Rogue is a gorgeous, sweet, gentle white husky that should have never been sent to the Olympic Animal Sanctuary. He was sent there for supposedly killing a Shih Tzu but no one witnessed the attack. His owner was heartbroken when he was taken by Animal Control, which sent him to OAS in the summer of 2008.
Pati Winn, a former OAS volunteer whose documentation of the dogs’ treatment there was a major factor in shutting it down, had this to say about Rogue: “Rogue was always a quiet, gentle boy, who sought out attention whenever he could. We fed him in a crate, and he refused to go back in his kennel until we gave him lots of pets and attention.”
Soon after Guardians of Rescue took custody of the former OAS dogs in Arizona, Nikki Delp Boyd,who runs Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue in Virginia, took Rogue and 2 other OAS dogs, Hercules, and Pixie. She has had Rogue for almost a year (his anniversary is in 2 days).
I asked Nikki to tell me about her year with Rogue. Here’s what she wrote:
“Rogue came to me on Jan. 10, 2014. Robin Budin of Dogs Deserve Better is the one who told me about him. Taking him was the best decision of my life.
From the moment he got off the transport I knew he was special. I was bawling. Pat said, ‘let him come to you’ and he headed straight for me. Our bond has only strengthened since then. From talking to other people that rescued OAS dogs I knew they needed some time to adjust to their new surroundings, so I let Rogue stay at our hospital for a month to decompress.
He seemed ok but I could tell he had been thru hell. He was sorta depressed the first few days. We would go outside together and it was good to see him checking out the grass. He acted like it was the first time he’d ever seen it.
As days went on it seemed like he was getting more depressed because he had shown some signs of anxiety like pacing back and forth. I worked with a girl that did Reiki massage on all my rescues. After his first session she was bawling. I’ve seen her do lots of Reiki massages on my dogs but I had never seen her cry after a session.
She said Rogue ‘showed her stuff ,’ but she wouldn’t go into detail because she didn’t really want to talk about it. She did say ‘he didn’t know what he did wrong but promised to be a good boy’ and that he felt he was already in a mansion. His anxiety got much better after a few more sessions.
I wanted to bring him home from our hospital before a month passed but she told me he wasn’t ready. I ended up bringing him home on February 3.
Rogue seemed worried on the car ride and when we got to the house. I had him all set up with a huge wire crate with lots of blankets and toys. I didn’t want to put him in a travel crate because I was afraid it would bring back too many frightening memories for him and he would think that I took him back to that awful place (OAS).
At first he would only go out to use the bathroom, come back, and go straight to his crate. He wouldn’t him to eat much – only a nibble or 2. I was so scared that he didn’t like it here because me and my husband had already decided he belonged with us since he had been thru so much. I was afraid I was gonna have to find him a home without all the chaos of my dogs and the rescues.
After a few weeks he gradually started eating, not a lot but more than when he arrived here. He has made progress everyday and today he is a normal dog. He has started having breathing problems so we have him on bronchial dilators and joint supplements because he drags one of his legs a bit. But he has fit in with the pack now, and we would not give him up for anything.
I feel for his previous owner. She did love him and his case with animal control went on for about 8 months.
Rogue will be 14 in February and I thank God each day he is here.”
Thanks to Nikki and her husband for giving Rogue the home he has always deserved. It’s gratifying to know that he will be spending his last few years with people who love him so much.
Rogue prances in the snow at his new home, Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue in January 2014. His fur looks SO much better after he got a bath, brushing, and healthy food. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Rogue taking a well deserved nap in February 2014. And sleeping on a couch with a clean blanket for a pillow instead of nasty straw! Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Spending a spring day relaxing in the yard with a big smile last May. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Rogue on patrol in his big yard last April. He’s gained back some of his muscle mass. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Rogue was given the title of “Sanctuary Sweetie.” Can you tell how much he’s loved? Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
After about 6 years in the “Sanctuary,” Rogue gets to play with toys again. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
On patrol with a friend last summer. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
He has lots of yard to patrol now. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Nothing better than a car ride in July with your head out the window. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Rescue.
Rogue calls the meeting to order. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Irresistable. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Rogue’s Reiki massages helped him adapt to his new home. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
Rogue kicks up his heels as he realizes this is his new home. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue.
I knew from the minute I got Rogue out of his crate in Virginia, the way he approached Nikki… That their souls had met and she was his person! I love you Beautiful Boy, Love you too Nikki!
Another awesome update Robert!!
Thank you so much for sharing! I am Rogues first Human…I thought he had gone to a great sanctuary. ..The Cass County Animal Control wanted to put him down but he was such a good dog I didn’t think he deserved death…so I hired him a lawyer even though I really could not afford the fee.I spent hours and days searching to help save his life.I searched the Internet, talked to rescues, was referred to a lady in Kalamazoo, Mi. who advocated for our furry friends.I think she is the one that got the Kalamazoo Gazette involved.They wrote an awsome write up sharing Rogues story…which really made Cass County Animal control despise me…
But I knew Rogue was very timid and totally not agressive! It was the right thing to do, so I had to do it!
As a young pup a neighbor shot him with a pellet gun which required extensive surgery to remove the pellet that circled up and thru his intestine.After that he stayed close to us and when people approached he would lay on his back with his feet in the air…
I am saddened by the way his sanctuary turned out but so very greatful to all who were involved in saving the animals at OAS!! …everyone! My son does ask if the playmate Rogue had at OAS was also rescued?
Please correct any typos, ty
Thanks for all you did for Rogue. Which dog was Rogue’s playmate?
In the article you wrote you stated his playmate was Callie.
She did! Here’s a picture of her in Arizona. She was adopted several months ago and is living with a family in WA.
You can tell this dog is much happier in his new surroundings. What a difference in him after being in that terrible place. I only hope and pray that all of the other dogs were as lucky as him. Thank you.