Rescue Stories
Curly's Tail
Today Curly, our 1yr old Chesapeake Bay Retriever,
is on his way home to Kansas. His adventure started
back in July when he was brought into the Moab Animal
Shelter. Shortly after his arrival there was a heavy
influx of animals and the shelter needed help. The
Humane Society of Moab Valley stepped in to assist
by taking several dogs, Curly was one such dog.
A couple in the state of Kansas wrote to us asking
about Curly. After many e-mails and conversations,
they decided to make the drive out to Moab to see this
wonderful boy. After speaking with their local vet,
long discussions with the family & a cross country
adventure from Kansas to Moab it was decided that this
would be a good match for our boy. Curly, with his
goofy charm and loving nature, won the hearts of this
amazing couple.
Curly can look forward to playing on a 10 acre ranch
with his 5 new companions. The Murphy’s and their
3 other dogs, one of which is another Chesapeake! The
Humane Society of Moab Valley would like to express
a heartfelt thank you to families like the Murphy’s
who go the distance and after careful thought bring
a homeless pet into their lives. Truly a happy ending,
or should we say beginning!
The Odyssey of Scott...
A Rescue Tail with Heart
I met Scott when I came to interview for the Director
of Animal Services position in September of last
year. He was (and still is!) an older Shepherd/Rottweiller
mix who is extremely personable, nice with other
dogs, people, babies, plants, molecules, anything.
He just liked watching the world go by. While many
of the other dogs barked their heads off, Scott
just chilled, enjoying the show. 
When I arrived in Moab to start my position as
Director of Animal Services, I went out to where
he was boarded and found out very quickly why he
had been in the adoption pool longer than any other
dog: he had this thing about escaping. It bordered
on phobic. If a door was open, he was flying for
it!
As I ran to try and catch him, I watched as he
flung himself on barbed wire at the boarding facility.
I saw his expression as he got over the fence-absolute
joy! He lived for that moment when he out smarted
whatever was trying to contain him. He thrived
in chaos. In essence he was an anarchist. No wonder
I hit it off with him!!
We transferred him to another more secure location
and his escape opportunities were non existent.
He pouted for a few days, but enjoyed the ever
changing population at the day care. He still liked
to be high, so they built him a ledge on top of
the entrance way to the dog area, well away from
the exterior fences and it made him the official
greeter.
Nice guy, unrealistically adoptable in the land
of the 5’ field fence, he stayed in boarding
way too long. The reality of dogs that habitually
escape is that eventually people get tired of looking
for him, deep down their feelings get hurt because
he continues to run away and or they just simply
don’t come home one day as “something” (car
vs dog-the dog never wins) gets in the way of their
return.
One day it hit me “If he was in Los Angeles,
he would have been adopted 20 times by now! Scott
needs to be moved to a higher crime area!”
I made arrangements to swap him with another dog
at the Utah Animal Adoption Center. I had him micro
chipped right before-just in case he got loose
again and lo and behold, he already had a micro
chip!! Scott may not have to go to SLC after all!
I found out that his name was Taz and that he was
probably about 6 years old. That he had lived in
Vernal and the last time he had been to the vet
there was in 2005. They remembered him and his
escapist ways! I called the numbers listed on his
file as well as wrote a letter to the address but
got so response. So off we went to the Great Salt
Lake.
They were pretty crowded at the facility, but they
had 10 foot fences and promised that he would never
be out there unsupervised. I felt that they would
care for Scott and hopefully find him a nice family.
We brought back a very sweet heeler mix (the official
dog of Moab) and she was promptly adopted by a
very nice lady. Scott stayed in SLC and I became
worried that maybe he would end up long term there
as well.
About a month after we moved him, I got an email
saying that Scott was adopted by a nice older couple
who lived in a condo (a controlled environment-whoo
hoo!!) and that he was finally home.
Sometimes we just have to think outside the box
and go that extra mile for the dogs that through
no fault of their own languish in the system. Scott
deserved nothing less.
by Elaine Allison, CPDT
Casper - The Lucky Ghost
Poor little Casper arrived at the pound in very
bad shape. Just five-weeks old and very thin, his
eyes were so infected that it looked like someone
had inserted a marble under each eyelid. He could
hardly hold his head up. The humane society’s
kitten fosterer or “Meowmie” (as she
is called by her cats) took in the tiny starved
kitten. He was named “Casper” because
he was such a little thin white wraith. It was
defi nitely touch-and-go for the first few weeks.
At first, Casper need to be tube fed, because he
was too weak to suck on a bottle. His eyes were
soaked, washed and medicated every two hours and
he received antibiotics twice a day. It was several
weeks before Casper was strong enough drink on
his own, maintain his body temperature, or even
walk. Gradually, he was able to eat out of a dish
and his eyes began to clear-up. He had made it!
A new and improved Casper
Casper is now 4 months-old. He is no longer white,
but a lovely semi-longhaired blue point. His one
eye still needs medication, but hopefully will
heal. Although he only has partial sight in his
eyes, he now runs and plays with his toys and the
other cats. Meowmie just couldn’t let go
of this wonderful little guy and has adopted him
as part of their furry family. A definite success
story!
by Pam Walston
Two Hearts Make a Whole
Nala is a beautiful pitbull mix that came to
the Humane Society in the fall of 2004. Nala had
been kept penned in a backyard with little to no
socialization for the fi rst year and a half of
her life. She was fostered by a Humane Society
volunteer who worked with Nala to housetrain and
socialize her both with people and other animals.
Nala also received one-to-one instruction for basic
commands and leash training.
In September of 2004, Sheila Maxfield came to the
Humane Society Adoption Days to fi nd a loving
companion for her fourteen year old grandson Jake.
Jake’s therapist had recommended a pet for
Jake. Jake and Nala immediately bonded and Nala
went home with them that day.
Best buddies Nala and Jake
enjoy a cozy moment together.
By December the two were inseparable. Unfortunately,
the Maxfields were renting a home and their landlord
had decided to evict them for having a dog. But
Sheila, seeing the difference Nala had made in
Jake’s life, decided to fight for both her
grandson and Nala. Sheila contacted a disabilities
lawyer in nearby Monticello to help her with the
eviction order. Because Jake’s therapist
had recommended a pet, the lawyer was able to have
Nala declared as a “service dog”. Happily,
Sheila, Jake and Nala were able to remain in their
home.
Jake walks Nala every morning before school, after
school and once again at night. He has continued
to help Nala socialize with other people and dogs,
as well as crate training her. Nala stays in a
fenced yard when Jake is in school and sleeps inside
every night. In return, she has helped Jake to
set a consistent routine and learn both the responsibilities
and joys of caring for an animal.
by Tricia Gundlach
