When you think things can't get any worse...
An email from Lillie Goodrich of Glen Highland Border Collie Rescue & Sanctuary
I heard you have a volunteer somewhere near Rochester, NY- I wanted to send this along.
From,
Lindsay Kuhn
Animal Intake & Resource Manager
Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester
I am reaching out from Lollypop Farm in Rochester, NY. We have a dog who really needs rescue help. I apologize if this story and photos are upsetting.
Strawberry is a 7 yr old Border Collie who came into our care on June 14th. We were called by her owners requesting help with medical care for an injured eye.
Strawberry arrived emaciated with a body condition of 1/6, weighing just 15 lbs. Too weak to stand, she was stained with urine like she'd been confined in a small space, had a ruptured eye, and the other eye had a minor injury. Her nails were overgrown, and some were broken and bloodied. She also had abrasions in a few different places.
In her condition, Strawberry was undoubtedly in pain; she let me pick her up and carry her inside and allowed all handling by our vets and clinic staff.
Our vets had to take a few days to stabilize Strawberry, so it was safe to operate and remove her eye. We ran bloodwork, and some levels were off, but they were consistent with starvation. Her one eye has been removed and has healed well. Her other eye has been treated and has improved significantly, so she is still able to see. She has increased her body weight by 24% and needs to continue gaining slowly.
Strawberry is a new dog today. She is now 19 lbs, and we think she will always be on the small side, likely due to long-term malnutrition. She has energy again but is shy and lacks confidence. We don't blame her at all after what she's been through- but she is extremely stressed in our kennels and really deserves to finish her recovery in the comfort of a foster home. She's displayed stress in the kennel, an inability to settle, repetitive circling movements, and vocalizing, which are signals that she needs out- needs more interaction, exercise, and a lower-stress environment where she can continue to heal and learn that people are good from now on. She has not shown any aggression and is dog friendly. She LOVES walks! She is only on gabapentin for kennel stress at this time.
Please respond if you can help our dear girl, Strawberry. Thank you for reading this and for the work you do!
Lindsay Kuhn
Animal Intake & Resource Manager
There is no time to ponder in circumstances like this because a decision must be made and made fast. Contacting Marybeth Harr, an owner of several Clancy's Dream dogs who live in New Your State, was my first thought, and my first words to her were, "We need help!" Marybeth said she knew exactly where the shelter was and said, "In fact, I have a doctor's appointment just a few minutes away from there this morning." In less than a few hours, Strawberry was in the folds and protection of Clancy's Dream. A few days later, Strawberry was on Marybeth's farm, her first taste of freedom. She was learning how to be a dog, smell the clean air, and get fed good food, none of which she had access to before.
Several times during this period, Lindsay Kuhn, Animal Intake & Resource Manager at Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester, would send me emails.
"I consider myself a pretty hard nut to crack working intake at our very busy shelter covering a city with severe poverty. But this dog's situation rocked me. I usually can find a way to at least justify that the owners brought a dog to us rather than letting it suffer and die, but with this dog, I couldn't find any bright spot- just pure fury. So, on a personal note, I just want to thank you for helping her. I've lost sleep over this dog and the persistence of the owners trying to get her back. She's one of 3 dogs that I'll just never forget. So, I just want to thank you again for responding so quickly and getting her a safe place to land."
I answered:
I know exactly what you mean; I have been in the dog world for about 30 years, and 15 have been with rescue; some people will never understand our job and the struggles that go on inside our brains; it even keeps us awake at night.
While this is so heartbreaking, there is a silver lining. Strawberry was saved because many people joined together to do what was right, all in just a few hours across hundreds of miles.
When you see circumstances like this, the adrenaline kicks in, and there is no time to reflect, and the pain, anger, and tears come later, but now is the time to act.
Exam notes:
- Body condition score1 - Emaciated- BCS 1/9
- Obtunded mentation; unable to stand unassisted
- All white fur is stained dark yellow
- Left eye is severely swollen, either proposed or ruptured. Infected with purulent, malodorous discharge
- Right eye is sunken with a divot in the center of the cornea. No fluoro uptake when stained
- Superficial wounds between digits 4 and 5 on the right front and right hind paws
- Nails on left hind paw ripped and ragged with dried blood
- Abrasion inside left elbow
As hard as we try, there's always more to do in rescue, even as hard as we work, sometimes more. It's overwhelming and unbearable and beyond my reasoning at times. I have seen so much of the ugly side of people that I did not want to see but did. The only solace is the person who gave Strawberry up before it was too late.
Anger at the person is never the answer; you can ask that question of "why" a thousand times, "How can this happen" and there is no answer and never will be; you do your best and try to keep a stiff upper lip. After the messages and phone calls, I walked around the farm with my dogs to clear my head. The first place I always stop is Clancy's grave for comfort, and as usual, the wind chimes speak, and I knew Clancy was telling me that Strawberry would be safe, but I was reminded these things would happen again, and they will, there will always be more dogs needing help.
Rest and get well, Strawberry; you certainly deserve it. It was one of the worst things I have ever seen for such a young dog.
When my time comes, before I pass into eternity, I want to stop and see Clancy again. I want to sit beside him, smell his fur, and stroke his head. After our hellos and hugs, I want the dogs he saved to come and greet me once again; I want to also touch them and know they are OK because I loved every one of them! Who knows, with God's infinite wisdom, this may be my Heaven, and I can stay...
Thank you,
Lillie Goodrich
Lindsay Kuhn
Klingstein Veterinary Clinic
to be continued...
