Summerbirds Ebony Song, CGC

Ambassador of love and rescue

Ebony came to Rescue the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend 2001. She was rescued by the aunt of the ‘owner’ who had come over for Thanksgiving festivities only to find a very emaciated Great Dane in the backyard. Ebony had been starved, was heartworm positive and had toenails so long they curled under. She was very shy and fearful, especially of men. She was 5 years old and 95 pounds.

I was originally to pick up and foster another Dane, but when I saw Ebony I knew I had to take her instead. When I got her home we learned that she had forgotten how to eat, she’d become used to drinking water to get that full feeling. Even though I started her eating only very small meals, she threw everything up. I cooked food for her in the beginning, hand feeding her till she could hold a small meal down. Eventually she began to gain weight.

Her fears were not so easy to overcome, especially her fear of men. But Murray worked with her in his gentle way and she came to trust him. It was 2 years however before I could pick up a broom or mop without her hitting the floor and trembling. By now you can guess, I had fallen in love with this shy girl and had adopted her!

Ebony walked in her first rescue parade only a few months after she’d come to rescue. We wanted folks to actually see the pitiful state many Danes come to us in. As we walked, I saw people ringside in tears, shaking their heads in disbelief. Until confronted with the harsh reality of what we see every day in Rescue, they had no idea.  Ebony won the hearts of many that day. Most especially mine for her braveness in the face of so much. Ebony walked in 3 more rescue parades, her last one was at our Great Dane Nationals in 2004. She earned her Canine Good Citizen <CGC> certification later that same year. My sweet girl had come so far!

Ebony’s health was failing her as she aged. In 2006 she was diagnosed with disc degeneration in her back and was undergoing weekly acupuncture. It was helping, but she couldn’t over come a herniated disc Jan. 19, 2007. Her back legs became paralyzed and there was nothing more that could be done. I helped her to sweet release January 20th.