Woofs & Wags

Rescue Success Story: Leibe

21st May, 2010 - Posted by Heather Davis - No Comments

Photo Credit: Elmer Woods

BY RACHEL JOINER FOR NASHVILLE PAW MAGAZINE

In German, “Leibe” means love, which is exactly what Elmer Woods has found in a five-month-old Dalmation he rescued from Bowling Green, Kentucky’s Warren County Humane Society. A friend, Shawn Aswad, is part of Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue and alerted Elmer of a special dog in need of a home. Not only does Liebe’s name fit her due to the amount of life and affection she’s brought to her guardian’s home, she has heart-shaped spots on her nose and back. It seems she was meant to be adored.

“Liebe was dropped off at a kill shelter because she is deaf and could not be sold by the breeder,” Woods explains. “From what I understand, most breeders kill the puppies that they can’t sell so that the breed does not look like it has any problems.  I feel that Liebe was lucky in that respect that she was given to the shelter.” Since Liebe is hearing-impaired, Elmer uses sign language to communicate with her. They work on their signs daily and she is slowly learning more and more words. They are about to start vibrating color therapy to assist with communicating with each other. “This does not hurt her in anyway, but allows for me to train her with vibrations.  This will help when she is not in the same room, not looking in the way of me signing or if she happens to get out of the yard or off her leash to come to me with the vibration being a command.”

Liebe loves to chase anything that moves, and her favorite game is tug of war when she’s not “killing” her stuffed animals. She also has two brothers, Stinky (a silver tabby) and Mayo (a bengal cat), both of whom are rescues as well. Elmer has lived in Nashville for about ten years now and when not working, volunteers with an exchange student program, American Field Service, and also likes to make jewelry.

To new rescue parents, Woods suggests, “Make sure you have the time and money to invest in your new family member.  The most important things are training them, having patience with them. and especially, open your heart and love, love, love them.” The fulfillment Liebe gives her guardian is palpable when he says, “The greatest thing is that she loves me unconditionally. She is quite the energetic, comical, and loving dog.  The one thing that I can say is that I’m glad that she is in my life.” Taking one look into those eyes, one blue and one brown, lined in mascara-like black rims, is enough to make the toughest heart swoon.

Rachel P. Joiner is a freelance writer and publicist, and a drummer for local band the Joiners. She lives in East Nashville with her husband Taylor and great white wolf dog Gonzo.