Sometimes, it takes a village. And for Copper—a beagle who was chained outside 24/7 near Galax, Virginia, with no shelter and, judging by his protruding rib and hip bones, nearly no food—that village consisted of caring Twin County Humane Society (TCHS) staffers, a remarkably compassionate local animal control officer, and two of my fellow PETA fieldworkers. And while my husband, Dan, and I have rounded out Copper’s crew, it all started with one good Samaritan: a mystery caller I will forever think of as my sweet beagle’s Secret Santa.
If the “before” footage above makes your blood boil, you’re not alone. My Community Animal Project coworkers, Adam and Jenny—who were in Galax as part of a PETA event that saw 229 cats and dogs sterilized for free within two days—were asked by the TCHS, which partnered with PETA to host the spay-a-thon, to help with a welfare check for a dog described by an anonymous caller as very thin. A local animal control officer joined Adam and Jenny at the property after they discovered Copper, a senior beagle mix who had no doghouse or other shelter and whose chain allowed only 4 feet of movement. Despite this neglect, his alarming thinness, and his lack of any water to drink, from the moment my coworkers met him, Copper was amazingly sweet-natured. After learning from the animal control officer that Copper’s neglect could warrant cruelty-to-animals charges, the dog’s negligent owner—who claimed not to have realized that the beagle mix was knocking on death’s door—quickly permitted PETA to take custody of Copper and obtain the care he desperately needed.
“Step on it!” —Copper tells his getaway driver, aka Adam
The kind folks at TCHS put my coworkers in touch with a local veterinary hospital that treated Copper and lodged the charming chap for a few days—while PETA’s spay-a-thon finished up—after he was deemed too thin, dehydrated, and anemic for neuter surgery. Once back at PETA’s headquarters, Jenny promptly brought the soulful-eyed dude home with her so that she and her family could continue looking after him.
Like an old penny that just needed polishing, all this copper-hued senior beagle needed was a little TLC.
When I first met Copper, he weighed roughly 11 lbs. Two weeks later, while arriving at one of our mobile clinics for sterilization and vaccinations, the handsome heavyweight clocked in at a whoppin’ 19 lbs.
Neuter is cuter, and Copper and Jenny know it!
In foster care, Copper was quick to confirm that his friendly feelings aren’t just for humans who give him treats and tell him he’s the handsomest—he’s a fan of cats and other dogs as well! And despite who knows how many years of being chained up outside, the silver-muzzled sweetheart was a quick potty-training study, too. Importantly, Jenny also reported that the fetching fella enjoys gazing out a window as well as gazing at himself in mirrors. (Did Copper mention yet that he’s handsome?)
With his bodyweight nearly doubled and his spirit fully renewed, I was tasked with writing a blog post that would help roughly 9-year-old Copper fill one very important village vacancy: guardian. But as I tried to pen some words that would tell readers all about adoptable Copper, I realized that PETA had already found the silver fox a place to spend his golden years: with Dan—another PETA staffer—plus our three PETA-rescued cats and me.
This sweet senior is proof that there’s no age limit on giving or receiving love.
The weather outside might be frightful, but inside it’s so delightful for Copper at last, thanks to a Christmas miracle and a caring person who spoke up when they saw an animal suffering.
—PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch
You, Too, Can Be a Year-Round Secret Santa for Animals
Helping to ensure that dogs like Copper are given the peace on Earth that they deserve is simple: If you see something, say something. Check out PETA’s step-by-step “What to Do if You Spot Animal Abuse” guide, and lobby your elected officials to ban unattended tethering.
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