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'Heartbroken and hurting'
By COLIN HICKEY
Staff Writer
Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/22/2007

WATERVILLE -- Gary Prentiss is hurting from the death of Toby, the three-legged dog.

Prentiss, 52, is in mourning for several reasons.

Naturally, Prentiss, a longtime volunteer at the Humane Society Waterville Area, bemoans the loss of Toby, a dog the Humane Society adopted as one of its own about a year ago.

Toby, just over a year old, died after being hit by a car earlier this week.

But Prentiss, who lives in Waterville, mourns even more for Mary Wyman, a member of the Humane Society staff. Wyman cared for Toby after the shelter closed each day, taking the Belgian Malinois home with her.

Prentiss, who is recovering from a brain injury, called Thursday morning hoping to get a story done about Wyman. He envisioned a tribute to Wyman, one that recognized her dedication to animals.

"I feel in my heart I needed to do something like this," he said, "because the woman I'm speaking of is really heartbroken and hurting."

Prentiss, though, is a story himself.

He is a survivor.

He is also part of a larger story, a true Christmas tale, one about love and healing.

About three years ago, Prentiss suffered a severe beating.

A construction worker, he made a practice of traveling south during the winter to ply his trade in warmer climates. He would work a job and crash nearby on a cot he kept in his van. His companions were his four dogs, a German shepherd and three Labrador retrievers.

One night in North Carolina, for no apparent reason, a group of teenagers attacked Prentiss in his van and beat him severely, leaving him unconscious with two broken legs and broken ribs.

Prentiss, who grew up in Belgrade, was in a coma for two months. During that time, the local animal shelter found new homes for Prentiss's beloved dogs, according to a front-page story in the Star News, a Wilmington, N.C., newspaper.

The article, written several months after the beating, focused on Prentiss's effort to get back his dogs -- an effort that proved unsuccessful.

Police never made any arrests in the case, the newspaper article said.

Prentiss somehow recovered and eventually returned to Maine. He is a patient at the Maine Center for Integrated Rehabilitation in Fairfield, a person trying to reclaim his life, yet challenged by a brain injury that affects his memory.

He went to the Humane Society for help, becoming a volunteer more than two years ago.

In that respect, he had much in common with Toby, a dog that was dropped off at the Humane Society about a year ago.

"His front leg was broken," Wyman said, "and had never been seen by a vet. He was dragging it, so we took him to the vet, and the vet recommended amputating the leg. So that is what we did.

Meanwhile, we fell in love with him and decided to keep him. He was just the sweetest thing. He showed everybody you can go on with life with handicaps."

Prentiss drags at times, too.

Yet he also has learned to go on with his life. He adopted two dogs from the Humane Society that he loves dearly.

"He is a true animal person," Wyman said, "and I think it has helped him quite a bit being here."

Prentiss says much the same.

His rehab work and his volunteering at the humane society, he said, are the keys to making his journey back to life.

Wyman understands that.

The humane society is a healing place, for both people and animals.

Wyman said Toby learned to get along just fine with his three legs. And although his life was cut short, Toby made a powerful impact on people in the time he had, she said.

"Whenever you thought you had it rough," she said, "you just had to look at him. He was happy all the time. He was our ambassador here at the shelter."

Love and healing at the animal shelter. It's a wonderland whatever the season.

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com

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Reader comments

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Leslie Miller of Skowhegan, ME
Dec 23, 2007 1:34 AM
I can honestly say I have never met a person like Mary. She is, and will be a constant guardian angel for all the animals lives she touches. I personally know her and her children. And I consider her quite a human being. She has been through some good times and some very hard ones. But through it all, Mary is still a wonderful person. I consider her one of a very few that will be there whenever you need her and will never complain. She loves the animals and the people she works with dearly and I'm sure that we all wish we could be like her in that same aspect. KUDOS MARY!!!! THE ANIMALS HAVE A VERY SPECIAL ANGEL LOOKING OUT FOR THEM!! YOUR AN AWSOME PERSON!! AS ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF ALL THE UNWANTED ANIMALS IN THE WATERVILLE SHELTER! KUDOS TO YOU ALL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY SAFE NEW YEAR!!! GOD LOVE YOU ALL!!!report abuse
Heather of Watervillle, ME
Dec 22, 2007 2:35 PM
My cat Rusty was the first cat that Mary fostered and he is a good loveable boy thanks to her. She showed him kindness, love and trust long before he was able to be adopted. Thank you Mary for my "son" and for what you do for all of the children yet to be adopted. Paula and her Team make the Shelter a homey place for animals and potential parents. Animals provide one with companionship, unconditional love and just plain fun. They ask no questions, want no explanations and never tell your secrets. My four legged kids are spolied but, I LOVE THEM.report abuse
ex Mainer of Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dec 22, 2007 1:51 PM
*Probably someone in a big rush to get to Walmart!report abuse
America1st of Waterville, ME
Dec 22, 2007 1:31 PM
He was a wonderful mascot and a dear 'member' of the Wyman family. He will be much missed and hearts have been broken, most of all Mary's and her family. All who 'knew' Toby and heard his story admired this spunky pup. From employees to board members to the public who so kindly provide homes to the many homeless animals or who just visit this shelter, we all will miss him. He was a joyful example of what can occur when many cooperate to make life possible for a badly injured animal.

Toby was a shining light. His spirit lives on.

Peace.report abuse

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