MAGPIE VHS ADOPTION SPOTLIGHT

Growing up, Evansville's Rebecca Lutton was "the crazy animal person who wanted to save every cat and dog," forever trying to talk her parents into keeping whatever furry creature she'd bring home. Fast-forward some years and not much has changed. Lutton, who's worked closely with the VHS post-college, including two stints of employment and various roles as a volunteer, continues to advocate for animals at every opportunity. In fact, prior to adopting Magpie, a six-yearold Husky that was rescued from a hoarding situation in Kentucky, she had already taken in several cats and a senior poodle mix - all "foster fails"; Lutton simply couldn't part with any of them, despite the challenges involved. Still, Magpie would prove to be the most challenging case of all.

When Magpie was transferred from a Kentucky shelter to the VHS in January of 2022, she was totally shut down, seemingly traumatized by having gone through such a miserable living experience. "She would just sit in her kennel and press her face against the wall," recalls Lutton, who couldn't help feeling an attachment to the sad pup. At the time, however, Lutton wasn't in a position to foster. And while others stepped up to help the broken Husky, it took several attempts to find a good match - a foster home that, most importantly, housed other dogs which eased Magpie's anxiety. Then, just as things were looking up, disaster struck: Magpie got away from the foster's pet sitter. For nearly seven months she roamed the north side of Evansville, outwitting all attempts by the VHS to catch her.

SHE'S A LITTLE QUIRKY BECAUSE OF HER PAST BUT NOW SHE'LL COME UP TO ME FOR PETS, TO LICK ME AND SHE WANTS TO PLAY TOGETHERSHE'S A REALLY GOOD DOG.

Finally, in November of last year, Magpie's saga came to an end when an alert neighbor corralled her in a gated backyard. By this point Lutton had adopted Kevin, the senior poodle mix, and felt comfortable fostering Magpie with another dog around. But it wouldn't be easy. "She was very out of sorts and didn't want much to do with me [initially]," Lutton says. "I had to leave a leash on her at all timesinside and outside - as I was worried she would take off again." Thankfully, Magpie absolutely loved Kevinthough the feeling wasn't entirely mutual - and dug the cats, too. After several months, Lutton's persistence began to pay off; the leash came off and Magpie's sweet nature began to emerge. "She's a little quirky because of her past but now she'll come up to me for pets, to lick me and she wants to play together - she's a really good dog."