Top 10 Happy Tails of 2022: Meet Daisy!
As 2022 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at all of the lives that we’ve saved thanks to your support. Today begins our Top 10 Happy Tails of 2022 — each story is remarkable in their own way and are examples of the heart of our Muddy Paws Pack community. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we’ve loved all of these special pups.
We’re kicking things off with our runaway bride - Daisy!
The community search party for Daisy gathered for updates and strategy to bring her home!
Upon arriving in New York City with her puppies in February, Daisy showed intense fear of the urban environment. Once she decompressed in a foster home outside the city, Daisy was adopted in March to a family in New Jersey - our perfect scenario. However, the day she went home, Daisy jumped the five foot fence in her yard and escaped!
For four days - our Muddy Paws Pack came together for what may have been our biggest search effort to date. Staff, long-time volunteers, and neighbors who had no idea who we (or Daisy) were gave everything they had to bring Daisy home.
The moment Daisy was saved!
We were so touched by how the neighborhood cared - people drove with flashes on to slow down traffic and keep an eye out for her, folks sat in specific locations for hours in the cold, others lent out towels, crates, cameras, or bought supplies like food, hand warmers and coffees for us. First responders and schools were on the case and several of them called in sightings. Neighbors let us access their yards - it was an incredible effort.
On that last day, Daisy was spotted deep in the woods by MPR Founding Executive Director Rachael and dedicated neighbor Paul. They stood a distance away, silently, and over the course of several hours, slowly approached Daisy from opposite sides. The moment finally came where Rachael was able to get hold of Daisy’s collar, pick her up and carry her to safety - bringing a very dramatic four days to a close. Daisy will certainly be a town, and Muddy Paws, celebrity!
Daisy’s story is best told from the perspective of her incredible adopter Jamie, who never gave up hope on a dog she had spent less than 12 hours with before she got lost.
Jamie’s Story
Growing up we always had dogs in our home- they’re our family. We came across Muddy Paws Rescue while on a trip to NYC. The timing seemed entirely perfect and everyone at the adoption event was so helpful. I quickly applied to adopt and fell in love with the scruffiest sweet face online: our Daisy.
I admit that I refreshed the “available for adoption” page on the Muddy Paws site obsessively, even emailing to see if she had any other interested families. I couldn't tell you why. She just seemed like the right fit for us, but I’m grateful now for that intuition. When we met her I loved her even more–she was nervous, but you could feel the sweetness seeping out of her! She had so much love to give and we wanted to give her the same back.
With my family, and the help from her amazing foster Stephanie, we brought Daisy home. She was pretty nervous though–Daisy bolted from our yard with us all there helping her to get acclimated. Day one and we were heartbroken! Our neighborhood, Muddy Paws’ Founding Executive Director Rachael and the Muddy Paws staff came together to work a miracle. After almost four days of methodically tracking her down, watching, and lots of hoping, Daisy was back home.
The morning after Daisy’s return, you honestly would have never known this girl was a street dog! She was on our couch, gladly following me to get ready in the morning, enjoying rubs and more. That’s where she has been ever since–our scruffy white speckled couch potato!
Daisy means the world to me and especially her girl, Reagan. Their love for each other makes me melt, and I love that my kids now get to know the joys of having a dog in the home. Daisy brings me peace, laughter with her goofy playing, so many kisses, and nudges for more pets.
We have made forever friends in the Muddy Paws online community, including Daisy's puppies families – the “Office Litter” pups! Getting to see their updates, how much one of her puppies Penny looks like her mama, and planning a puppy party reunion brings a crazy amount of unexpected joy to my life. Overall, it has been the most rewarding to see Daisy open up and be happy in our home. She is so deserving of all the love and then some!
