By Pat Summers, Special to the Ledger
No one’s sure when Shelby arrived in Lawrence, but she was fortunate to be here when her luck ran out. One after another and sometimes in concert, township people have helped Shelby recover from an awful accident and prepare to move into a “loving, forever home.”
A shepherd mix estimated to be a year or so old, Shelby weighs around 60 pounds. She’s alert and friendly. She sits on command and gives a paw. She loves to run.
But, as of Aug. 1, Shelby has three legs.
Here’s her story. First sighted in early July, Shelby was an abandoned or lost young dog, and various people alerted Christine Buck, the township’s animal control officer, to her presence in the area. But Shelby couldn’t be caught as Lawrence resident Eileen Mannix and ACO Buck both found out.
One morning from her home near Darrah Lane and Princeton Pike, Ms. Mannix had seen Shelby run by. She pursued the dog in her van, to no avail. Shelby wouldn’t accept a ride. Nor could animal control tempt her.
Off and on from then, “Shelby sightings” were reported on Stonicker Drive, near Lawrenceville School, on Route 206 and W. Long Drive. Kindhearted people may have fed her and/or she ate garbage, theorizes Ms. Mannix, who saw her drinking water from puddles.
Shelby’s odyssey took a sad turn toward late July, when she was apparently hit by a car, causing severe damage to her right front leg. From then till July 30, ACO Buck got calls from people who saw the dog, limping, on W. Long Drive.
On Tuesday morning, July 31, Ms. Buck caught up with Shelby. She had found a resting place in an out-of-sight “cave” between a ground air conditioner and Mark Connelly’s home on W. Long Drive.
Managing to encircle Shelby’s neck using a five-foot long “noose pole” and helped by Mr. Connelly, Ms. Buck got the dog into her van. She drove directly to Lawrence Animal Hospital on Princeton Pike where Dr. Korin Mediate took over.
Judging by how the leg looked and smelled besides being seriously broken, with bone protruding, it was also “very infected” Dr. Mediate estimates Shelby had the break for at least a week. She was also tick infested, something more easily dealt with.
Meanwhile, ACO Buck had notified Eileen Mannix about Shelby, and Ms. Mannix in turn contacted Mark Phillips, executive director of EASEL animal rescue league. As an EASEL volunteer and adopter, she hoped the organization would pay for Shelby’s surgery amputation of her injured leg.
EASEL paid for the Aug. 1 surgery from its general fund and now hopes to raise money to cover the cost, about $1,200. Donations can be made at www.EaselNJ.org.
”Eileen has been with EASEL for years and is one of our more experienced dog handlers,” said Mr. Phillips. “She has fostered and trained dogs with issues and helped them get adopted. She’s the perfect person to help Shelby recover.”
On release from the hospital, Shelby went home with Ms. Mannix, where she was kept quiet, isolated from the three family dogs. Drainage tubes were removed two days later and the stitches followed on Aug. 15.
For that procedure, 17-year-old Gianna Mannix accompanied her mother and Shelby to the hospital, where the dog was plied with treats and seemed to love the hands-on attention while Dr. Mediate snipped away. She was discharged with no restrictions her vet believes “Shelby’s youth and gumption helped her through this.”
Once back at her foster home, Shelby could play with the other dogs.
”Now she’s eligible to be just a regular dog,” said Ms. Mannix.
Very much a puppy, she runs around the yard and goes in the water. As the youngest of the pack, she’s learning to wait her turn.
Within a week, Ms. Mannix reported, “Shelby’s healing nicely and her hair has started to grow back.”
They take walks and go on errands, allowing Ms. Mannix to note that “her balance is fine, her stamina is improving and she’ll gradually build up strength in her left leg.”
To help build her confidence, a behavior class might be next for Shelby, and after that, she’ll attend her first adoption event. If her spunk and spirit attract the loving family she’ll be ready for, that may be all it takes before she’s new-home bound.
It took a village, people in this town, to form an impromptu rescue group for Shelby, with each part of the helping team at the right place at the right time residents who looked out for her, including one who’s fostering her; an ACO who’s experienced and caring; a hospital where love and expertise were lavished on her; an organization that funded her surgery.
Freelancer Pat Summers also blogs at www.nj.com/pets.

