ace likes to sleep or cuddle, but that does not mean he is the innocent one, as much as he would want you to believe. Ace, though mellow, is the sneaky one. Very cleaver and mischievous. Since being here, Ace has done his fair share of getting in trouble. One day Eric walked into the kitchen only to find Ace up on the dining room table! We have no idea how or why he got up there, but he was just hanging out. Its because of this, the boys sleep in their kennel at night. He also got a hold of the heating pad and chewed it up. That same night he came running down the hall with the neck massager, luckily we got it before he did any damage. He has "attacked" many of Linden's stuffed animals. He likes to pull the bedding out of the kennels (the boys and the girls), and just drag them around. So, many other little things like this. But, for the most part, he just wants to curl up on the couch, the bed, or the futon in the office and sleep. I say curl up, but it often turns to sprawled out. lol I think his biggest goal in life is to break down the wall Jackie has built towards him and Deuce. Everyday, multiple times a day, he is sneaking up on her, trying to be so sweet, just to see if she will growl at him, which she normally does. In the last 6 weeks, there has not been a day he hasn't tried. Ace is also our howler! Although Deuce howls a little, his is mostly in the form of a bark. Ace is an all out Hound Howler! When he gets excited, its like he just can not help it,nor can he stop! lol Aside from his howls, Ace is a "talker" in general. He will "talk" softly when you give him any kind of affection or just talk to him. He is my cuddlier, and spends most of his days sleeping with his head in my lap (as he is this very moment).
The boys are very much attached to each other. I can not imagine what one would do without the other. This doesn't mean they are not bonded with us, but its clear they have to know were the other is at all times. Deuce seems to be more attached then Ace, but they seem to be relaxing. There was a time where Deuce would not be happy in a room with out Ace. If Ace got up, Deuce followed. Now Ace will get up and go to the bedroom or office to sleep, and Deuce will stay put. This may never fully go away, and as both become completely blind, it could become stronger. But we hope that the longer they are here, the more they understand that they are safe, and we are here for them too.
As far as the Boys vs the Girls. Malika has become a fan of Deuce's. They will often play tug-a-war together. But, with that being said, she still is not happy that he plays with "her" toys, and she will let him know when he grabs something she does not want him to play with. As far as Ace is concerned, I think Malika is still abit intimidated by him. She wants to play, but is still unsure. Normally she will get behind him and bite at his legs. She has chased him around the house this way, which is very entertaining. Jackie on the other hand is still firm in her dislike for the boys. I think this is Jackie being Jackie. It is clear she is interested in them, because she will inspect them while they sleep or are not paying attention. She has even given Ace a little lick on the noise. However, as soon as they know she is there, she growls. She also does not like them getting rowdy or playing, even if she is safe in her "spot" and they are know where near her.
One thing that is clear, there is hardly a dull moment in the house, but it is worth every single moment, just looking at the complete look of content on the faces of Ace and Deuce.
Today was the day that "The Boys" met "The Girls"! I was so nervous about this meeting. Our girls are very diva-ish, which is to say they are spoiled rotten and want things their way!
OUR GIRLS..
Malika
Malika is a Chinese Crested Powder Puff. I got her when she was about 9 weeks old, in 2005. She likes things her way, hence the less then normal floppy ears, she refused to hold her ears up as a puppy. The vet said over and over not to worry, they would stand on her own...well he was wrong. (Of course, I only joke about this...I could careless what her ears look like!) She also has dry skin and so I keep her groomed short. Malika loves to play with her toys, sleep on the back of the couch, and she loves bedtime because she gets special treats. She love to go spend the night with Grams. She "talks" more then she barks.
Jackie
Jackie is a Jack Russell/Chi mix. I got her when she was about 8 weeks old, in 2007. She was given to my Grandmother right before she had to have a bypass surgery. I volunteered to keep her while my grandmother recovered. Well, we ended up falling in love, so she remained with us. Jackie is the queen bee, or so she thinks. She loves Linden and they "fight" like brother and sister. She is our little guard dog. She loves sleeping under the covers. She has her "spot" on the back of the couch which over the years is indented to fit her body. She loves chasing feet and biting my ankles as I walk, she finds this fun.
The meeting with the girls went ok. Ace and Deuce wanted to smell the girls, the Girls wanted NOTHING to do with Ace and Deuce. Both Malika and Jackie growled if the boys came near them. Jackie let it be known from the start she was the boss. They went along with her, to not hurt her feelings. It seems that they all have a general understanding: The girls rule in this house, and the boys just don't care. Maybe one day they will all be best pals and get along. For now, the boys try to play with the girls, but the girls want nothing to do with the boys! They do all agree on one thing, They all love to sleep the day away. Together they have taken over the couch and love seat! hahah.
When I woke up on May 28th 2011, the last thing I ever thought was "We will be adding two new members to our family today!". But that is, as you know by now, what happened. We were on a mission. That's all it was. We heard about these two blind coon hound brothers, who needed help, and we were going to do our part to help them. Their story touched down deep in our souls, but again, we were on a mission, we needed to get them from point A to point B, and give them all the love we could in between. That was our goal. That is what we set out to do.
