Help injured sheltie get back home

Letter from Connie Herrmann of Dallastown, PA:

On Dec. 11, 2007, My husband took myself and our two children to the York SPCA animal shelter to check about adopting a dog. While there, we saw this little Sheltie puppy, 2 or 3 months old, who had been rescued from being left on the streets. We all fell in love with her, and we decided to adopt her. We named her "Shelby." She became part of the family immediately; she was such a joy, we were blessed to have found her. We have a 6-foot privacy fence up around our yard, and Shelby loved to run and play!

On Saturday, March 29,2008, Shelby was in the yard. A wind gust came along and jarred open the gate. I was unaware of this, and Shelby went out the gate, and wandered around to the front of our garage, which put her near the street.

Two witnesses said they saw Shelby in front of the garage at the end of our property line. They said Shelby was NOT out in the street. They said a young male in a later model, tan/cream color and black Ford Bronco, deliberately swerved over the road after Shelby, purposely striking her and running her over, Then sped up even faster to get away. The witnesses did not get a license plate number.

We rushed Shelby to the animal emergency clinic in York. Once there, they refused to treat her unless we paid $600 upfront. We didn't have any money.

We are a one-income family, my husband has been partially unemployed since November, as is normal for the winter months, and we had already exhausted all our savings account funds to get through this winter. I offered them my last $25 I had to my name as a deposit, and was begging them to let me make payments. They had me fill out forms to apply for a Credit Care card, and a lady took Shelby to the back. She then took the forms and said we were denied for the Credit Care card. So they took us back to sit in a room and wait for the doctor.

Later, the doctor came in and told us that, since we did not have the $600 to pay upfront, she could not treat or examine Shelby, and she would not allow us to leave with her, either, for that would be inhumane and cruel to the animal. We had to either sign to put her to sleep or sign her over to the clinic, who would send her back to the York SPCA.

We all were very upset and emotional and crying, and the kids were yelling, and I was getting even more upset that we still had no help for Shelby, nor did we know the extent of her injuries. I frantically called my sister for help, who called the clinic with her credit card information, lending me the $600 so Shelby could be treated.

A long while later, the doctor returned to the room with some x-rays. She said Shelby had fractures on her left hip, and fractured bones above both knees on both back legs. All of which needed to be taken care of by a specialist, to have surgery done and pins placed in the fractures.

She now was telling us we had to pay, upfront, $5,000 dollars right away, right NOW, or sign Shelby over to them. We were so upset and in distress and in shock that all this was even happening! My son went storming outside and I had gone out with him. After I went outside, the doctor threatened my husband, that if he did not make a decision right now, she was going to call the authorities. Only out of sheer desperation and nowhere to turn for help, my husband had signed Shelby over to the clinic.

After sitting up all night crying, I managed to pull myself together enough that next morning to make a call to the animal emergency clinic. I wanted to know how Shelby was, and if they found someone to do the surgery. They said they turned her over to the York SPCA; they could give no further information. The SPCA is closed Sunday and Monday, so I was unable to speak to anyone there. We felt like someone had just ripped our hearts out and was stomping all over them.

I just could not believe this was happening! I made many phone calls on Monday to find out what I needed to do to get our Shelby back. I called local veterinarians for advice, all the way up to the Pennsylvania state dog law enforcement officer.

Basically, nothing could be done to the guy that ran over Shelby because we had no license plate number. I spoke with the York SPCA humane officer about the situation, and she went to the director to have her contact me about Shelby.

Director of the York SPCA Melissa Smith said because of the general situation they would allow us to have Shelby back. But we had to reimburse the shelter for the cost of Shelby's surgery and any follow-up doctor visits, as well as any shelter room-and-board costs. All of which sounds very fair to me. So, once again, Shelby was being saved by the SPCA.

However, they do not allow payments plans. They also had no financial help available for us. I even offered volunteer time to pay off the bill, but that was not allowed.

I wanted to do fundraisers, but I was informed I could not have the money donated to the SPCA like I was trying to do -- that, to be legal, the money needed to come to me first, to then give it to the SPCA to pay the bill for Shelby's surgery.

This all got confusing and complicated, but I understood. I then wrote my story and began sending it out to everyone I know, and even people I don't know. I even sent to Congressmen asking for help to get Shelby back.

I've been applying for part-time jobs to help get money together to pay for Shelby's surgery, with no luck. I created a donation website, www.lovingshelby.com, but I am afraid I am running out of time. Now, I am left begging for donations.

Melissa was able to have Shelby's surgery done on April 1, and she informed me Shelby did well through the surgery and left the hospital in Lititz on Friday, April 4. She is now staying in an SPCA volunteer foster home, receiving therapy. I was informed that while Shelby's in foster care, we would not be charged for room and board.

I speak to Melissa Smith on the phone almost everyday to get updates on Shelby's progress. She says Shelby will be returning to the specialist for a follow up visit in approximately 3 weeks and Shelby will be placed back up for adoption, unless we come up with $3,000.00 first in full to reimburse the shelter for her surgery.

We love our little Shelby more than anything, and we want her back no matter what. I just can't believe that there is this maniac person out there, with no conscience about what he did to Shelby and to us. She was so innocent, and does not deserve to be taken away from us like this. This is just all so WRONG.

I ASK OF YOU TO PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US GET OUR SHELBY BACK! I pray out there someplace, somewhere, there is someone who can help us!

-- Connie Herrmann & Family