by Nancy Gallimore
Photos courtesy of Ashley Dwyer
I recognized her eyes immediately from photos posted on Facebook. She was considering me politely, her gaze thoughtful and, reflexively, the slightest bit guarded. Though I knew we were destined to fall in love with each other, I did not blame her for making me earn her trust.
The beautiful hazel-colored eyes studying me belong to a Pit Bull Terrier mix named Fern. For all this young dog has endured, her momentary reservations were more than validated. For those who have not heard her tale, I’ll give you a recap.
Fern’s story started with a frantic phone call to the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals (OAA) office. OAA employee Ashley Dwyer answered the call, and the moment she heard the words “emaciated dog in a dumpster,” she flew into action without a moment’s thought.
turtle.
Two sanitation workers were checking a commercial dumpster behind Tulsa businesses near 71st and Peoria when they made a heart-wrenching discovery. At first glance, the dumpster appeared to be empty, but then they saw her. Immobile and nothing more than flesh stretched across fragile bones, a dog was lying discarded in the damp filth. If not for the flash of the white of her eye, they would have believed the dog deceased.
Unsure how to approach the dog, the men put out a call for help. Ashley quickly arrived on scene. Prepared for the worst, she peered into the large metal bin.
“The first thing I saw was her eye, large and round, looking up and rolling toward me,” said Ashley. That’s all it took for Ashley to launch herself into the dumpster. The dog was unable to move a muscle. Her body went completely limp in Ashley’s arms, but those bright hazel eyes stayed wide and somehow alert.
When asked how she managed to get herself and her precious cargo back out of the dumpster, Ashley paused and tried to remember the moment. “I really have no idea,” she replied as she shook her head. “I just put her over my shoulder and knew I had to get help immediately.”
Ashley raced the critically ill dog to Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists (OVS). Still running on pure adrenaline while choking back sobs, she burst into the lobby and simply said, “I found this dog in a dumpster — please help.”
family.
The veterinarians and staff jumped into action. The dog, named Fern by her rescuer, received immediate treatment for extreme dehydration as the rest of her condition was assessed. The open pressure sores on her hips were gently cleaned. Her filthy body was given a tender sponge bath to provide much-needed relief.
Fern was treated to a heated bed, the softest blankets, a pillow for her head, a stuffed turtle friend and even a tablet propped up so she could watch Disney movies while she rested. Everyone at OVS rallied to provide every conceivable comfort to their little patient.
Still completely prone and unable to even lift her head, Fern found her voice and started talking to her caregivers. And then, when Ashley came to visit, Fern found the strength to wag her tail in obvious recognition and delight.
Fern’s recovery was a slow and gradual climb. Over the first few days, supporting her condition was a journey filled with highs and lows as the dog’s system struggled to recover from the most profound neglect her caregivers had ever witnessed. But through sheer determination, this little dog defied the odds.
The staff at OVS quite literally helped her every step of the way, fashioning a sling to support her frail legs as she learned to walk again. Fern spent nearly two weeks in intensive care, supported by OAA and donors from across the country. With Ashley by her side, she took life-altering steps through the hospital halls and out the front door, her caregivers lining the way to cheer her on.
So what becomes of a Pit Bull tossed in a dumpster with no more thought than you would give when throwing away a bag of garbage? She becomes a princess, of course!
I asked Ashley when she realized Fern was a forever dog instead of a foster dog. “I knew the moment her eyes met mine from the bottom of that dumpster that this was my dog,” Ashley said with complete conviction. “I was ready to do whatever was needed to save her.”
Fern, still very weak and in need of specialized care including a regimented feeding plan, made the move to Ashley’s home and straight into the hearts of Ashley and her equally compassionate daughter, Presley. Integrating easily with Ashley’s other dogs, Fern was finally home.
The Fern I recently had the pleasure of meeting is a completely different dog from the one who nearly died from cruelty and extreme neglect last July. She is a sweet, robustly healthy dog with toned muscles and a sheen to her coat any hair stylist would envy. She has boundless energy for playing with her canine siblings. She has discovered a love for swimming. She eats the best food and sleeps cuddled closely to her favorite humans. And she wears a collar sporting a big pink bow instead of a crown.
Once cast aside like trash and left to perish, this beautiful girl is now a treasure to not only her family but to countless followers who supported her journey along the way. And though Fern has no idea of her celebrity status, she is an inspiration and a battle cry for compassion and justice — an accidental poster child for animal advocacy.
And the thing I love most about Fern? Those beautiful round, hopeful eyes. The eyes that spoke volumes when Fern could not. The eyes that refused to give up.
Sidebar
If you would like to see Fern’s progress, Visit the Oklahoma Alliance for Animals Facebook page to follow the “Friday with Fern” series. Fern still has a story to tell as she uses her celebrity status to help others.
