This story was told to us by the new renters who moved into the old farm house. They found the terribly injured dog left behind when the prior tenants moved away. A repair man told them the story. The man who had beaten Tia has bragged about it.

As horrible as that story was, it was nothing compared to the sight of Tia. One side of her face was crushed. Her teeth were destroyed, half of her nose obliterated, her eye smashed, her moth was out of line, and enough flesh was destroyed that her gums were exposed and cracked. She came to greet me when I arrived to take her to the Shelter. She politely gave me the sweetest welcome. When I invited her into the van, she climbed right in and gave me a grateful kiss as though she knew I had come to help her. All the way back I listened to her whistling breathing through her damaged nose.

Tia was taken to the University Hospital in Ames, Iowa for evaluation and surgery. It was a 400 miles drive but they offered her the best hope. Repair of her mouth was essential since she had exposed roots and gums. It was discovered that Tia had several mammary tumors. She had been also shot with a BB gun and had pellets throughout her body.

Tia has had two surgeries to restore her fact to the extent that she can live comfortably. She no longer whistles when she breathes, and she can chew small kibble food. Three surgeries have been required along with a spay to insure confirmation of Tia's mammary tumors which showed signs of malignancy. She is blind in the right eye and nothing could be done to restore her sight.

Through it all her spirits have never wavered. She has cheerfully ridden back to the hospital and loved her doctors and nurses as she loves all people. During her overnight stays in hotels, she has acted like the guest of honor, and she truly is the star attraction everywhere she goes. She showers love and attention on everyone, and she breaks everyone's heart.

Tia recovered from the surgeries and lived with us at HUA for three years before she died from mammary cancer. In her memory we created a program called Tia's Place. We take dogs and cats from people who are suffering from domestic abuse and keep them while the people go to shelters. Often pets are not allowed in shelters and people being abused will stay in the abusive conditions rather than leave their pets. We will keep their pets while they get their lives back on track and then they can get their pets back from us. Tia knew what it meant to be abused by a member of her family.