Dawn Update 6

For now, Mason, Donna, and I have all decided that we have to delay our plan to catch Dawn, at least for the time being. In the end, all we can do is focus on the dogs that we can help, not the ones we can’t.

By the time everything shook out, we intended to trap Dawn, get her fixed, let her recover, then release her with a collar and rabies tag back onto Smith Street. By law, if she’s wearing a collar, then the police can’t shoot her. They have to investigate.

Our decision was based on this line of reasoning: we had already spent over a thousand dollars on Dawn and her litter, plus we had no room in any of our foster homes, nor does anyone we know have experience working with feral dogs. Dawn had already survived on the streets for two years and seemed to have enchanted the neighborhood enough so that they kept her well-fed and gave her winter shelter.

But every time we had a plan together, Bernice or Martha called at the eleventh hour – vets on stand-by, crate and catchpole packed – and canceled. It got to the point where I just stopped updating the blog because it felt ridiculous.

I can’t say it doesn’t bother me. I passed a dog on a rural road the other day that looked so much like Dawn my heart dropped, but the truth of the matter is I haven’t seen her in months.

There comes a point when we can only focus on what’s in front of us, when we have to detach ourselves from a situation. So, until further notice, ICHBA is officially detaching from Smith Street and Dawn, the mother of the Magic 8. We can only hope that when Dawn gets pregnant again – and that’s inevitable – that they’ll call us to help.