Not many dogs are featured in two books, but not many have Sadie's unbelievable story! (In eight weeks her newest book is in its third printing!) Her story describes her survival, rescue and life's work exposing bullies.
Years ago, right after she had given birth to puppies, hikers were shocked to find her dying on a Kentucky mountain trail with a bullet hole between her eyes and in her back. The kind rescuers took her to a vet clinic, then she was transported to a Wisconsin shelter.
"While donating blankets to an animal shelter I saw a sad-injured dog," began Joal. "I was told Sadie's heart-breaking tale and yet I saw her beauty. I had no intention of adopting her because I already had three at home, but I volunteered to take Sadie to a doctor and pay for her appointment."
X-rays confirmed the bullets and shrapnel, so the veterinarian said she should use a doggy wheel-chair cart. The second doctor told Joal that Sadie was urinary and fecally incontinent, that she couldn't walk, and suggested "doing the kind thing".
"I saw something in Sadie's shining eyes that told me differently," said Joal. "So I took her home and the next day we visited a holistic vet who said she should be given a chance."
The bullet was removed from the dog's head, but the bullet and shrapnel in her back were too deeply embedded for removal. She was in diapers for a long time, but with manual help and homeopathic remedies she can now do her daily business on her own. At first it was a roller coaster ride, but after every modality of therapy known to man, the feeling returned to her back legs! She is no longer fecally or urinary incontinent and they are working on strengthening her back legs to
support her.
Sadie doesn't walk like a normal dog so she and her children's book teach acceptance for people and animals with special needs.
When children see Sadie is a living breathing creature, it makes
them think twice about animal abuse. If their parents abuse animals, chances are they will too and then go on to abusing people. Sadie wants to prevent that from happening.
She and Joal travel to schools and libraries teaching others the important message of acceptance of people and animals with special needs where she happily paw-toe-graphs her second pup-ular book, "Sadie and the Superstars" (in English and Spanish). Its message is to think about what we CAN do and not what we CAN'T do, just like Sadie does! Check out her Faceboook page: Facebook/SavingSadie/
"Saving Sadie, How A Dog That No One Wanted Inspired the World" is Sadie's life story.
Nine year old Sadie is proof that we all have special abilities! She can do a high ten over her head with her front paws, is a great watch dog, loves flying on airplanes with her nose pressed against a window, and loves sledding and, of course, making snow angels.
From a dog tossed away like garbage, Sadie has risen to dreams even she could not have dreamt! Her accomplishments are that she's known in 44 countries and has had a presence at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. She has been on the cover of 12 major publications and was featured in Modern Dog,
Fetch and many other magazines and newspapers. She has appeared on many TV news shows including the Lifetime Network. She's also appeared in many U.S.A and Canadian calendars and she's the spokes dog for IPAW. Sadie is big in the anti-bullying movement. She has her logo on the back of a police car and her six minute movie is on:
www.savingsadiemovie.com
Always thinking of others, Sadie is a Salvation Army Christmas bell ringer. "She raised more money that I could on my own," laughed Joal.
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