Attached is a great story about a shaggy dog that was saved by our community, taught how to trust people, and had 5 wonderful years with a loving family.  Shaggy recently died of cancer before he could have proper surgery.

Here is the full story and how i came to nearly hit him with my car.  https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/02/shaggy-the-newfoundland-dies-5-years-after-his-grand-rapids-capture-made-national-headlines.html

Shaggy the Newfoundland dies 5 years after his Grand Rapids capture made national headlines

My first encounter with Shaggy occurred when i was in a hurry for a meeting.  He came out of no where and stood in the middle of the street looking bewildered.  After slamming on the brakes we stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.  Shag twisted his head left then right then slowly walked off the road.  I looked around and noticed that he had created a major traffic jam. Everyone in their cars transfixed by what just happened.

My wife and I recently rescued Gunther, a miniature, long haired, dachshund that was roaming the streets of Fremont MI.  When we fist met him he had that same look in his eyes.  

 Gunther is left and Reggie on the right. Reggie will be 20 years old in August of 2020.

When i got to the meeting my attorney shared that I had met the elusive Shaggy Dog that had eluded capture and roamed the Cascade Mi area.  To this day that encounter with Shaggy still haunts me and reminds me how fleeting life is.

All of us at Dr Direct 4U salute the volunteers and the families that provided a much better life for him  This is a lesson of what love and patience can do to make life better

Posted Feb 29, 2020

In this March 2015 photo, Ava Borden feeds peanut butter to Shaggy at the Devoted Barn

By Tanda Gmiter | tgmiter@mlive.com

Fans of a big brown Newfoundland have watched over the years as he’s transformed from a hulking and fearful dog who lurked around the edges of a Grand Rapids suburb for months, to a happy and playful boy who lived with a rescue group before finally being ready for a foster home, then a forever home.

Shaggy fans are mourning his loss this weekend. Nearly 5 years after his Cascade Township rescue, Shaggy died this week after being diagnosed with cancer. He was about 6 years old.

Friday’s announcement by The Devoted Barn in Holly brought Shaggy’s supporters together online in their memories of the dog whose story of trust and rehabilitation impacted so many people.

Melissa Zudweg Borden, founder of The Devoted Barn, shared on Facebook a final tribute to the big lug she called her “Shag Man."

“Almost to the day 5 years ago I made you a promise, to keep you safe and to give you the perfect environment to become the dog I knew you could be. I only asked that you help me educate the world about dogs like you. To prove that you can become an amazing house dog if given the chance. To show the world that feral dogs deserve that chance at a life free of fear and on a couch.”

"And Shag, you held up your end. Over the past 5 years you took thousands of people on your journey. You let me know just like you did when you were on the run when it was time for the next step. And the step after that. "

“We all cheered you on from that first car ride home from Grand Rapids to the next when we took you to your first foster home and than when you took the car ride to your forever home. And today we cried when you took your last car ride.”

Melissa Borden, owner of The Devoted Barn in Newport, feeds peanut butter to Shaggy in this 2015 photo.

Borden and her team of staff and volunteers run the animal rescue facility, which also includes a “sanctuary” farm. They specialize in taking in animals from cruelty, neglect and hoarding cases, providing medical attention and rehabilitation. Their goal is to the help the animals heal in a safe place before they are transitioned into foster care or an adoptive home, depending on each animal’s circumstance. They also have a large feral dog program, which Shaggy was part of for a long time after his rescue in 2015.

Shaggy in 2015, when he would get very close to people and their homes, but not trust them enough to stay with them.

For more than six months before his 2015 capture, Shaggy had roamed neighborhoods around Cascade Township. He’d get near other dogs, even laying down in the snow and napping with them, but he’d never let residents there get a leash on him or take him inside.

He got tantalizingly close a few times, coming right up to people’s doors before darting away again. Residents were worried about how he’d survive. The Newfoundland’s hide-and-seek routine made national headlines.

Borden was tapped for her expertise. She helped capture Shaggy - named for his unkempt appearance - in a Cascade neighborhood in March 2015 after working with neighbors there for months, and Kent County Animal Control.

Shaggy bonded with Borden, her young daughter, barn staff and volunteers. For years they’ve been his cheerleaders and his biggest fans.

Shaggy’s first months at The Devoted Barn were spent learning the basics of trust with humans and other dogs. His cherry eye was surgically repaired. He was brushed out, bathed and groomed. He soon became an ambassador for the rescue group, showing how feral dogs can make big strides.

Don't forget to contribute your time and money to support no-kill animal shelters.