By Gregory E. Zschomler
For The Daily World
Things haven’t always been potentially bright for Sunshine, a once abused dog with a sunny disposition. Adopted as a pup four years ago by Alice and Andy Fenske, life has been a challenge for her, but things are beginning to look lighter for this dog with a warm heart and wet nose.
Sunshine’s story of hope begins when she was taken in by the Fenske’s Gentle Paws Hospice and Sanctuary of Hoquiam, after Alice found a message on an animal rescue site about a dog who’d been grossly maimed in “an act of mutilation.” Half of Sunshine’s hind legs had been brutally hacked away.
“She’s so sweet-natured,” said Alice, “you’d just absolutely fall in love with her.” But Sunshine, like all the dogs the Fenskes take in at their eight-acre facility, is a special needs animal that most people — or rescue agencies for that matter — can’t handle. “Other rescue agencies, they do good work,” said Andy, “but they don’t know what to do with special needs animals. We get the dogs, that (even) the fosters can’t deal with. …”
Sunshine, according to the Fenskes, is a “charismatic” and determined mixed Husky/Malawi with one blue and one brown eye who likes to greet visitors. You might call her the face, or poster child, of Gentle Paws. “She is the whole heart and soul of our sanctuary out there,” said Alice.
The canine manages to get around, but with her disability, Sunshine has trouble running with the big dogs. “She just gets tired,’ said Alice. “She sits by the door and whines because she can’t go for a walk in the woods (with Andy and the other dogs).” Her partial hind legs, which have no feet, can’t take the wear and tear. The Fenskes have tried footie-boots, and an Eddie’s Chair — a wheel chair of sorts for the hindquarters of quadrupeds — but neither has worked for the independently determined dog.
“She doesn’t want to be seen as handicapped,” chuckled Alice. She and her husband Andy understand; both have suffered brain injuries and deal with PTSD, something they say some animals also face. Their hearts go out to Sunshine and the other senior and special dogs they care for and so, the Fenskes are trying to raise funds to fit Sunshine with prosthetic legs through the experts at Animal Orthocare (www.animalorthocare.com).
But Sunshine’s story has a circle of light to it. The compassion the Fenskes have for their animals, they also feel for the mentally challenged and homeless of the Twin Harbors. Naturally, their interests crossed paths with others like Bob Nelson, Wil Russoul and Nikki Cross who are also activists for the marginalized.
When they all began talking, one thing led to another and they combined their passions and talents to come to Sunshine’s aid through a special fundraising event. As it came together Cross, a homeless advocate who is herself homeless, approached The Daily World for advertising with the last $10 she had. She’d met Sunshine through Russoul, who knew the Fenskes, and her heart broke. She was moved to do something the ad department directed her to the newsroom.
Russoul and Stone Soup volunteer musicians will perform two benefit concerts from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Dec 3 and 10, at Hometown Feed, 213 W. Market St. in Aberdeen. Russoul’s band Otta Monty will open on Dec. 3 and will be followed by Kristi Daniels and Brook Heikkila offering Christmas carols at 1:30. Singer-songwriter Terry Lee from Porter will perform at 2 p.m. followed by Chris Thomas at 3:30 p.m.
On Dec. 10, Wil Russoul will open as a solo act followed by Kristi Daniels singing carols. Lisa Ramsauer will perform at 2:30 p.m. followed by Elaina Cross with Christopher Mack at 4 p.m. Wednesdays Child (aka Nikki Cross) will make a guest appearance and sing Silent Night both Saturdays.
And why music? Because, says Alice, “I love music and I think it heals so many things.” According to her even, “the dogs just love it.”
Santa Claus, played by Bob Nelson of Westside Technologies — a sponsor of the benefit event(s), will appear both Saturdays to pose for pictures with pets. The music and photographs are offered for a “whatever you can give donation” to Sunshine’s foot fund — even if it’s nothing.
“If Sunshine gets the money for her legs, that’s awesome,” said Alice with a ray of hope, “but also if people [like the homeless] who don’t have a lot of money can get a picture of their pets, well, that’s what Christmas and our sanctuary are all about.”
About $2,500 is needed for the prosthetics, but only $500 has been raised. If you can’t make it to one of the events you may give through www.gofundme.com/sunshine-getting-her-feet (where you can watch a video about Sunshine).
“We don’t quit,” said Andy, and neither does Sunshine; she just keeps shining.
Sunshine is carried through the yard by owner Alice Fenske. Fenske’s Fenske’s Gentle Paws Hospice and Sanctuary of Hoquiam has been taking care of the dog who’d been grossly maimed in “an act of mutilation.” Half of Sunshine’s hind legs had been brutally hacked away. (Photo by Tyson Rowley)
Sunshine is carried through the yard by owner Alice Fenske. Fenske’s Fenske’s Gentle Paws Hospice and Sanctuary of Hoquiam has been taking care of the dog who’d been grossly maimed in “an act of mutilation.” Half of Sunshine’s hind legs had been brutally hacked away. (Photo by Tyson Rowley)
Sunshine is carried through the yard by owner Alice Fenske. Fenske’s Fenske’s Gentle Paws Hospice and Sanctuary of Hoquiam has been taking care of the dog who’d been grossly maimed in “an act of mutilation.” Half of Sunshine’s hind legs had been brutally hacked away. (Photo by Tyson Rowley)
