A couple hundred dollars’ worth of medical attention and a couple of weeks of foster care resulted in just such an outcome for Stitch — an abandoned dachshund found attacked and badly injured on Forest Service land, says Macuk.

The 2-year-old, non-neutered dog was suffering from severe bite wounds to the face, neck and shoulder area, she says.

"Some animal had really ripped him open," says Macuk, displaying a picture of the little dog’s bloody injuries.

Forestry workers saw a wounded animal running around in the bushes, says Macuk. Upon realizing it was a dog, they decided to attempt a rescue, she says.

"Once they made contact with him, he jumped in their truck," she says. "It was like he was saying, ‘Help me! Help me!’"

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The forestry workers brought the dog to the shelter and he was immediately taken to Best Friends Animal Hospital. There he received antibiotics, 66 stitches and his new name.

After being neutered, Stitch spent a couple of weeks resting and recuperating at Macuk’s daughter’s home.

"We felt he was too traumatized to stay here in the kennel," says Macuk. "We have a lot of animals who desperately need a little time in a foster situation so they can recover from some sort of trauma."

After his short recuperation, Stitch was ready to graduate from foster care, back to the center and into a permanent adoption, Macuk says.

Stitch came into the center abandoned and injured on May 3, and he went out to his new home on May 25, says Macuk.

"A very happy ending," says Macuk. "And we like that."

To find out more information about fostering pets for the Jackson County Animal Shelter, call 292-9649.