Slim Jim’s Story

On a very hot day in June 2022, I received a phone call from a close friend regarding a stray dog she had stumbled upon by the Yellow River in Conyers, GA. The friend had found a male pit bull, curled up in a boney heap underneath the bushes that lined the road. It is a wonder he had not already been hit by a passing car. In addition, the weather in Georgia includes humidity and mosquitoes that can turn a hot day into an inferno. The dog was definitely suffering.

I asked for pictures and was heartbroken by the condition of this poor creature. He was weak and had trouble walking. His protruding hip bones, and rib cage were evidence that he had not eaten in a number of days. His eyes were dull, and he had sores over much of his body. He did manage to wag his tail. He had been picked up and placed in a car with air conditioning and leftover food in a fast-food restaurant bag. I told them to take him to animal control and they were very hesitant to comply. They feared breed discrimination and euthanasia due to his malnourished condition. I explained that I had already made the phone calls to animal control and would pick him up as soon as his hold date expired. I did this for several reasons. First, I am licensed by the Department of Agriculture and can only acquire animals through owner surrender or pull them from Animal Control. Second, I cannot press abuse or neglect charges against the owners, but animal control can. It was a long five days, but I understood as did the lady who found him, that this was our best option. He proved to be a trooper and was kind to the other dogs and the officers.

I learned to see life through Slim Jim’s perspective. He ate like a little pig and played with the other dogs like they were his new best friends. At night he willingly entered his crate and dreamed about his future forever family. He found an old, red bucket that quickly became his favorite toy. He decided that sticks were for puppies and wimps and preferred a low hanging tree branch to chew down and lug it around like a mighty sword. He was completely harmless except for the constant wag of this long tail. It could knock over anything and put a stinging smart on my legs. All was good because Slim Jim was enjoying life for the first time.

We have a veterinarian that makes house calls and she treated Slim Jim with kindness and understanding. It was during the vet’s first visit that we discovered Slim Jim had heartworms. My own heart melted. Yes, he would be treated, and he would recover like a champ. He had come too far to allow this to be a major setback.

As often happens with pet rescue, Slim Jim brought a community together. We started him on a diet of chicken and rice along with his kibble. I rarely had to ask for donations of chicken and rice, because his new human friends provided food as long as he needed it. The lady who found him visited regularly. People donated enough money to cover all his medical expenses. I have been approached in public by people I had never met asking how our sweet Slim Jim was faring. They wanted details about his new life and recovery. Slim Jim was quickly becoming a local celebrity, but he did not care…as long as he had his red bucket and tree branch. Keeping him quiet and calm was a challenge while he grew stronger.

I have grown to love this beautiful boy, but I know that one day I will have to give him to a forever family he longs for. He deserves a bright future. I look forward to hearing stories of his goofy antics. They will make my heart smile. I am but a steppingstone to a better life for Slim Jim. It will be a bright, happy life for him with beautiful memories.