10/21/2013:

Here is Ozzie’s story…

RAGOM had 8 new dogs coming in from a hoarding/abuse situation in Cando, North Dakota. When our family saw the pictures, we knew immediately we would offer to help a pup. Fosters were found for all 8 pups in less than a day. A few days later, two amazing transporters, Barry and Mark, drove all the way out to Cando, ND, to pick up these very sick and malnourished puppies. It was an 800-mile trip to get 8 dogs. At 5:15 am Friday morning, Mark and Barry set out for Cando, ND. They arrived at 12:30 pm and were met with sad news. Yuki, one of the pups, had died sometime in the night, so now there were only 7 dogs left. They met the dogs and teared up just seeing the poor shape they were in. They were close to starvation and were so thin.

Mark and Barry got down to work and gave names and collars to all the pups and got their paperwork in order. The pups were loaded in crates in their vehicle for the transport. It started to rain as they were loading. Ozzie was one of the pups picked up that day and he was on his way to his foster home…his new life would begin. Ozzie reached his foster home that night just after 9:30. His Foster Mom fought back tears when she first saw how very thin he was and his Foster Dad was angry at the people responsible for his condition. Ozzie weighed only about 10 pounds. But, Ozzie was home. He was promised life would be better from that moment on.

Once inside, he came out of his crate and walked around the kitchen very slowly. Ozzie then crawled up onto his foster mom’s lap and snuggled in for a snooze. A short time later, he did get up and drank some water. He crawled right back into his foster mom’s lap. Over an hour later, Ozzie started to be a little unsettled. He was offered some food and wouldn’t take any. Ozzie did drink a bit more water. He went into his crate and it was prepared for the night, so he could rest and recover from his long journey. A short time later, when Foster Mom and Foster Dad were again with Ozzie after hearing some noises, he passed away. This sweet pup, who had such a rough life, experienced a few hours of love and compassion in a home. Ozzie taught this foster family a few things in the next 24 hours, through his spirit. He taught them to not try to understand why this happened to him, but rather to realize what else they could do to help other pups. Ozzie taught his foster family, including two young children, that what happened to him didn’t have to be forgotten or forgiven, but that the only way to move forward was to quit dwelling on what had happened and figure out what they could do next. There are so many dogs who need help and who deserve the chance to experience love and compassion.

Ozzie’s spirit lives on in the remaining puppies, who so far have survived. After Ozzie’s passing, the remaining 6 pups received quick medical care and continue to improve, even though some of them have tested positive for Parvo. His spirit lives on in Bond, Cruz, Malak, Dreamer, Kai and Skylar…Ozzie’s buddies. Ozzie’s spirit will also live on in his foster family and his RAGOM family, and he will not be forgotten. Until they meet again at the Rainbow Bridge…Rest in Peace, sweet Ozzie.