Second Chance: Five Acres Animal Shelter Rescues Dog 'No. 2'

No. 2 was the oldest dog in the small, rural shelter in Murray, KY.

The black country dog had lived a hard eight years. He was scheduled to be euthanized if no one claimed him by April 10. 

Kim Brown, director of , was drawn to him. She stopped by the shelter over Easter weekend on her way home from visiting family in Kentucky.

On this visit, she handed out treats to all of the dogs. No. 2 walked right up to the treat and looked at her. 

"He wanted me to pet him more than he cared about the food," Brown said. She scratched him through the bars. "He just stared at me as I gave the other dogs treats." 

No. 2 had a limp and didn't have any bedding. He whined as Brown walked away with her 18-month-old daughter. 

"I thought I don't know what kind of life this old dog has had, but that can't be the end of it," she said. 

Brown was moved to post a photo of No. 2 on the Five Acres Animal Shelter Facebook page along with a few words about how sweet he seemed. Soon after, she had more than 40 comments and people volunteered to help.

Jamie Buehrle, wife of baseball player Mark Buehrle, promised to sponsor his care. K9 Kabana, a dog daycare in St. Charles, offered to foster him. Spencer Creek Animal Hospital planned to donate vet care and medication. 

On April 10, Kelly Backes, a board member for Five Acres, and David Backes, captain of the St. Louis Blues, flew to Kentucky to pick him up. David Backes has a pilot's license and has gone on several trips to rescue dogs for the shelter. 

Dubbed "Murray",  Brown said they learned he has a dislocated hip, is heartworm positive and had fleas. He's scheduled to have hip surgery Monday and will need physical therapy. 

Brown said it will be awhile before he's able to be adopted. She thinks he had a family at one point, since he was so comfortable around her daughter. 

"He's eight years old, but he had a rough eight years," she said. "He was probably very loved, but he probably lived just like a country dog. Not only does he not feel well, he seems heartbroken." 

During the past week, Brown has posted updates about Murray on Facebook and encouraged people to vote for the shelter in Monsanto's Grow St. Louis contest, in which nonprofit organizations compete to win money. 

Brown said winning the contest money would help pay for the veterinary care for animals with injuries, like Murray. The shelter expects to double its current kennel space when a is completed next month. 

"It will double the number of dogs we have on our adoption floor and when we do that our vet bills double," she said. 

Editor's Note: In an earlier version of this article had the incorrect name for Kim Brown, director of Five Acres Animal Shelter. Patch regrets the error.