The raindrops on your picture are the tears I shed for you.
Years ago, we formed the Neapolitan Mastiff Rescue Service
and during that time we received many calls and did many rescues and placements.
One such call about a neo in need was from Canada. A couple had rescued an
abused neapolitan in lieu of money owed them. The only problem was they could
not afford to feed her---they had their own slew of Akitas. Arrangements were
made and we drove to a rest area west of Kingston, ON. There in the backseat of
the car was a blue female approximately 3 years old. Her name was Amina....
She had been imported from Italy to a shar-pei breeder. Here she was to be
breeding stock for their new enterprise. This huge boned, typy female was not
an easy breeder and proved too difficult for them so off she went to another
home.
In this home she was not quite as fortunate. Here she experienced abuse at the
hands of her new male owner who, from time to time, found it necessary to beat
his girlfriend. This was something Amina could not tolerate. Her naturally
protective nature caused her to step between the man and the woman during one
of these beatings only for her to take the rath of his abuse.
He came after her with a vengence and a 2 x 4 and when she finally fled into the
dog house he straddled the house waiting for her to emerge. Everytime Amina
tried to leave, he would proceed to beat her about the face and head. She
suffered massive blows and somehow, someway he managed to break her rear leg.
This leg was never set causing her to walk with a limp the remaining years of
her life.
As we viewed this big girl inside the vehicle, thoughts raced through our minds.
How would her temperament be after such treatment. When she stepped out we saw
an emaciated but happy dog who needed good food and lots of love, and in her new
rescue situation she would get plenty of both.
As with all the rescue dogs, Amina was to be adopted out after a thorough vet
check and a few months with us evaluating the seemingly good temperament. It
was discovered that her hearing was gone and her eyesight was damaged from
the beatings. Occasionally she would walk into walls or objects and
sometimes failed to hear you when you called but this never affected her love
for humans.
Spending those months with Amina was a real joy. She was outgoing and friendly
yet protective of her new charges. She was to steal our hearts away. Other adoptions
came and went but not Amina; we just could never part with her. She became our
rescue ambassador for the breed at dog shows. She truly became a shining star
in our lives.
Amina lived with us for 4 years until one day she passed on to Rainbow Bridge in
her sleep. She came to us and stayed with us and still remains with us till
this very day, so you see she never left. She is truly missed. So to you Amina
I say "Sleepwalk" my sweet baby until we meet again.
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