GREAT NEWS!!
It’s official, Poppy is home with Greg, Robby & furry K-9 sister Fergie of Chicago, IL. And she’s accumulated quickly & seems to love the city life!
Robby & Greg have waited a long time to welcome Poppy to their home.
They first fell in love with Poppy (a dog meat trade rescue from Thailand) when searching for adoptable dogs at Elfesworld, a dog sanctuary in Koh Samui, Thailand.
Poppy was rescued from the brutality of dog meat smugglers, only to land at Nakhon Phanom, a government-run livestock center, where thousands of dogs were already residing.
The Thai government does the best they can with the many dogs rescued from the meat trade, but this particular shipment was huge – literally hundreds of dogs were suffering alongside Poppy that day – stuffing the already overcrowded center to its limits. The influx of dogs, many of them very ill already, also occurred with terrible timing – a distemper outbreak was just hitting the shelter.
By the time it ran its course, hundreds and hundreds of dogs had perished.
Poppy was one of the lucky few.
Within days of her arrival at Nakhon Phanom, a photo of Poppy looking exhausted and pathetic, with a worn collar from her unknown past still around her neck, was shared around the world.
Thankfully, Karene Nethery-West – a guardian angel to so many dogs around the world – saw her photo and knew she had to do something to save this gal. Karene, of Tennessee USA, sponsored Poppy out of the shelter, and within just a few days, Poppy was on her way to Bangkok. There, she received medical care, good nutrition, and proper nursing and was back on her feet in short order.
Poppy flew to Koh Samui, to the Elfesworld dog sanctuary, where she has lived for the past 2.5 years under the loving care of Elfe and her helpers, assisted by Karene’s faithful ongoing monthly sponsorship.
Poppy was physically healed, but needed emotional healing – and she has received that in large doses at Elfesworld. Still, with 700+ dogs around her, it was hard to get the attention she craved. An adoptive home is the dream of all these dogs ultimately, but there are so few homes and so many dogs in need.
As luck would have it for Poppy, and as mentioned at the top of this post, Greg and Robby spotted her picture on a website and contacted ISDF to find out how they could bring Poppy home.
After much preparation on the part of our Thai rescue partners, and after a long flight, Poppy arrived into the US on November 26, 2015.
Thanks to everyone who’s helped Poppy along the way including Karene Nethery-West who sponsored Poppy at Elfe’s World. And of course to Elfe who provided Poppy with love and care at the shelter! Most importantly thanks to Greg Rauch & Robby Bardwell for opening their hearts and home to this sweet girl!