Phoenix: September 11, 2010

Posted on 01. Oct, 2010 by jeanine in Blog

As veteran Rescuer, I am reminded daily of Edmond Burke’s famous quote:   “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing” My most tragic rescue stories have less to do with the initial horrific abuse and neglect, and more to do with the people with great hearts who stood by and did nothing.  We all have our place in animal rescue. Some of us are in the trenches every day, saving as many lives as we possibly can, knowing that for every dog we rescue; a thousand more meet a horrific end. Some of us work tirelessly on the bigger picture, advocating for harsher animal cruelty laws and mandatory spay and neuter programs… protesting and shutting down puppy mills & pet shops and labs that use animals for horrific and unnecessary testing.  And an under-recognized but imperative part of rescue, are the countless individuals who step up when they see an animal in need in spite of how horrible or inconvenient the experience feels.    Unfortunately, there are far too few of us…and far too many of those who just can’t stomach the reality that so much cruelty and neglect exists.    And that is where the story of Phoenix begins, and quite possible, ends.  A lifeless, starved, completely paralyzed dog crammed into a shoe box and abandoned to die.  A victim of abuse and neglect that happened over months, possibly years. And it did not happen in a vacuum. Along with his abusers, there were witnesses and bystanders who no doubt abhorred seeing him suffer so much pain and indignity…yet not a single person stepped up to help him.  How can that be?   And so Phoenix lies in an incubator in intensive care, with a laundry list of horrible injuries and illnesses….half of which were intentionally inflicted, and the rest preventable had someone only had the courage to help him sooner.  And we are left with a horrible decision…do we end his suffering now?  Or do we fight for him the way someone should have long ago? Phoenix can’t move, or even lift his head…but his eyes speak to me in volumes. He is grateful…he is forgiving…and he is finally safe.    It remains to be seen whether Phoenix lives up to his name and rises from the ashes of death. But either way, I am determined that his suffering will not have been in vain, and that his huge heart, unbreakable spirit, and fearless will to live will become his Legacy….And perhaps his story will shore up the intestinal fortitude of those people with good hearts ~ who allow evil to triumph.

If you’d like to help with Phoenix’s care, please click on the paypal button above.