Walking into a dog shelter often tugs at the heartstrings, leaving most people wishing they could take every animal home. For Meghan Wedge and Sarah Bauer, what started as rescuing one dog quickly turned into a journey with ten new lives.
The story began in the parking lot outside Meghan's workplace in Dalton, Georgia. Co-workers alerted her to a dog that appeared severely injured. As Meghan recounted to PBS39, “She kept collapsing whenever she tried to stand. When she finally got up, she couldn’t put weight on one of her back legs. I knew I needed to help her, so I posted on social media, hoping someone would step in. I didn’t want to call animal control—I wanted her to find a safe home.”
That’s when Meghan reached out to her sister, Sarah Bauer, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. It was a life-changing moment for the dog, soon to be named Izzy. “Sarah said, ‘What if I take her in?' I asked if she was sure because this could be more complicated than expected. But Sarah was determined,” Meghan said. The sisters met halfway in Virginia, where Sarah took Izzy home.
Upon returning to Pennsylvania, Sarah’s first priority was a vet visit. The extent of Izzy’s injuries shocked her. “Due to COVID protocols, I couldn’t go inside with her,” Sarah explained. “The vet came out to my car and told me Izzy’s hip was dislocated, she had abrasions on her legs, and she was likely hit by a car. On top of that, she had buckshot embedded throughout her body. Hearing this broke my heart.”
Sarah later shared Izzy's X-rays, pointing to the small white specks of buckshot scattered throughout her abdomen, ears, legs, and arms. Meghan was equally devastated when she learned the details. “I broke down crying,” she said. “I have a rescue dog who was also abused. Dogs are angels, and it’s unimaginable that anyone would harm them.”
While processing Izzy’s trauma, another surprise surfaced—Izzy was pregnant. “The vet initially detected a single heartbeat,” Sarah said. “It was amazing to think that after all she had endured, she was still carrying a pup.” However, further examination revealed a much bigger surprise: Izzy wasn’t carrying just one puppy—she was expecting nine.
“When the vet tech told me the news, I guessed three or four puppies. When she said nine, I was floored!” Sarah recalled. “Since then, Izzy has transformed. Her puppies seem to have brought out her playful side, but her injured leg still limits her. I just want her to have the best life possible—that’s why I brought her home.”
Caring for Izzy and her nine puppies hasn’t been easy. With vet bills exceeding $4,000 and the cost of feeding ten dogs, Sarah has set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses.
Thanks to Sarah’s unwavering love and dedication, Izzy and her puppies are thriving. After all she’s been through, Izzy couldn’t have found a better home.