Starfish’s tale begins chillingly. This charming German Shepherd pup, merely ten weeks old, found herself abandoned in an old beer box on a Californian beach. Unable to stand and sprawled out like a pancake, nonetheless, her tiny tail wagged enthusiastically at every human interaction. Tragically, upon her arrival at a local animal shelter, euthanasia appeared to be the only available option. However, hope lighted upon the bleak situation like a sunbeam through storm clouds.
Let’s rewind to 2018 when Alaina Onesko, an Animal Control Officer with the Alameda Police Department, stumbled upon a Heineken box discarded on the shore of Crown Beach, San Francisco Bay area. “I saw a beer box on the ground with two little ears sticking out of it,” Onesko recalls.
Her disbelief at finding a “happy, bright-eyed German Shepherd puppy,” unable to walk but full of spirit, still sends shivers down her spine, “When I picked her up and put her against me is when I knew right away, something is different.”
Despite her physical affliction, the puppy’s tail remained in perpetual motion as Onesko rushed to the nearest animal shelter. Unfortunately, the outlook was bleak. The shelter staff suspected malformed organs behind her inability to stand, leaving euthanasia as an inevitable decision.
Then, the miracle we’ve alluded to occurred. As the room fell into a somber silence, with the euthanasia needle poised for action, John Lipp, CEO of the Friends of Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS), stormed in demanding a second opinion. He noticed an extraordinary spark in the flat, immobile dog and decided to give her a fighting chance.
Understanding Swimmer’s Syndrome
Further investigation revealed that this resilient pup, aptly named Starfish, suffered from Swimmer’s Syndrome. The condition, characterized by an inability to bear weight or walk due to insufficient tension in the pup’s tendons and muscles, had rendered her flat like a starfish. Malnutrition and bone malformation typically induce this curable syndrome. The FAAS, with unyielding determination, started Starfish on her road to recovery through surgeries and physical therapy.
The ‘Precious Thing’ touch
Enter Maggie Gray, a spirited 12-year-old with a considerable love for animals. As a foster parent for FAAS, Maggie fell irrevocably in love with Starfish, treating her with boundless affection regardless of her inability to walk. According to Maggie, Starfish was the most adorable thing in the world, “She looked like a little teddy bear, and she was just flat. It didn’t matter to me at all that she couldn’t walk, I loved her to bits.”
Maggie’s relentless spending time with Starfish eventually won over her parents, who had initially agreed to foster the dog just for a couple of days following her hip surgery. Reminiscing, Leigh Anne Gray (Maggie’s mother) laughs at the memory of her daughter leaving a distraught note at home, running off with Starfish, and returning an hour later. Not long after, the family resolved to permanently adopt the unforgettable pup.
Rose’s Uplifting New Chapter
With its homey feel and loving vibe, their household provided the ideal environment for Starfish, now renamed Rose, to flourish. The family patiently nurtured Rose, witnessing her learn to stand and gradually walk. While walks aren’t her favorite activity, she took a fancy to swimming, which her mother notes, “is such good exercise for her back end.”
Leigh Anne created a GoFundMe campaign to support FAAS and Rose’s surgeries, with the balance funds directed towards the Starfish Medical Fund aiding ill or injured homeless pets at the shelter. Leigh Anne eloquently sums up how Rose fits into their lives: “She is perfect for our family and is meant to inspire people with her unique story…the underdog in all of us needs a little boost and a lot of love.”
The FAAS, through their Facebook page, shared how Rose has blossomed over the years, “She’s doing great!” Rose has also bonded with a new sibling, Pearl the cat, another rescue pet from the shelter.
Her newfound agility is evident in her playful jump, run, and chase sessions after squirrels, all made possible by generous donations. Rose’s journey symbolizes triumph over adversity, reassurance of the second chance’s transformative power, and the undeniable joy of unconditional love.
