Names: Max (10 y/o) & Macy (2 y/o)
Family Members: Carolyn, Crook & Pearl (Sugar Gliders)
Profession: Nurse
Location: Ashburn, VA
Nicknames:
Max: Maxy, Maxy Boy, Maxy Pooh, Boo Boo, Boo Bear
Macy: Maniac Macy Monster, Mace, Macy Girl, Boo Boo, Baby Boo
5 of the best words that describe Max & Macy?
Max:
- independent
- tolerant
- side-kick
- people-pleaser
- best smile ever
Macy:
- affectionate
- agile
- clever
- maniac
- sweet
What makes Max & Macy unique? Max is a very good big brother to his adopted sister Macy. While Macy is completely and totally random. I never know what's running through that crazy brain of hers. I look at her quite often and think to myself, what in the world is she doing? She is very entertaining!
Rescue Stories: Max came from a very loving home. He lived with a family that loved him very much. I was in that home a lot, but didn't really bond closely with him. I wasn't what you would call a "dog person". He seemed big to me, and I was a little reserved around him. I didn't really want to pet him and I didn't know what to do with him or how to act around him. I didn't know for sure what kind of a dog he was when I met him, but later found out he was a pit bull. It was the first one I had ever seen with natural ears and tail! I had only ever seen pit bulls on TV and pictured them as looking tough. Max does not look tough! I had heard stories about pits, and knew there were some people close to me that did not speak highly of them, but I didn't have any personal experience with them. The owner of the property they were renting at the time knew that Max was a pit bull but chose to not enforce the breed restrictions that were in place. Then one day a neighbor complained and the owner could no longer ignore the rules. The family was given a time frame of when Max the pit bull, which was a restricted breed, had to be removed from the property. My friend tried to find him a new home, but was unable. He was going to surrender Max to the shelter. This dog was his best friend and the only constant in his life. I will never, ever forget the look on his face when time ran out and he was going to bring Max to the shelter. I told him Max could stay with me, but only until he could find a new place to live that didn't have breed restrictions. At the time, I did not want a dog in my house. I had just bought my first home, and I was a germaphobe. The thought of a dog bringing bacteria into my home was a lot to deal with. I was still at a point where I basically had to wash my hands every time I pet him, plus I didn't know what to do with a dog. That look in my friend's eyes didn't give me any other choice. So I offered to keep Max at my home....and that was about 8 years ago! I wouldn't change it for the world. Max was officially re-homed. I am so fortunate that his original family is still so much a part of his life. My friend is able to see him all the time and still helps to take care of him. But Max is certainly my baby!
Macy's story starts with me walking to my friends house very late one night along a usually busy street. My friend walked right past Macy in the dark, but something caught my eye. I thought it was a baby deer, as there are many of them in this area. I saw an animal curled up in a little ball, nearly underneath a truck on the side of the road. I walked up slowly and found that the little ball was a dog. I didn't want to approach her to quickly so I bent down to take a look. She could barely lift her head up and seemed to be in pretty bad shape. To this day I have NO IDEA why I had a zip-lock bag of peanut butter cereal in my pocket, but I did. I tossed a few pieces in her direction until I could lure her towards me. She was very calm and did not appear to pose a threat so I got close to her then. Meanwhile my friend got Max and brought him down. He investigated and seemed to approve of the next step of bringing the dog inside to check her out. I wrapped her up in my sweatshirt and walked home with her in my arms. She was far too weak to stand, much less walk. I knew pretty much right away she was going to need to go to the ER. In the middle of the night, I went on my way to the ER by myself. I didn't know what I was going to do with her, I didn't have a plan. I just didn't want her to die and I certainly didn't know enough about dogs to know how close that time was for her. The vet couldn't tell me what would happen with her if she was ok and they wouldn't treat her if somebody didn't make payment. I had wanted to get another dog for a long time, but I was never in the position to do so. I especially wasn't at this time. I had quit my job earlier in the year for ethical reasons and had spent most of my summer in the hospital, part of that time on life support. When I found Macy, I was still recovering and had not started working again so I had no income. I was in a worse position then ever to take in another dog. I signed the papers anyway and became her Mom. It was a $700 visit, which was just the beginning, but she was healthy enough to come home with me that morning.
