02. our success stories

Pupsqueak

Pupsqueak was rescued by Manatee County Cruelty Investigators from a breeder of fighting pit bulls. Pupsqueak was to be a bait dog – a dog thrown into a pack of deliberately agitated pit bulls so the bred-to-fight pits can acquire their first taste of blood. She was one of only three living dogs among 40 carcasses. Pupsqueak was at Satchel's Last Resort for over a year where she was given lots of love and where Beth encouraged Pupsqueak's ball retrieving abilities. Beth went on to train Pupsqueak to fetch lots of things, like keys and phones, and taught her to open certain kinds of door latches. Pupsqueak is now living with a woman afflicted with polio, working as an assist dog to help her with daily life.

Star

Star's owner was in tears as he turned her over to us. Star is deaf and blind in one eye; and he just could not give her the attention and care she needed. Even with the poor hand she's been dealt in life, Star is a sweet and courageous dog. Once Star settled into life here, Beth started taking her on daily outings: to the beach, to different dog training classes she teaches - anything to get Star out of the shelter environment. Star passed Good Citizenship Dog Training and Therapy Dog Training and soon she was going to Beth's kids' school to spend time with some of the shyer students. In August, after having been here about a year, Beth took Star to Chicago to live with a woman suffering with depression. Star is this woman's best buddy and the woman now has a reason to get up in the morning.