Sam & Jessie (now known as Brutus & Ava)

Photos from home

2008-07-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

Sam has been renamed Brutus, and his new mom sent these photos of Brutus and Ava:

We're finally together!

2008-07-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

It seems like forever since I saw my Sam! He looks wonderful and I'm finally at peace knowing he's here with me!

-Ava

When we got here I couldn't believe my eyes! There's my Jessie as beautiful as I remember her. Everybody out of my way! I just want to be with her!

-Sam

Finally -- happiness

2008-07-19T11:47:00.001-07:00

Jessie and Sam nearly pulled us over trying to get to each other. Sniffs and kisses and wagging tails all around. After a few minutes they were on their way home together -- finally!

-Mari and Edie

Transport trip number three

2008-07-18T22:51:00.000-07:00

Friday morning we picked up Sam. He jumped right into the truck and settled down right away. It's like somehow he sensed this would be a good day. Part way on the three hour drive to Raleigh we stopped and Mari got our passenger some cheeseburgers. He thoroughly enjoyed the little treat.

When we pulled into the meeting spot, I don't think Sam could believe his eyes. There was his Jessie. They were together again. Though on the surface, the reunion seemed casual, it was apparent that both dogs were more relaxed than they had been in days.

The reward to us as rescuers is knowing that we have reunited a strongly bonded pair and they will spend the rest of their days in each other's company.

-Mari and Edie

Going somewhere

2008-07-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

Everyone was getting in the car, so I did too. Maybe a ride will cheer me up. I ate a little yesterday but I still don't feel back to normal. I'm lonely for Sam. I wonder where we're going.

-Ava

Another ride

2008-07-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

The same two ladies that brought me here came and got me today. I jumped into the truck and laid down. I was tired and glad for a quiet place to be with my thoughts. I don't know where we're going, but I hope it will be a good day.

I had cheeseburgers for lunch. Things are looking up. There should've been more of them, though. I'm a big guy, you know.

-Sam

Unbelievably good news

2008-07-18T19:55:00.000-07:00

Thursday afternoon an email came from Ava's new mom. "AVA won't eat and is lonley." She said, "these two need to be together...so we will take him"

This is amazing news and immediately planning began for a Friday morning trip to move Sam from Charlotte to Raleigh where his new family will meet him.

-Mari and Edie

Inconsolable

2008-07-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

It's been two days since they took Jessie away. I don't know what happened. Was her time up and is she at the Rainbow Bridge? Or is she somewhere else waiting for me? I wonder if she misses me as much as I miss her. I can't think of anything else.

This morning the two ladies came back. This time I'm going for a ride. Am I going to see Jessie? I hope so, so I'm being a good boy in the car. I take a nap for a while and when I wake up I'm somewhere new, but where? Is Jessie here?

-Sam

The effort to save Sam

2008-07-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

Immediately after returning from taking Jessie to Greensboro, emails about Sam started to go out. We prayed someone would help him, and we offered to take him wherever we needed to.

Finally, praise Jesus, the much hoped-for email arrived, "I have a place for this boy to go!!!!" and even a potential adopter! It was the answer to our prayers. Arrangements were made to pick him up Wednesday morning and transport him to the new foster.

Sam jumped into the car and was a good rider for the two hour trip from York to Indian Trail. Later that day the news changed. The adoption fell through, and a new place for him would have to be found quickly. Not an easy task for a small dog, very difficult if not impossible for a 100 pound dog like Sam.

More emails went out pleading for a new rescuer.

-Mari and Edie

Jessie is now Ava

2008-07-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

I didn't sleep much last night. I am so worried and sad without Sam. He always helped me when I didn't feel good or was scared and now he's not here with me. The lady is nice, and said my name is going to be Ava from now on. I still don't want any food. There are other dogs here, but I just want to be alone unless I can be with my Sam.

-Ava

Jessie's trip

2008-07-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Two nice ladies came and took me for a ride. They talked sweetly to me. We rode for a long time. They tried to get me to eat something or drink water, but I'm so confused. Where's my Sam? Is he coming too? I miss him.

The ladies stopped the car and helped me get down and into another car with a man. Then he and I drove some more. Then a lady drove me in another car and said I was going to live at her house. But where's my Sam? I miss him and I'm scared without him.

The lady took me to her house and I met her husband and kids. They seem nice, and offer me food, but I'm not hungry. I'm worried about Sam and when I'll see him next.

-Jessie

My Jessie is gone

2008-07-18T18:01:00.000-07:00

This morning they came and got Jessie. They said she was going to a new home. Then a few minutes later they came and got me too. I thought I was going to a new home too! Before I knew it, Jessie was headed out the door and I was headed back to the pen. I'm so sad, I can't think of anything else but where my Jessie is. I can't stop crying and now I feel so sick.

-Sam

Transporting Jessie

2008-07-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

We received an urgent email that a German Shepherd female needed to be tranported from the York County, SC animal shelter to the Raleigh, NC area on Monday morning. Monday was going to be her last day. We offered to transport part way to Greensboro. Little did we know we were also going to have to arrange every other detail of this transport, including letting the shelter know that we were coming to get her.

We didn't go to work, instead we loaded a crate in the car and headed to York. Once there, they informed us that Jessie had a friend, Sam, and would we like to see him. Sam was brought out - 100 pounds of shepherd/rottweiler mix. One ear straight up and the other one tipped over, gave him a cute look. We took photos of him and promised to see if we could get a rescue interested in him.

By 9:00 AM we had Jessie loaded in the car and were off to Greensboro. She's very sweet, a very good rider. We are happy that we have saved this sweet girl.

-Mari and Edie

Why are we here?

2008-07-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

For some reason, our mom brought us to a place where there were people and a lot of other dogs. The dogs were all in pens, and they didn't seem too happy. My Best friend Jessie is with me, though, so I'm not scared.

They took her away from me for a while and I howled and howled so they knew I wasn't happy. When they brought her back I kissed her a lot. I really missed her.

I heard them say her time was up but they had to keep me because I'm microchipped. But they didn't want me to start howling again so they let her stay a little longer.

I'm scared and confused why we're still here and our owner hasn't come back to get us.

-Sam