Its funny how things change. How your life can change in a heartbeat. How waiting for a plane to land, and the nerves start building, the thoughts of just how amazing what is going on right before you, start to flow through your veins. As we waited for the boys my head raced with their story. When the plane landed down, on that very windy day, I couldn't help but tear up as I watched David unload the boys. They looked so happy, so full of life! Were these really the boys who almost lost their lives? The dogs that were thrown out because they were "worthless"? As we posed for pictures, that's when it started, that's when I knew, they just fit!
My heart broke as we drove away from the airport. I could tell how much David and Diane loved the boys. I then thought of Indy, who had fostered the boys for weeks, my heart sank as I thought of how he must be feeling. I was sure that he was happy, knowing that the boys were on their way to a new life, but I could only imagine how sad he was that they could not stay with him. I then thought of every person who came in contact with the boys. The many that never met them, yet loved them as their own. I shed more then a few tears.
Ace
Deuce
We were worried about how things would go when we got home. But it was all for nothing. Within hours the boys knew their way around the house. They followed Linden around and let him climb all over them. They walked well on their leads and if they lost Linden from their scent while we were outside, they got nervous. He had to stay close. By the minute I fell in love, and by the minute I started dreading letting them go. I took hundreds of pictures that day. I wanted to remember every moment. I wanted to be able to show Linden when he was older. I knew, that we would never forget these boys. I uploaded the pictures offten on Facebook. I wanted everyone to see wonderful the boys were. I guess Eric Adam, who was already in New Mexico ready to get the boys, knew something was going on emotionally with me. Because late that night he sent me a message saying if we thought for a second that we wanted to keep the boys, we should. The tears flowed and it was time for us to really talk about our emotions for Ace and Deuce. Eric called Eric Adam, and by the end of the phone call, the boys were staying.( And it was a good thing, because by this time it was well past midnight, and we were to leave in a few hours to New Mexico. ) I remember Eric and I both crying and just hugging each other. We then rushed in to tell "OUR" boys they were finally home. The crazy thing, it was like they already knew....
The next morning Eric sent a mass e-mail to all involved in the boys journey. I think tears of joy spread around the country. The two amazing souls that touched so many lives....were home in Dallas Texas. No one saw it coming (well I think Diane did) but we all knew that this was a story written in the stars. Eric and I couldn't have been happier. We felt that we were the lucky ones, imagine, these boys are full of love. Love they have been holding on to for 6 years just waiting for someone to share it with...and we are the ones who get it. What a blessing!
I hope that you will take a few minutes and read this amazing story, that has changed so many lives. It is a heart warming story and it shows that amazing things can happen if you just open your heart and work with others to achieve a common goal. No egos, No credit seekers, No fighting...just a group of people working to save the lives of two animals, because it was the right thing to do.
In mid-May, I was on the phone with one of my dear friends and Eric came in and said, "By the way, in a few weeks we are picking up some dogs at the Airport and driving them to New Mexico for Eric Adam.". I was not really shocked, but kinda caught off guard. I asked what he was talking about. Turns out, a complete random post on FaceBook by Eric Adam, turned into a huge turn of events for a cause that Eric and I had no idea about.
The story:
Ace and Deuce are Coon Hounds, they are 6 year old brothers, who were hunting dogs in West Virgina. About a year ago Deuce started to go blind, a few months later Ace started showing symptoms as well. When Ace showed signs of going blind their owner took them to the vet. The vet did an eye exam and told the man he thought the boys had Retinal Atrophy, a genetic disease that causes blindness. The vet suggested the man see a specialist to get a better idea of what is going on. The owner did not take Ace and Deuce to a specialist, instead once both boys were pretty much blind, he took them to the Taylor County Animal Shelter, in Grafton WV. While dropping them off the man basically told Christine, a volunteer for the shelter, that the boys were great hunters but were no use to him blind, so they should be put to sleep. He left his two hunting dogs, that he had all of their lives, and who undoubtedly spent their lives doing what they could to please him, in the hands of the shelter to dispose of.
The runs Ace and Deuce were kept in
Luckily for the boys, the people at the Taylor County Shelter are angels! They do their best to network their dogs and try to find them homes. Christine feel in love with the boys and put them all over the Internet trying to find them a home. People from all over got involved trying to find these boys a loving family. I wish I could list everyone involved, but there are so many, some that I am sure, I am unaware of. Ace and Deuce were running out of time. People were doing there best, but they were having a hard time getting these boys a home. Angelia, a animal investigator in Illinois was ready to take on the dogs working closely with her friend Indy. They were trying there best to work things out. Stacey, an animal lover and networker in Florida posted information about the boys non-stop. This got the attention of Eric Adam in Prescott, Arizona, who started trying to find a home for the boys in his area. The boys were set to be put down on April 18th. On the 17th, the fight was on and Angela decided to get the dogs out of the shelter and foster them. They contacted the shelter but it was after hours. They left several messages to NOT kill these dogs. They worried that it would be to late, and the shelter would not get the messages in time. Luckily, the shelter was reached the next morning, and the boys were saved. Indy called the shelter and was told he needed references to get the boys. He contacted Virgina, with Sunrise Rescue Center to vouch for the boys, so that Angelia could foster them. References were given and the boys were no longer in danger. As plans were being made to get the boys to Illinois, Eric Adam in AZ, contacted a rescue group in his area, United Friends of Animals to help spread the word and find the boys a home.
