Shirley Zindler is a seasoned animal control officer for Sonoma County Animal Services in California, and author of the book Secret Life of Dog Catchers, which chronicles her experiences in pet rescue while helping to raise funds for animals in need.
In 2015, Shirley discovered a pregnant chihuahua in the most unlikely of places.
After hearing strange noises and spotting a dog inside an oak tree, a concerned resident called Animal Services. Shirley responded to the call, but saw no sign of a chihuahua.
After more investigating, Shirley laid flat on her stomach and positioned her flashlight to shine deep inside the hollow trunk of the tree.
That's when she saw "a pair of terrified eyes staring back."
Though this pregnant pup's story begins as a heartbreaking one, you'll want to keep reading to see how much her life has changed…
In 2015, Shirley Zindler's department at Sonoma County Animal Services received a call from a concerned neighbor in a rural area of California.
The caller said she heard noises coming from inside a large oak tree and that a small dog was living inside.
The tree is located in an area Shirley describes as a "common dumping ground" for unwanted pets.
When Shirley arrived at the scene, she shined her flashlight into the hollow hole of the tree.
There, she found a skinny and semi-feral chihuahua living inside the trunk.
The dog, a chihuahua, was absolutely terrified and refused to budge.
With coyotes and other predators looming nearby, Shirley knew the dog needed to be pulled out of that tree as quickly as possible.
She could tell the pup had never been handled by humans before.
Finally, Shirley was able to reach her hand through the hole with a treat. The dog was so famished that she gobbled it up.
After several hours of hard work, two patient animal control officers and two neighbors to pulled her to safety.
The dog was skin and bones — but her belly was rounded because she was pregnant.
She had been living inside the tree for at least a whole week.
An officer gave her a fitting name: "Boo," after the character Boo Radley from To Kill A Mockingbird.
In the classic novel, Boo leaves gifts for children in the knothole of a tree.
Boo, who was less than one-year-old, was transferred back to Shirley's shelter for a nice warm bath.
After Boo was fed, the rescuers realized just how timid and hesitant she acted around people.
"She thinks the world's out to get her," Shirley told The Huffington Post.
Boo soon gave birth, but sadly, none of her puppies survived.
Shirley continued caring for Boo, bringing her to work to help her get accustomed to people.
It was a very slow process, and Boo was highly reluctant to be held and handled.
Boo felt comforted by her leash, and she insisted on dragging it around at all times.
Boo also developed social skills by spending time with other rescues.
"There's nothing like a happy, confident dog to help a fearful dog come out of their shell," Shirley said.
Shirley absolutely loved Boo, but with four dogs of her own, she knew Boo needed one-on-one attention.
Shirley was flooded with hopeful applicants who wanted to provide Boo with a loving home.
She took extra precaution to choose just the right family. Boo needed a patient home, willing to give her the time she needed to fully trust again.
…And that's exactly what she got.
Boo found her forever home on May 23, 2015, with a family who lives just a few miles away from Shirley.
It didn't take long for Boo to open up. She and her mom are inseparable!
Boo may have been a tough case, but she was completely worth it.
To buy a copy of Shirley Zindler’s book The Secret Life of Dog Catchers and help support animal causes, click here.
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