She had been sitting at an animal shelter in Orangeburg, SC for months and Bekka’s time was about to run out. Hours from becoming a shelter statistic, an angel appeared. Chris Mokan, a valued foster in the Lowcountry community, saw Bekka and was so moved by her story, she immediately called Palmetto Animal League and asked us to intervene. Hours later, Chris pulled up at PAL with Bekka in her car.

One glance told you all you needed to know about Bekka. She had seen the face of inhumanity and survived. Bekka was recovering from a procedure to surgically remove a collar that was left on her for so long and so tight that it had become embedded in her neck. Day after day, she must have suffered in unbelievable pain as manmade material cut into her flesh. I can barely stand the thought of her crying out, “Remember me?”

Bekka couldn’t be leashed at all. She became so panicked when she saw a collar or harness that she had to be carried out into the yard to use the bathroom. Bekka’s best chance at a new life was to spend some time at home with PAL’s Dog Behaviorist, Kevin McHale. The gradual, purposeful, life-changing work that Kevin was about to begin with Bekka would be the foundation of all trust.   

“Due to her severe anxiety, Bekka’s leash training is a long and repetitive process,” explains Kevin. “Over the past 4 months, she has been making small but steady strides. She now takes walks outside the house and even outside of my yard.”

While Bekka’s fur eventually grew back over the large scar that surrounds her neck, the emotional toll of the abuse she endured remains. We recently got word that our scared little dog is going to receive the best gift imaginable – a loving family of her own! Kevin’s brother fell in love with Bekka. 

“She’s one of the most playful, sweet and well-behaved pups I’ve met in a long time,” says Kevin’s brother, Kyle McHale. “The fact that she was able to get my dog Max to loosen up so quickly and join her in play was adorable.” 

When Bekka is ready, she’ll go to live with Kyle and his family just outside of Orangeburg where her story first began. The dog who survived gets to come full-circle, and I can almost hear her proclaiming with confidence to those her caused her suffering, “Remember me?”

For every cruel, merciless person in this world, there must be twice as many angels out there who support animal rescue. I see them every day at PAL. They are adopters. They are fosters. They are donors. They are volunteers. They are caring people like you. 

Join us at the PAL Adoption Center for a candle-light vigil September 26 at 5:30 p.m. It’s an opportunity to honor or memorialize the rescue pets who have touched our lives and left us better people. We will rejoice for those like Bekka who have been rescued. And we will shine a light for those still hoping and waiting, crying out, “Remember me?” For event details, visit PalmettoAnimalLeague.org/RememberMe.

Amy Campanini, Palmetto Animal League President

Click here to see this story and much more in The Bluffton Sun.

Thank you to our PAL Partners in Rescue, The Bluffton Sun and The Hilton Head Sun for being beacons of compassion and hope for homeless pets in our community. Please show your support for these local animal loving businesses!