“I tried reaching out, and she just sat there. We had no idea where she came from, but she was not doing well.”
Underfed, malnourished, and a refugee from the doggy meat trade industry, the beginning of Harriet’s story doesn’t start off very grand.
But, soon you’ll be rootin’ for this adorable underdog, as she travels halfway across the globe to meet her new family, and finally gets the stunning transformation that she deserves towards the very end.
Harriet was one of nearly 2,000 dogs living at a doggy compound in Harbin, China, where a local woman rescues strays and keeps them safe. But sadly, Harriet stood out from the huge crowd of playful pups for a very heartbreaking reason.
While the other doggies were bouncing the property around with glee, Harriet sat frozen in the corner, hoping not to be noticed. The fear of being slaughtered for meat had already pervaded her very being.
When Rachel Hinman, a U.S. based volunteer with Harbin SHS Animal Rescue, first found the sweet pooch the neglect she had suffered through was obvious. Harriet’s thick, matted fur was beyond filthy, and she was way too thin and bony for a girl her age.
Harbin SHS Animal Rescue was formed when a group of 3 expat teachers living in Harbin, China started rescuing a handful of dogs from a local slaughterhouse.
Those first 5 rescues turned into 400 in the first year and a half alone, and now they have a network of volunteers all around the world.
Rachel is one such volunteer, and it was her task to pick up Harriet from the doggy safehouse and get her checked out by a vet. She told The Dodo:
“We were visiting the property in May, and in the far back corner, I see this tiny little husky looking completely scared. I tried reaching out, and she just sat there. We had no idea where she came from, but she was not doing well.”
Thankfully, once Harriet knew that she was in good hands, she settled in for the ride and didn’t make a peep on the way to the clinic.
“We thought she was a young puppy for sure, due to her size. But the vet checked her teeth and estimated she was probably 8 months old. She just must’ve been so malnourished that it affected her growth.”
Thankfully, Harriet didn’t have any major medical problems. So, the first order of business was shaving off her tangle of matted fur, and giving her a much-needed bath!
“She was so quiet and docile. It took us a long time to shave off all her fur, but she sat there so patiently and never barked or growled. That really touched me. She had been through so much, and like many other dogs Harbin SHS rescues, was naturally sweet, playful and kind.”
As the weeks went by, Harriet got stronger and healthier. Plus, with all the extra love she was receiving from the attentive staff, the formerly timid dog was no longer afraid of humans.
After two months of much-needed physical and emotional healing, the lil’ husky mix was cleared by the vet to make the trip of her life.
A Canadian woman named Rosee Vallee knew that she wanted to adopt Harriet as soon as she saw her cute mug posted online, and the time had come for them to finally meet up.
A volunteer flew with Harriet to San Francisco, where she excitedly jumped into the arms of her new mama for the very first time. And that was only the beginning of their beautifully adventurous friendship!
“I knew she was for me the second I saw her; she looked so sad and all I wanted to do was make her happy right away. Since I have had her, we have went on road trips, we have flown together, she went to Lake Louise [in Canada] … She is my princess. She loves everyone she meets.”
It didn’t take very long for Harriet to settle in, and go from a filthy stray to a valued member of the family.
Rachel says her sweet dog has come far from her humble beginnings as “dog meat” to the happiest dog in Lake Louise.
“I think of all the people who came together to help her – they are the real heroes of this story. Every dog deserves a second chance, and Harriet is such a perfect example of that.”
Harriet, who has been renamed Bailey by her new family, is loving her new life and new forever home. She has three doggy sisters, including Anezka, who was also rescued by Harbin SHS.
There’s no doubt that each and every one of them is now living the ultimate “dog’s life.”
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Source: The Dodo
