 WE HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED MANY BEAUTIFUL STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADOPTED DOGS FROM US. WE’D LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THEM WITH YOU. I volunteer for the Santa Cruz Shelter and for CAPE. The Shelter had asked me if CAPE (Center For Animal Protection and Education) could take in a small, underage puppy into their program. CAPE said yes, and then I agreed to foster her. The puppy, now named Ellie May fit right in with the rest of my pack and was gaining strength and thriving. She was feisty and loved to play chase with the other dogs. One evening we were sitting outside watching the dogs playing hide and seek under our deck and in the yard. They were going in circles trying to catch one another! We heard a yelp from one of our dogs and then soon after heard another from the puppy. Both dogs faces began to swell and then we realized what had happened. A Rattlesnake bit them on their muzzle while they were under the deck playing. Ellie was only 3 1/2 months old at this time. We rushed both dogs to the emergency vet in Santa Cruz where they were given anti-venom, fluids and pain meds. I had to leave both of them there, not knowing if either would survive. It was such a scary time, one I will never forget.  Our dog was able to come home the next night, but poor little Ellie May was not doing well. She was not responding to the meds and her face had swelled so much her skin was starting to split open. The vet thought I should come and see her as she was starting to shut down. I was terrified to walk into that clinic, scared of what I would see. Not knowing if it might be the last time I would hold that little puppy who I adored with all my heart. Well Ellie did survive the Rattlesnake and has proven herself to be a very passionate, resilient, bossy, loving part of our family. After the trauma of almost losing her, my family and I decided she had already found her forever home, and that was with us! Life has not been easy for this 10 pound girl. She now has a severe heart murmur and luxating patellas on both rear legs making her a tri-pod most of the time. I would love to tell you she is a complete joy to be around, but that would be lie. She has turned out to be my problem "child". She can be terrible to our other dogs and to dogs she is not acquainted with. Her nick name is Yellie, because of how long and loud she will bark at us Every Time we enter the house (even if it's been mere seconds of coming back through the door). Like I said, she is passionate, both in the good ways and not so good ways. Anytime she misbehaves we just blame it on leftover Rattlesnake venom flowing through her veins. She always has a legitimate excuse :). She does not need to be perfect to be loved and cherished. I suffer from numerous health conditions, I gain strength watching how resilient Ellie is no matter what life throws at her. Dogs are special that way, each and every one of them, and we are fortunate to have such gifts reside in our homes and hearts! We love our Ellie, Belly, Smelly, Yellie, to pieces! 
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