There has to be some consistency,
some balance for dogs to feel safe and secure. As for those of us living with dogs, are we providing that? It’s a tough question to answer, especially if the answer is not what we want to hear. John also stressed the importance
of those expectations of our dogs as they play out in public. “Dog owners should feel comfortable saying, ‘no, you cannot pet my dog.’ Or telling another dog owner, ‘no, it’s not okay to put your dog’s face in my face or in my dog’s face.’ But we’re too afraid of offending each other. Thus in not abiding by these rules, we’re setting the dogs and their humans up to fail,” said John. The would-be trainers at On the
don’t want people to feel sorry for these dogs.” Casie Hatfield, a full time intern
from Penn State, added, “Emotionally, dogs heal miraculously and seem to be able to forget the past. Humans, on the other hand, can’t seem to get over the past and move on.” Nothing could have substantiated
Wings of Angels Rescue are put through a rigorous program themselves before handling the dogs. Everyone shares in the upkeep of the grounds and the dogs, no matter their seniority level. They come from all walks of life, and share one common element — a love for dogs, and the desire to make a difference. “We don’t dwell on a dog’s past,” said Katie White who has been with On the Wings of Angels for almost three years. “We
I have always wanted to work with animals – Deborah Finnegan has been with the sanctuary for a little more than a year. She does much of the social
media work, videography and photography. She is shown here with Thor, an American Staffordshire Terrier.
that fact more than Sundae, rescued from her abuser who was kicking her while holding a gun to her head. Named because she looks like a choco- late sundae, she is now a well-adjusted, happy dog who loves being scratched and laying out in the sun. While some of the dogs will never
leave On the Wings of Angels Rescue, many more are available for adoption. In addition to filling out the applica- tion, and the meet and greets, a class on how to take the new dog home is
required, as is the training course. “We don’t give prospective adopters 1001 examples of what
not to do. We only tell them what to do to be successful. It’s pretty simple, really,” said John. All told, it’s a four-week process.
50 THE NEW BARKER
www.TheNewBarker.com
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