I'd like to introduce you to Awesome Dawson from Austin.  He is four and a half months old.  This poor boy has had a rough time of it. He's lucky he survived! He was attacked by several larger dogs. He has puncture
wounds on his shoulder and thorax and multiple broken ribs.He had a partially collapsed lung and subcutaneous air under the skin.  In his fear and pain after the attack he bit his former owner and a vet assistant so the shelter was going to put him down. The owner did not keep him nor pay for his vet bills.  Since he is ONLY a baby and he was in huge pain too, Ratbone decided a death sentence was premature.. 

He will be arriving at my place on Friday for rehab and retraining and will be available for adoption once he's all clear.  According to the temporary foster mom, he's already acting like a pup and wanting to play with her dogs, though he's a bit fearful.  I'll get more photos and updates when he arrives.  This boy has so touched me with his story and I am sure he's going to be an amazing dog for someone.  Here's the only picture I have right now:  You can see some of the puncture marks:

Oh and it has been about 3.5 weeks since the attack and med care. The shelter had to keep him (state policy) for a period before he could be released into rescue (the shelter could not adopt him out since he bit, regardless of why - another state policy). Then the temporary foster mom pulled him and has had him since Friday. So by the time he flies it will be almost 4 weeks but it is really too soon to be moving him. The vet said so long as he is kept quiet and is in cabin he should be ok. He cannot stay where he is and no one else stepped in to take him, so it was this or death. It's going to be interesting to manage him at first since he cannot be lifted in the torso area due to the broken ribs. His lung is cleared for flying (not leaking now).

I can't imagine having a 4 month old pup and not doing all I could to keep him. Luckily he's young enough to be able to put much of this behind him.

thanks for fostering this young pup gwacie!  So glad his owner "dumped" him at the shelter, he is on is way to better things!

Awesome Dawson from Austin. What -was he named by committee!

Keep us posted!

He's only 4 1/2 months old and has experienced so much terror. I can't imagine his little body having to take that.
I was watching the animal planet Houston ASPCA tonight and saw a remarkable story of a fearful, frightened cowering dog they brought in that had no hope to acclimate himself to people. After 3 weeks, he was a different dog. He was adopted out and was the friendliest dog no longer fearful and afraid. It was unbelievable. Miracles can happen, especially because of you.
Please keep us posted on this little guy. Thanks for all you do...

BTW..Love your beads

LEVECKE - you silly. You KNOW how he was named, you were there!

Thanks Vicki - I'm very lucky to melt glass for a living.

Donna - thanks for sharing about Winchester. With any luck Dawson will have even LESS of a bite reflex to train out since he's so young.

Maggie, your offer is very generous. Thank you for thinking of him. So far I think we have it handled but dontations to Ratbone are always needed as there are many dogs you guys never hear of that have long term care needs. Or fosters are amazing.

Cat, I know what you mean. Of course when you get to capacity with dogs (I have 4 of my own) it does make it a little easier since your brain constantly reminds you that you are turning into the crazy dog lady! Plus I know going in that they are not staying so I just get to love them for a little while.

 Glad you're taking the little guy Bethany!

Gwacie, He looks like he is going to be a great dog for someone. These little terriers are such survivors. I see so many dogs in rescue and it's amazing that for all people and nature have put them through they still wag their tails and give kisses. Thank god for people like you and everyone who does rescue to show their is love our there for these dogs who had a tough go of it!

ya ,I know-i was just secretly laughing about how his name came to be.

4 women, connected by IM, one in GA,one in TX.one in WA and one in MI. Paula coming up with yet another great name!

Dawson has a ton of support behind him!

This is a very fortunate pup to have a second chance and to be in your capable and loving hands! 

Awe, he is a beautiful little thing!  I teared up just thinking about him.  If he were mine, there's no way I would be able to let him go esp after such a tramatic ordeal, I would do everything I could to save him and I would overlook him biting me! 

You're doing an AWESOME thing!  Good luck and keep us posted.

Very cute little guy!