A couple of months ago, I was tied to a pole and left to die. Someone didn’t care what happened to me. I’m not sure how long I was there before I wound up in a local city shelter. I was so happy – I thought I was saved; but the shelter had to put me in quarantine for six months because I had all of these awful bites all over my face and body. You see, since it’s impossible to tell if the dogs that bit me were rabies vaccinated or not, the law requires that I either be tested for rabies or held in quarantine for six months – and they didn’t have the time or space to keep me for so long. Sadly, I would have to be euthanized to test for rabies.

Just when I thought I was saved, I wound up on death row. The kind people in the city shelter put out a plea for help on my behalf. My name is Swiss, and I’m a 1-year-old Labrador Retriever mix. You know, when you’re waiting to go to sleep forever, you get to thinking. I started thinking about wishes. If I had three wishes, what would they be?

My first wish was to be rescued. If only someone were to look at me and see a dog they could love, maybe I’d get out of here. No one had ever loved me before. I was tied to a pole for such a long time. I had no food, no water and no caring hands on my face. If only someone would rescue me from all of this...

For my second wish, I wanted to be nurtured. I was emaciated, dehydrated and malnourished and had bite wounds on my head, face and body. I don’t really remember what happened, but the city shelter thinks that I may have been used as bait for illegal pit bull fighting. I was tired and hungry and just wanted to be taken care of – even just a little...

My third wish – my favorite of all – was to be adopted into a loving home. There I’d be someone’s baby. I’d get all the hugs a doggie could ask for. I could chase a ball, fetch a stick and be part of my very own family – surrounded by love.

That is where North Shore Animal League America came in; and you know what? Two of my three wishes have already come true! North Shore Animal League America rescued me! They told me not to worry – that they had plenty of space and that I could stay there as long as it took for me to get quarantined and adopted.

Now I’m getting all the nurturing I need in a special program that saves lives. It’s called Help Me Heal, and there are lots of animals just like me in it. I’ve been looked at by all sorts of doctors and technicians, and I get walked several times a day!

It’s only a matter of time before my final wish comes true. I won’t be up for adoption for a while, but the Animal League is using that time to give me physical and behavioral training and treatment. By the time I’m ready for adoption, I’m going to be the best dog ever. See you then!

Read Swiss' Update

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