Saved by a caring veterinarian.

Meet Heidi a beautiful white German Shepherd. She is a lover.

And yet not long ago she was covered with mange from head to toe and her humans did nothing about it. They refused to treat her, refused to use heartworm preventative. And never applied Frontline or Advantix to keep her flea and tick free.

"We don't want to spend any money on a dog we don't like and don't want."

My friend, a local veterinarian, was telling me the story of how he ended up with Heidi.

He said he cut a deal with Heidi's humans. If they paid their bill he'd take Heidi off their hands. They agreed. And then they had the nerve to tell him, "When we get our next dog -- one we really will love -- we'll be sure to come back to your clinic."

"I wanted to tell them like hell you will." But ever the gentleman he told them it would be better if they found another vet.

He asked me if we'd be willing to accept Heidi and try to find her a forever home. We said yes. He spayed and vaccinated her at no cost to the Animal Defense League and, as of today, she is waiting to be adopted.

It makes me angry as I think about her previous humans. How could anyone treat a dog or a cat they way they treated Heidi? All she did was offer unconditional love.

It amazes me that dogs who have been so mistreated very often continue to put their trust in humans. That's Heidi. A loving, wonderful dog who offers her next family forever love. What more could any human ask?

And this just in: Heidi was adopted today, Thursday, May 22, 2008, by a wonderful, caring family.

(c) Ron Aaron. 2008