From Cinderella to Aisling

Cinderella won the lottery today and she didn't even know she was playing. That's what rescue is about; we rig the game in favor of the dog, trying to make sure that every dog is a winner.

Cinderella was a beautiful girl in distress. She was badly neglected, she was severely emaciated, her eyes needed treatment that they never received, and she was in danger of being bred to produce more genetically impaired dogs to be sold for profit. That was Cinderella, but today she became Aisling (ash-ling), an Irish name from the Gaelic word "aislinge", a genre of Irish poetry from the late 17th century that has often been personified in Ireland as a beautiful woman in peril. If you look at the first picture we all saw of Cinderella in the news reports following the seizure of 32 Great Danes, the name just fits like a glove.

I took Cinderella to the airport in Charlottesville this morning, but Aisling emerged from the chartered flight in Minnesota this afternoon. She may have been transported by plane, but she was transformed by the love and care of many people, beginning with law enforcement and Animal Control officers who took her in, aided by shelter workers, volunteers, donors, rescue groups, and their fosters, and ultimately by the woman who adopted her and took her home.

This Cinderella story was magical but it was no fairy tale, this is real life.

Cinderella became the poster child for the 32 Danes seized
from owner/breeder in August thanks to this picture of her.

After being freed by the court from her prior owners, this is
what Cinderella became when she left here today. 

To feel safe in the hands of another is something we all yearn for and can relate to, but it is particularly important for a special needs dog.