Rescuing Sam

Mud Dog

Here’s what you need to know about this picture:

– Sammy is a 15-year-old lab that acts like she’s a puppy despite suffering coon dog paralysis 8 years ago, which has left her with some wobbly back legs.

– For some reason and somehow Sammy managed to walk from my parents woods a half-mile across a muddy field.

– She got stuck in the mud.

– She’s lucky that I spotted her.

– She’s lucky to be alive. After all she has been through she deserves a peaceful exit, not one involving freezing to death in a muddy field.

– When I got to her I stepped out of both of my shoes. As Dad put it, “That kind of mud could kill a man.”

– Mom tried to walk across the field. She called me on my cell and told me that she was stuck. At the time I didn’t care, I was more worried about Sammy who was starting to panic. Now, I wish I would have at least seen mom. She eventually got unstuck, but fell down three times. That would have been hilarious to see.

– When I pulled Sam from the mud pit her struggling had created, I didn’t know what to do. We were surrounded by muddy fields in every direction. I couldn’t carry her and her back legs wouldn’t work in the mud. So, I did the only thing I could do: I called dad.

– Dad came to the rescue pulling a circa 1950’s red, rusted radio flyer wagon.

– Through mud and through snow, it took us 30 minutes to get Sam back to the house and into a warm bath.

– Shortly after this photo was taken, Sam had a racquetball in her mouth and wanted to play.

– Sam makes Marley look like a saint.

– Her legend continues.

 
7 comments
Stratos says:

Hey Kelsey, glad to hear that Sam is ok. That is one lucky dog! I enjoyed reading Where are You Wearing and I love following you on Twitter and the updates here. Keep it up!

– Bryan (aka Stratos)

Janelle says:

We need more people like you in the world Kelsey!!!! This made me want to cry!

Heather Clawson says:

Kelsey I love you!!!!! I wish all people would help poor helpless animals!! You are for sure going to heaven!!!1

Shelly Ngo says:

And now I’m convinced that we have the very best people in the world filing for the World Vision Report! Sweet story.

Lynne says:

Kels has a lot more Sammy stories… A book maybe????

Kelsey says:

Wow! I’m getting way too much credit here, people. Is a fella a good guy for helping out a family member? Basically, that’s what Sam is. If my brother, Kyle was stuck in the mud, I’d help him out, too. Otherwise I’d be a real big jerk.

Still, if you’re going to pass around credit for saving Sam don’t forget Ken and Lynne (Mom and Dad). Ken drug the wagon while I held Sam on it and both were instrumental in the warming up process. Most of the credit probably should go to Sam for not giving up. If I didn’t see the black dot struggling across the field I would’ve never thought that the black dot was her.

Let your voice be heard!