Arya's Happy Tail ♥ Death Was Denied
 

It was two years ago in June 2006 when Arya was brought into the pound. She had been neglected by her owner and was lacking basic grooming and medical attention. The picture on the left is Arya's intake picture at the Stark County Pound. As you can see from the picture, Arya was completely terrified of her surroundings. Her eyes seem to tell the story of a dog that was emotionally and physically lost and was anticipating her own demise.
 
Poor Arya, not only was she terrified, but she was also very ill. It wasn't long after she arrived at the pound that Arya developed bloody diarrhea, which almost certainly would have doomed her to death. It used to be the pound's policy to euthanize any dog who had or developed bloody diarrhea. The reason for the policy was because bloody diarrhea is one of the symptoms of a deadly virus known as parvo. Parvo is extremely contagious to other dogs and if allowed to develop within a dog pound, it will sweep through the building like the plague.
 
When volunteer Margie Serri met the terrified and sick dog, she knew that she had to help the shaking girl with the frighten eyes to have a chance for a good life. Margie knew that bloody diarrhea was a symptom of parvo, but she was also aware that worms could cause the problem.
 
Margie talked to the Warden about the situation and it was decided that Arya would be put into isolation and she would receive treatment to rid her body of worms. It wasn't long before Arya was cured and she began to rediscover what it felt like to be healthy.
 
When Arya had fully recovered, Margie took her home and fostered the playful and intelligent dog for the next six weeks until she was able to find Arya the loving home that she had always deserved. Finally, Arya found her forever home when she was adopted by a woman and her six-year old daughter.
 
The picture on the right is Arya today. Her intelligent eyes tell the story of a soul that was given the gifts of life and love when death was denied.