She had a horrific case of demodex mange, secondary skin infections, abrasions, needed a few staples and although her stool was negative, she looked like she had a wormy belly. Her skin was just hanging off her because she was so underweight. She smelled horrible! Her mange was overwhelming and stunk up the whole house. I was still recovering and had not moved back home yet, so thankfully my dear friend helped me and kept her with him for awhile. I'm still jealous of the time they got to spend together in the beginning. Macy required months and months of treatments and medications, but she is perfectly healthy now with a beautiful coat of fur.
When Max came to live with Carolyn!
Sweet Macy....what a difference!
What is your favorite pastime as a family? We love to play with bubbles. Max goes nuts over them. It is the one time he really lets loose, enjoys himself and acts crazy. He is usually quiet, calm and regal, but with bubbles he is hilarious.
Macy loves to be chased by other dogs and wrestle. She instigates these activities with her big pit bull brother and they make me laugh hysterically.
What is life like since you rescued Max & Macy? Initially it was kind of hard, because I didn't necessarily want a dog. I then met an amazing woman. She is a "dog person". I thought she was crazy. I didn't understand the way she felt about dogs. I had the mentality that "it's just a dog". She started me on the path to learn about why they are not "just dogs". Then one evening I was walking Max and he was brutally attacked by another dog. Max was on a leash and looking in the other direction when another dog charged him and mauled him, nearly to death. That incident changed our lives. He had to be taken to the ER. When they brought me back to see him he was in a crate. I had never seen him in a crate before. They opened it for me to spend a few minutes with him before I left him in their care. He was being so good and the staff commented on how good he was, especially being in such bad condition, but the look on his face pierced my soul. When it was time to go, as I was walking away I started to cry. It was the look on his face. I knew then how much I really loved this guy. Shortly after he was able to return home he received the biggest package I've ever seen. It was from that amazing woman I mentioned earlier. Max got the surprise of a lifetime with all the treats and toys a dog could imagine. I couldn't believe someone would do something so nice for a dog, especially one that isn't their own. After all of this is when I started getting involved in advocating for this breed; pit bulls and pit bull type dogs. What an amazing, loyal, resilient, forgiving, kind, loving, goofy breed of dogs they are. I love my pit bull!
With Macy, it hasn't always been easy. I can say that so many good things came from finding this mutt I love. She was given me the opportunity to talk to so many people about rescuing and adopting. She has helped me to become more social because I want to take her out and do special things with her. Mostly I am thankful because she taught Max how to be a dog. She even taught him to bark! I can't say I'm a huge fan of that one, but it's been fun to watch that old timer learn how to do dog stuff. I also love watching the two of them together. I love that they lick each other's ears. I love that they share treats and snuggle. I imagine she's okay with her new life with me. I think it's definitely an upgrade from her old life. I sometimes wonder what exactly happened to her, but I know it's only important what's going to happen with us. It's time we plan some new adventures!
Photographers Note: My first email exchange with Carolyn was related to whether I felt she qualified for the project, because Max was a friends dog and she didn't adopt him from a rescue or a shelter. My response was absolutely!! She prevented yet another pit bull being sent to a shelter, that is a definitely a rescue in my book!
Carolyn very sweetly agreed to meet me at the Capitol building for her photo shoot. I had really wanted to be able to return to the West Lawn where it all started for me and this project. I soon found out that Carolyn was also there during the Million Pibble March, so it seemed like it was meant to be! I can tell you on a Friday evening just after work on a beautiful fall day, the Capitol is a busy place but her pups did great with all the distractions. Unfortunately, I was not aware there was some work being down on the grounds so they had the whole lawn roped off, so the photo above was as close as we could get. I will take it!
Having read Carolyn's story where she wasn't a dog person and didn't understand these people who gave gifts to other people's dogs. I would have never known, she adores her pups, I mean Macy wears pearls for gosh sakes! She also made homemade all natural treats for me to take to my dogs, two dogs she has never met! Carolyn, it's a official...you are now THE BEST "dog person"!