It was love at first sight for Cherokee Village resident Dee Martin when she first saw Valentine, a Siberian Husky who was a resident of the Cherokee Village Animal Control.
After the I’s were dotted and the T’s crossed, Martin and Valentine traveled home to enjoy the future together, however; despite Martin’s fenced in yard, it seemed Valentine saw the fence as more of a challenge than a safeguard.
“In a few days she jumped the fence twice. She came back but I did not want to see her get hit by a car so I returned her to the shelter,” Martin said.
Doing what she felt was the best for Valentine, Martin made the drive with her new companion back to the shelter, heartbroken by the decision.
“At that time Jennifer & Bob Rausch, volunteers, were there. They noticed I was so upset by the thought of returning her they suggested that maybe my fence could be heightened,” Martin said. “Bob said he would see what he could find out.”
Martin’s chain-link fence if, heightened by about three feet, would then become tall enough to ensure Valentine wouldn’t take another walkabout.
“He said he felt adding three foot tale chicken wire and attaching it to my fence by metal posts would be the best solution,” Martin said.
The next challenge was to find money for fencing and workers to make the adjustments to the fence. Martin said there was no hesitation on the part of the volunteers who knew the story of what had happened.
“When I had the money to buy fencing I told the volunteers Carryn & Nick Nugent, the Rausches and an employee, Mark Slinger and they all volunteered to help build the fence.”
After securing the materials, the volunteers made good on their promise to help, even recruiting others in the process.
“The Rausches, the Nugents and their children Clayton, Kendal & Oakleigh came over, followed by Mark after he got off work. Mark also met me at the shelter later to get Valentine for me,” Martin said. “What these volunteers did to get this dog a good home was above and beyond what was expected of them. They really care about the animals there. And this is just one story, I hear things every week about ways they help make these dogs lives better. Just recently Bob & Jennifer figured out a way to get the dogs food bowls off the floor. With their own money the bought loaf pans and brackets and engineered a way to attach them to the dog pens.”
Martin said she and Valentine are happy, healthy and well and Valentine has settled in to her new environment just fine.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
