Second Chance: Who Rescued Who?

19 Oct Second Chance: Who Rescued Who?

Eric O’Grey’s life had hit rock bottom. His weight had ballooned to 320 pounds and he was spending more than $1,000 a month on medications for high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Candy could rescue you like Peety rescued Eric.

In 2010, a physician told him to buy a funeral plot, because he would need one in five years. He was age 51.

Eric decided to visit a nutritionist. She told him to go adopt a shelter dog.

Eric followed the nutritionist’s advice and told the shelter: “I want an obese middle-aged dog, like me.”

That’s how he met Peety.

That is how Eric’s life changed forever.

Beginning with half-hour walks with Peety, over the course of a year, Eric and Peety began a running regiment. Eric lost 140 pounds; Peety lost 25. Eric got off the meds. The dog helped keep him from backsliding into his old, unhealthy ways.

“He looked at me like I was the best person on the planet, and I wanted to become the person he thought I was.” 

Eric is now a healthy and transformed man who enjoys running marathons.

The story is told in an emotionally uplifting and inspirational short film featured in the Bow Wow Film Festival, which successfully hit Telluride, Ridgway, and Montrose on its national tour. The film about Eric and Peety represents the Second Chance Humane Society’s mission to promote the human-animal bond.

If you missed the film festival, you can catch “Mutual Rescue: Eric and Peety” here.

At the end of the film, Eric leaves us with the compelling truth of his whole story: “Who rescued who?”

I hope you will watch the You Tube…while keeping in mind that I am ready for my chance to change a human’s life too.

As a two-year-old Heeler/Terrier mix with a huge heart and optimistic outlook, I will do just that.

My name is Candy. I arrived at Second Chance with my litter of four, which I raised with total devotion. I have seen them all off to loving homes and feel it is my turn now. I get along great with other dogs, adore a good belly rub, and planting kisses on unexpected chins. A home and family of my own is all that is missing in my life. Please me be your Peety…

More of a cat person? Well cats can be “Peetys” also.

Calypso

My friend Calypso is a beautiful four-year-old female with a striking tortoiseshell coat. She arrived at Second Chance along with her four feline friends whose owner had recently passed away. Calypso knows what good family life was about and having lost that is just as hard as never having it (like me), so she is feeling a bit lost without a person to call her own…

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Well, pet heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue. Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles at least one, generally two of the many animals now living at the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving permanent homes. The column is sponsored by Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer, partnering with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal.

Ted Hoff &  Magnificent Mae

By the by, there is no better place to park your pup or get your pup (or adult dog) trained than Cottonwood whenever you head out of town (for locals) or are heading to town and staying somewhere that does not allow pets. Consider joining Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. (Details on Ted’s website.)

Dr. Michelle and Wallowby