Rick Patrick rick@greenepublishing.com
Her public story began to come to light on Wednesday, June 8. The story begins with a female German Shepherd, emaciated, with a severely injured left leg, alone on Country Kitchen Rd. The cause of her injuries is not certain, nor does it matter in the greater story. What was certain was, if this dog did not receive immediate medical care, she would not survive for long.
Fortunately for this dog, Christy Tuckey's husband, Jeremy, found the dog, and instantly, the Tuckeys felt compassion for this creature. Christy took the dog to Madison Veterinary Clinic, where Dr. John Lewis assessed the situation. This dog would have to have an immediate amputation of her left hind leg if she were to have any chance of survival. Tuckey sent the word out to the Madison community about the immediate need and the community responded immediately. Within hours, even before the surgical procedure was complete, the necessary funding for the amputation was raised. Although the surgery was a success, the dog's prognosis was anything but bright. In addition to the injury to her leg, the dog was severely malnourished and had internal parasites, including heartworms. It was clear that the road to recovery would be a long one for this canine.
Undeterred, Christy kept putting the word out that help was needed. Help continued to roll in, in the form of donations through a GoFundMe campaign. With the help of Dr. Lewis and his medical staff, this dog began to show signs of improvement. She began to put on weight. Her blood count began to improve. Her loving spirit began to have a profound impression on all those whom she encountered.
One of those encounters was with Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) Sheriff David Harper. The MCSO is in the process of taking control of animal control duties for Madison County. Through that capacity, Sheriff Harper learned of this dog's plight. Although his office did not have the resources to provide the emergency medical care this dog needed, he took a personal interest in her case.
With the dog slowly improving day by day, it became clear she needed a name. Those following her case suggested a rather appropriate name for the dog. Since the Madison community had shown such a great deal of interest, it was determined that “Madison” was the most appropriate name.
With a new name and a new lease on life, the slowly improving Madison still faced an uncertain future. If she survived in the long run, where would she live? Tuckey quickly discovered, through her outreach efforts, that animal rescue organizations throughout the state are simply stretched to their limit. Yet, after her first encounter with Sheriff Harper, it became clear that Madison had a very important job to fulfill. “When I first met Madison, she came over and just laid her head on my lap,” recalls Sheriff Harper. “That was it.” It was clear that an immediate bond had been forged.
In many jurisdictions, law enforcement agencies employ what Sheriff Harper called “Station Dogs.” These dogs are much different than the working patrol dogs utilized by officers. Station Dogs serve as a form of therapy dogs for the workers within the department. It is a proven fact that all areas of law enforcement carry a high level of anxiety and stress. According to research conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), “the simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response. Humans interacting with animals have found that petting the animal promoted the release of serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin – all hormones that can play a part in elevating moods.”
It was immediately clear to Sheriff Harper that he had found his “Station Dog” in Madison. Dr. Lewis agreed that he had rarely seen a German Shepherd so well suited for such a task. Sheriff Harper quickly made the commitment to see that Madison recovery becomes a reality. Sheriff Harper also determined that no taxpayer dollars were to be spent on her recovery. His plan is, however, that as her recovery progresses, his canine training officer will help Madison undergo basic obedience training and she will become a full member of the department canine staff. She will serve as an ambassador for the department within the community. She will also provide a much-needed service to the officers within the department. She has already begun to spend evenings with the dispatch officers in the county's communications office. This is often a very stressful job for the dispatchers. Yet, Sheriff Harper immediately saw Madison's worth when she stayed the night in the communications office. “When I met with the dispatchers, after just one night with Madison, I could see a clear difference in their faces and demeanor,” said Sheriff Harper. “You could feel a greater calmness in the air.”
As Madison continues her recovery and begins her new life with the MCSO; it is evident that both Madison, the dog, and Madison, the community, have found a greater purpose.
To contribute to Madison's ongoing recovery, please donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/madison-the-tripod-shepherd.