Reba “Pretty Beboo Princess” Lilley
Breed: Doberman pinscher
Age: 8 years old
Color: Red
Owner: Jennifer Lilley
Nicknames: Pretty Princess, Beboo, Rebs
In 2004, Jennifer Lilley was working at Davidson Country Animal Control. It was there that she met Reba, a red Doberman who was on death row. Reba had been turned down by many potential owners who claimed that she did not have “Doberman qualities:” her tail was poorly docked, a piece of what appears to be bone sticking out at the very end (Lilley laughs at the small spike of hair that has grown over the stub – “It adds character and helps her self esteem”). Also, Reba’s ears looked like kitchen shears had been taken to crop them – the cut lines are jagged, and one ear doesn’t stand up fully, cocked out to the side like a radio antennae. Reba was practically skin and bones, dehydrated, quiet, and constantly alert as to what was going on around her. Without a second thought, Lilley adopted Reba.
Reba was two years old when she was taken home by Lilley. It was guessed that she had been used as a breeding bitch – her teats hung very low and her demeanor suggested that she was used to puppies. Her coat was extremely dull, hair falling out due to poor nutrition. The fur around her neck was gone. It is still speculated that a chain was tightly tied around her neck to keep her in the yard. With Lilley’s constant care, Reba gradually started to rebound. Her once-dull dusty coat began to grow into a rich auburn. The skeleton that had walked into Lilley’s life became a full bodied, lean creature. She developed muscle tone, and with that, an awkward gait.
Once, Lilley took Reba to a dog park. Reba danced in place at seeing all of the dogs running around. Lilley removed her leash. Reba bolted, and stumbled, a new fawn running among experienced athletes. As Lilley described the experience, “It was like seeing a new deer running. She had no idea how to run – it was a really awkward grace.” The fact that she didn’t know how to run only solidified the idea that Reba had spent most of her two years chained up in a yard with little-to-no-room to run.
Reba was flourishing. She was finally getting enough nutrition to have energy. The next step in her full recovery was for her to be spayed. It was during her spay that Lilley learned of a new issue that can be prevalent among Dobermans: Willebrand’s disease (WD). During surgery, Reba had a hard time clotting. It took a while for the bleeding to be controlled. Willebrand’s disease is where the blood does not clot as quickly as a normal. Should a wound be serious enough, then a creature could bleed to death. Reba’s blood finally managed to clot. Lilley and Reba went home, a new chapter of life only to just start.
The duo has been on countless adventures from crossing the state to simple down-the-street trips to the store. Reba settled in with other animals very quickly. She also rarely leaves Lilley’s side, constantly “up [her] backend.” Through some of their adventures, Lilley learned more of Reba. Whenever fire trucks are roaring by (or in the distance), Reba throws her head back to howl at the sirens. She has often been the entertainment at coffee shops – clients stop to look at the Doberman with her head thrown back, howling along with the sirens.
Laid back, affectionate and loyal, Reba is the exact opposite of the Doberman stigma. She has been called the “coolest dog” that many of Lilley’s friends know. Reba has been the true companion to Lilley during her six years of living with her.
It was learned at the end of August that Reba has terminal bone cancer. What started out only as a limp, assuming that arthritis had set in, turned out to be something much more. Despite this news, Reba still hobbles around, attempting to dance to cheer everyone up. She’s been the constant ray of sunshine in Lilley’s life, teaching her responsibility, true loyalty and that despite bad news, there is always something to smile about.