Lucy from Perry County

Here’s an abbreviated version of the email I got from Pamela and Wayne Thing about Lucy:

“Lucy, mixed lab, showed up at our house in the boonies of Perry County, Tennessee about 8 weeks ago, during the last few days of really warm weather.  She was obviously very pregnant and lost.

She would not come near me. Ran away if I approached. She took up residence on our back deck. It is very quiet back there. No one goes out there much.

Feeling sorry for her… I put food and water out for her.  Watched her for a couple of days. Put a doghouse and bedding I had around out for her. Still could not get close to her. So just continued to feed and water. Leaving her in peace and quiet.

When my husband returned home from a trip, we were talking on the front porch. Lucy sudden appeared and lay down not far from my husband. Looking at him so longingly. Next day the UPS man made a delivery and was talking to me in the driveway. Once again Lucy appeared and lay down not far from the man. Looking at him so longingly.

I began to notice that she would watch cars coming up the hill as if she was waiting for her owner to return and pick her up…as you can guess, her owner must have been a man, and that Lucy was dumped. Most likely because she was pregnant.

Then [one] Sunday evening she came out from under the lowest part of deck.  Looking pretty wrung out and much lighter. She had dug under the deck and had her puppies. While I was giving her fresh water and food, she allowed me to pet her head for the first time.

We waited a few days until our daughter came home from college. She was small enough to crawl under the deck and hand out the puppies.

We moved Lucy and her pups into the house, making a barricaded room in our back hall and guest bathroom.  We already had a dog crate and I made bedding from an old comforter.

I contacted our local Perry County, TN. Humane Society (PCHS).  It soon became apparent that the two ladies (only members) were overwhelmed. The humane society here just can’t take them.  If something doesn’t give soon, PCHS is likely to shut down.

I have discussed the option of sending mom and 8 puppies onto the Whitehouse area humane society.  These are beautiful pups.  The mom, Lucy, is very sweet of nature and polite in the house.”

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Perry County, TN is fifty miles west of Nashville, meaning out of ICHBA’s jurisdiction. But Donna, Mason, and I are putting our heads together to figure out how to help Wayne and Pamela Thing, two unsung heroes that gave a dog in need food and shelter.

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas about how to help Lucy and her pups, please contact thefarnival@gmail.com.