Indy with Ace and Deuce
As plans of transport were being made to get the boys from WV to IL, Angelia became very ill. She would not be able to foster the boys. At this point Indy, who already has many rescues, stepped in and agreed the boys would stay with him. The boys were driven to Zanesville OH, were Indy met them and drove them back to his place in IL. By this time David and Diane, two pilots with Pilots and Paws had agreed to meet Indy in Arkansas, and fly the boys to Dallas, on the journey to AZ. All that was needed now, was someone in Dallas to get the boys to Eric Adam, and a foster home when they get there.
This of course is were we came in, we have been friends with Eric Adam on Facebook for some time. Oddly, we had missed any of his post about the boys. But one night after posting a video of the full moon in AZ., Eric posted a comment on Eric Adam's video, stating the Moon in Dallas looked pretty amazing as well. At this point Eric Adam, who did not know we were in Dallas, asked Eric if we could help out. Of course Eric said yes, and it was set. Indy would drive the boys to AR, where David and Diane would load them in their plane and fly them to Dallas. We would pick them up at the airport, they would stay the night and we would drive them to Mew Mexico, where we would met Eric Adam, who would then drive them back to AZ, to a foster home he had found. The plan was set. The boys had there second chance at a new life.
Diane with Deuce and David with Ace
I will never forget the feeling I had while at the airport waiting for the boys. I was so excited to met these guys, and so honored that we were able to be part of this amazing story. We waited and waited, and then from the distance saw this little plane coming in for landing. The plane rolled in front of us, and turned to park. We figured this was our plane, but it was confirmed when though one of the tiny windows, we saw a tail wagging. We both laughed, the boys were safe in Dallas. Eric rushed out to meet David and Diane, and the boys, as I hung back to get a few pics. I remember seeing the boys, and tears came to my eyes. What amazing souls, do they even know what almost happened to them, and how many people fought to save them? Linden and I walked up to met them and we posed for some pictures. It was then and there something changed. I remember Diane saying how amazing the boys were, and I said we would take them in a heartbeat if we could. While taking pictures she commented about how they just seem to fit us. And in my mind, I agreed. We walked with David and Diane to the car and loaded the boys up. They said their good byes, and I just wanted to cry. As we were pulling out, I happened to look back and was surprised to see David and Diane still standing there watching us leave. (Grrr, the emotions are flooding back) It hit Eric and I, this was something special.
The Moment!
We got the boys back to our place and I didn't know what to expect. I knew these guys had been outside dogs all their lives. How were they going to handle being inside, even for a night? Would Linden drive them crazy? As we settled in, I was simple amazed. They took to Linden right away. They followed him around, and while outside if they lost his scent they would get upset, until they found him. They came up and gave us lots of love, but the thing that got me the most, was when Ace jumped up on the couch and passed out, to the point of snoring...loud! They stole our hearts and we struggled with the thought of letting them go.
Late that evening a phone called was made to Eric Adam, who was already in New Mexico. Eric asked him questions about where the boys were going, and stressed how much we cared for them. It was decided by the end of the conversation....the boys journey to find a home was over. The boys from WV, who traveled to OH, to get to IL, then to AR, to get to Dallas, Texas was done traveling.
Me and Ace
The boys have touched the hearts of people all over, those they have met and those they haven't. This journey was never about finding love, because they are loved by so many. In this journey, the boys brought people together from all over, and we have been forever connected, because of them. Everyone involved is considered family to us now. Eric and I are forever grateful to them all. This is a case that was written in the stars. It was way bigger then us all. A case of multiple selfless acts for the sake of two amazing souls, that deserved a second chance at life.
I hope that this story has moved you enough to understand that anything is possible, if you just put your ego's aside and the cause first. This story involves so many people, individuals and groups, and at no point did anyone try to take center stage. At know point was any ones person role or involvement put ahead of an other's. The boys had the stage, and the spotlight has stayed on them. THIS is how you get things done. THIS is how you save a life! I would also ask that if you are able, please think about adopting or fostering a dog. There are so many amazing babies out there that just need a chance. If you can not adopt or foster, please think about contacting your nearest shelter or animal rescue and see what you can do to help. These groups work non-stop to save the lives of thousands upon thousands of dogs, they can use all the help they can get.
NOTE: the movie clips in this video are not of Ace and Deuce. We (Eric and Chasity) in NO WAY, approve of coon hunting, but the fact is Ace and Deuce were coon hunters, the clips were added to tell the story. The pictures in the video, however, are the amazing Ace and Deuce. These are pictures from Indy dropping them of in AR and the plane ride to Dallas (Provided by David and Diane), and some of us picking them up from the airport and their new life. The Pictures of the shelter (provided by Christine) is the actual shelter Ace and Deuce lived. In Fact they stayed in runs T1 and T2, highlighted in the video.
