Shelter Dog Goes from Death Row to the Sweet Life—Because Her Rescuer Happened to Run Smarties’ Candy Company

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As Hurricane Sandy used to be rapid coming near New Jersey in 2012, the state used to be bracing for what could be the second-costliest crisis since Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers at a small no-kill animal refuge (now defunct) in East Orange, N.J., labored frantically and tirelessly to evacuate the animals out of the construction and into foster care prior to the devastating floods and lack of electrical energy.

Among the canines wanting fast safe haven used to be a lovely beagle/dachshund/terrier combine, who would later be named Sandy. She had simply been stored from a high-kill refuge in South Carolina. Slated for euthanization, volunteers there pleaded her case for shipping to the no-kill refuge up North. It used to be her candy, loving and calm disposition that stored her in the 11th hour.

Photo courtesy of Liz Dee.

The canine used to be a bodily mess and nowhere close to in a position for adoption. She used to be underweight, infested with fleas and had what seemed to be a large, inflamed reduce on her again. But time used to be of the essence and getting the animals to protection used to be a concern. Little did somebody know that the storm would end up to be the catalyst for the adoption of this as soon as bodily damaged canine who would finally end up in a house with Liz Dee, co-president of Smarties Candy Company, one in every of the maximum iconic sweet manufacturers since 1949.

Photo courtesy of Liz Dee.

Hurricane Sandy and Sandy the Dog

Dee used to be a volunteer at the refuge the place she walked and helped to socialize canines. She and husband Nick Garin stepped up to soak up the canine from down South. “We fostered her with the cut on her back and didn’t realize she had fleas and didn’t know for sure she was not spayed,” stated Dee, who stated they misplaced energy for approximately 10 days.

Photo via Splice Photography.

Because two timber fell on their space that first night time, Dee, Garin and their new foster canine slept downstairs on an air bed. Since there used to be no energy, they couldn’t see the fleas and Sandy went into warmth. “We couldn’t go anywhere so I was fashioning diapers out of whatever I got my hands on,” Dee stated.

During the complete ordeal, Sandy the canine “was this perfect, loving sweet dog and not concerned about the hurricane but so happy to be with humans.” Although it used to be an emergency reaction to foster the canine, Dee and Garin fell in love together with her, and having her right through the storm sealed the deal to undertake. “Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but it was perfect because she was perfect.”

Photo courtesy of Liz Dee.

A Dog and her Smarties Family

Dee no longer most effective grew up with circle of relatives canines, she additionally grew up with sweet – and a whole lot of it. Her grandfather Edward Dee got here to the United States in 1949 from England and used to be a third-generation sweet maker (each and every kid’s dream!). Since he had candy-making wisdom he made up our minds to get started a sweet corporate in the states, and that corporate later changed into Smarties, now primarily based in Union, N.J. (Note that Smarties in the U.S. aren’t the identical as outdoor the states.)

“At 94, he still comes into the office every day,” Dee stated of her grandfather. “He’s a real entrepreneur, a visionary and amazing man who passed along the company to two of his sons who were leaders in business for many decades.” In 2017, Sarah Dee (Dee’s cousin), Jessica Dee Sawyer (Dee’s sister) and Dee took over management as co-presidents.

Photo courtesy of Liz Dee/Smarties Candy Company.

Although a favourite and go-to-choice round Halloween for many years and right through the 12 months, it’s no longer merely a nostalgic penny sweet. “It’s relevant to today’s consumers because it clicks so many boxes of modern needs,” Dee stated. “They are fat-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan – free of all the top allergens.” It makes it simple to convey to school rooms and hand out to trick-or-treaters as shoppers don’t have to concern about meals sensitivities. With Smarties’ New Jersey and Newmarket, Ontario, factories, every manufacturing unit makes greater than a thousand million sweet rolls in line with 12 months. The corporate runs round the clock 24-hours an afternoon, five.five days per week.

Courtesy of Smarties Candy Company.

Dee stated it’s an enchanting and a laugh trade to be in, and having Sandy the canine be part of spreading the phrase makes it even higher.

Dates Nights Are Better with a Dog

As the first canine that Dee and Garin have had as adults and in combination as a pair, Sandy, who’s round 10 years previous, actually has made a favorable have an effect on. “It’s cliched but true, every day when she comes to the door and wags her tail and greets me, I thank my lucky stars that I have her in my life,” Dee stated. “She lifts my spirits, she understands when I’m down, she celebrates with me when I’m happy.”

Photo via Jinna Yang.

Sandy has proved to be a gorgeous better half apart from the sensible advantages of happening many walks an afternoon, which Dee enjoys. She is a “blessing in our life,” Dee stated. “People who meet her say they feel their blood pressure dropping.”

With her anxious task and since lifestyles will also be difficult, Sandy is her “de-stress secret.” Just sitting on the sofa with a singular and a cup of tea is even higher when Sandy jumps on the sofa to accompany her.

Photo via Aimee Kuge.

And as date nights are vital for all , prior to Sandy got here alongside, Dee and Garin would move out to the films. “But now we can’t justify going to the movies knowing that when we stay home and watch a movie we can cuddle with Sandy at the same time,” Dee stated. “It’s hard to leave her. There’s very little that is better than hanging out with Sandy.”

Instagram Dog Star

Sandy is understood on Instagram as SandyPawsPup and makes use of her platform on social media to champion the reasons surrounding rescue canines and animal rights. She is an recommend for Adopt Don’t Shop, because it stored her personal lifestyles, together with the problems with overpopulation in shelters. “She takes the position that rescue is the best breed,” Dee stated. “So, her platform is educational, plus she also has a huge heart for all her fellow animals. Her voice has a unique perspective as it comes from a dog’s perspective, which resonates with people.”

Photo courtesy of Liz Dee.

While she advocates for her fellow canines, she additionally likes to pitch Smarties. “She can’t have Smarties and she has no taste for human candy,” Dee stated. “But she does a great job modeling with the candy. What’s better than dogs with candy?” Smarties additionally options different rescue canines to display the significance of ways wonderful they’re.

Photo courtesy of Liz Dee.

Even although Sandy is lovely relax and loves to hang around and calm down, if there’s something that will get her going is a superb, outdated siren. “She howls at sirens and people go crazy,” Dee stated. People will take out their cameras and get started videotaping. Spoiler alert: When the circle of relatives is house in New York City, all of them howl in combination. “We’re like a little wolf pack,” Dee stated.

Check out Sandy howling right here.

Photo courtesy of Liz Dee.

Although she would possibly howl every so often, “if Sandy could speak human she would want everyone to know that she would like more treats, but also wants everyone to know that humans are not the only animals who suffer and experience pain,” Dee stated. “It’s time for humans to expand their compassion to all animals.”

Photo via Aimee Kuge.

It turns out like destiny stepped in that day when Sandy used to be placed on that shipping van and despatched up north to New Jersey, and it’s not misplaced on Dee. “I am most grateful for Sandy’s love,” she stated. “She’s a devoted companion and in many ways, I don’t feel anyone could possibly deserve the amount of love she gives, but I will gratefully accept it.”

Feature picture courtesy of Liz Dee.



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