Dog who suffered unimaginable abuse offered second chance at life

WAUKESHA COUNTY (WITI) -- Human cruelty, followed by an act of human kindness. This past Spring, a dog managed to escape death and unimaginable abuse -- but "Sadie's" fight is far from over.

If only the fittest thrive in the world, and only the most resilient are able to live here, six-year-old Shepard mix Sadie is one of the strongest dogs you'll ever meet.

Sadie's tale is a story of four-legged survival -- minus two fully-functioning legs. Sadie's hind legs have little movement, but her owner, Joal Derse-Dauer has dedicated her life to changing that.

"She's been through a lot," Derse-Dauer said.

Derse-Dauer admits she never intended on bringing Sadie into her family, but after hearing the dog's story of surviving unimaginable abuse and seeing her face -- Derse-Dauer felt she had to adopt the dog.

In April of 2012, Sadie was apparently no longer useful as a puppy mill mother. The dog was taken to a remote part of Kentucky, shot twice and left there to die.

"Right between her eyes and in the back," Derse -Dauer said.

The gunfire failed to take her life, but it did take her mobility. Shrapnel weakened her back legs.

Sadie was discovered, and eventually brought to a Wisconsin no kill shelter -- and she might have spent the rest of her life there -- but Derse-Dauer adopted her.

"She was just a mess -- but she's absolutely worth saving. This is about second chances -- receiving second chances and learning to live with the baggage that you have," Derse-Dauer said.

Derse-Dauer is focused on treating Sadie's aliments through a laundry list of treatments including alternative medicine -- including acupuncture, a hydro-treadmill, essential oils, pet massage, swimming and more. Traditional surgeries are no longer an option.

Sadie's treatments involve considerable time and financial commitments. Derse-Dauer has altered her work schedule in order to accommodate Sadie's treatment schedule.

She says the dog may never gain full mobility again. However, the hope is that the dog will learn some form of walking.

Derse-Dauer says Sadie has enriched her life in so many ways.

"With Sadie, she has just taught me so much and she has saved me as much as I saved her," Derse-Dauer said.

You can find out more about Sadie's care at http://savingsadie.com/

CLICK HERE to visit Sadie's Facebook page.