Getting a Ghost of another chance

Ghost, the abandoned white German shepherd who appeared at the home of Jan and Cliff Hearne and Edith Cabler last week, has a new home.

A Sunday story in The Spokesman-Review, which described the dog’s deteriorating condition and the Airway Heights family’s predicament over keeping the stray dog, brought an outpouring of compassionate phone calls and e-mails. Some readers said they didn’t have room for another dog, but wanted to send money. Others wanted to buy dog food.

One Spokane Valley caller was convinced it was her white German shepherd named Rusty, whom she gave to her stepmother in Airway Heights 7½ years ago.

One e-mailer from Moses Lake said her family has room for another animal. Another caller gave the name of an altruistic veterinarian in Reardan and offered to foot the bill for any medical treatment.

But Jill Sereday was so touched by Ghost’s story she phoned the family at 8 a.m. Sunday and had the dog at his new home on the North Side three hours later.

“I looked at the picture (in the newspaper), I could see it in his eyes,” Sereday said. “It says a lot about his soul and his spirit. It’s the same look B.J. had in his eyes.”

B.J. was Sereday’s and her husband, Greg’s, white German shepherd, who died two months ago. The dog, who was devoted to Sereday, had epilepsy and was prone to grand mal seizures.

Sereday said she hasn’t renamed her new German shepherd because she wants to get to know him first.

The dog showed up last week at the home of the Hearnes and Cabler in Airway Heights. The dog could barely see, walked in circles and was filthy.

One week later, Sereday said, “He’s doing wonderfully.”

“He regained his sight in his left eye and it has improved in his right eye,” she said. “He’s intelligent and has a very gentle spirit.”

Sereday said she plans on taking the dog to the vet. The family also has a Rottweiler cross and German shepherd cross. Her educated guess is that the dog is about 3 years old. His teeth are in good shape and there are no large calluses on his knees.

The Hearnes and Cabler, who is Jan Hearne’s mother, said they were astounded by the public’s reaction and plan to keep in contact with the Seredays.

“My mother says, ‘There are good people in the world. Finally,’ ” Hearne said. “For a long time, she had her doubts.”