Animal Neglect....Again!!

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Troglodyfae
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Animal Neglect....Again!!

Postby Troglodyfae » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:27 pm

I am sorry to report that I have just witnessed the worst case of animal neglect I have ever seen in my life.

About a week or so ago my daughter and I saw a young pointer cross roaming around Pulpite, it was clear to see she was abandoned and very, very thin. Our instant reaction was to go out to her and offer her comfort and food however, we are not in a position to re home another dog so we managed to throw some scraps out of the kitchen window for her and hoped this would see her on her way. I know that might sound a bit cowardly but we have been in this situation before and have had no option other than to re home these poor dogs because of our situation.

Today we saw the same poor dog and clearly her situation had deteriorated, she could barely walk and was being chased away by our Spanish neighbours. OH could stand it no longer and took a dish of food and water and went to find her. Sadly he could not.

We went out later this evening and finally found her.........my god she was so thin and so tired and sooooooo scared. I have never seen a dog so emaciated certainly not in real life. The poor little mite was covered in ticks and so cold despite the fact the evening is reasonably warm.

We had no option, there is a moral dilemma here. We either take on this poor forgotten dog, ( which we cannot do ) or we leave her and watch her die. No contest really we had to do something. We have brought her home, we have removed all her ticks and there must have been at least 100 of them maybe more, we have given her some small meals, water, and a good love and stroke and put her to bed. Today she will get a bath and we will check on her wounds and dress as necessary.

Throughout all we did to her she never flinched nor protested, she is very young I would imagine she is between 6 - 9 months and to my eye she has not had her first season yet. I know dogs pretty well and to my mind this little lady will make a splendid pet. Please if anyone can find some kindness in their heart please give her a home. If within the next few weeks I cannot home her I will have her put to sleep as that is the kindest thing I can do, other than being able to offer her a home, which I cannot do. I will post some photos probs tomorrow. :cry:

katy
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Postby katy » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:44 pm

Breaks your heart doesn't it :cry: Hope you find a home for her, the pointer breeds make such faithful pets.

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Postby Jool » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:44 pm

TRy flyposting all the cars in local markets to find her a home, we have done this in the past with some success, or ask for a foster home and get one of the animal rescue organisations to put her on their website if you can get someone to look after her temporarily.......we have elderly cats who are scared of strange dogs otherwise I´d offer to foster her, poor little thing. I so know how you feel, we´ve fostered so many dogs over the years but our cats are just too old to cope with it at present (age 20)

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Postby Jool » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:46 pm

I will ask around for a foster home for her locally but please please don´t have her put down, I´m sure any of the rescue organisations can help with a foster home.......a photo would be helpful for me to try and help you. It seems easier to get foster homes rather than permanent ones at the moment.

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Postby Cassandra » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:58 pm

I can't speak for the other shelters but PAWS has over double the number of dogs it's licenced for at the moment and a waiting list of dogs in temporary foster homes. SOS Almeria also closed their doors recently but took in a puppy on Monday when we referred someone on to them so maybe things have improved there :? If you need their number I can get it for you on Friday, although I think both shelters may be a bit distant for you.

PAWS can help by putting non-PAWS dogs on their website and Imveta, an animal charity who operate a stray clinic at the PAWS site will offer veterinary care at a reduced rate for stray and abandoned dogs that you may be caring for but again distance may outweigh that benefit.

You've done a good thing taking this dog in, I hope you are successful in finding a good home for her.

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Postby ValL » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:53 pm

We recently had 2 dogs abandoned in the park opposite our house and finding ANY organisation that was not full and overloaded was impossible. We tried everywhere we could find between Cadiz and Barcelona. We re-homed one, the other was we believe re-homed several weeks later.

I wish you all the best with your quest and a happy ending for all.

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Troglodyfae
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Postby Troglodyfae » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:05 pm

Here are a couple of pictures of her just before she had her bath, she now smells and looks a lot better. There is also a picture of some of the ticks I had to remove from her

Image

Image

Image

She is covered in sores and wounds which I have treated with antiseptic powder.

I have contacted quite a few of the sanctuary's nearby and they are full to the brim. I have even contacted some near to where I used to live and they are also full. I am just hoping and praying someone will take her on.

She is sleeping on her bed at the moment and when she wakes up I will trim her claws, I did not want to do it all in one go as she is so timid, and I feel she has been through enough recently so toenails can wait a bit longer. She is sleeping in our workshop at the moment, which is cool and airy, with so many nicks and wounds I did not want the flies getting at her, hence the antiseptic powder. I will keep you posted on her progress but if people could ask about see if anyone would be prepared to take her on, I would be very grateful, little poppet has only just started her life. I had one very similar last year about this time but fortunately our local sanctuary was a able to take her on, however she is still there :(

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spanish_lad
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Postby spanish_lad » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:08 am

looks like a german pointer cross? we used to have a short haired one, they make lovely pets.

out of interest how did u remove the ticks ?
Alhaurin el Grande since 99, working at the airport since 2011.

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Troglodyfae
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Postby Troglodyfae » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:22 am

I have a plastic tick remover I bought from the vets, nifty little gadget and far easier and safer than tweezers, as there is little chance of crushing the tick during removal, which can push the poisonous bacteria in the tick, back into the animal. Once removed they go into a container with surgical alcohol.

She had some socialising with my dalmatian yesterday evening, and we will try her with a harness and lead some time today to see how she does.

I have a feeling she might not be abandoned at all, just the way she keeps looking around although she is looking for something or someone.. It is just a hunch based on nothing much, but it is worth popping some flyers out with her picture on it just in case. One of the smaller local periodicals here is going to do and article about her with pictures and also put it on their website to see if we get a response or someone to give her a home. I will let you all know of her progress and thank you all for your concern.

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Postby bubba » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:32 am

well done you, the dog must have been in agony, thank god for people like you and others who do the same. I hope someone nice gives her a home.

Campo Kenny

Postby Campo Kenny » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:00 am

Have to agree................not enough people like you about, you sort of make me feel a bit useless when it comes to situations like that.

Kenny

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abandoned dog

Postby Jane and Terry » Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:15 pm

If there is a vets near to you it might be worth having her checked to see if she is chipped. Probably a long shot, but recently a friend found a young golden lab in quite a state and took him in. However when the vet checked the dog was chipped and also reported as lost. The Spanish lady wept for joy when she got him back.

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Troglodyfae
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Postby Troglodyfae » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:36 pm

Yes that is on my to do list but the nearest vet is Baza and I am not sure how good she will be in the car. I am going to see if the travelling vet will be in our town this week and if he is I will ask if he can check for a chip.

I suspect it may well be a long shot, but none the less worth a try

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patricia
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stray

Postby patricia » Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:37 pm

Oh you are kind Troglody, thank goodness you were there, she would have surely died. I am sure you will get a home for her as she looks a lovely dog. I have had many a sleepless and guild ridden night when I have had to leave a dog I have seen in just such a state, but living in a flat now makes it impossible for me to take one in especially now I have rescued two cats from the street. But I must say I feel dreadful when I do and it is all too often I am afraid :cry:

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Postby Troglodyfae » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:04 pm

Patricia trust me this took no guts at all I just could not leave her. OH and I wept when we finally found her again, really horrible.

She is a much happier little girl now and I have just come in from the terrace and she is tucked up in her bed. She did not like our workshop and I think this is because there were no people there that she knew. She has been fed again and she has now decided that she wants to sleep on the terrace tonight and as my bedroom is just off the terrace I can check her without waking her.

I cannot believe the difference a day makes but with this little girl she is so different today and so much happier and alive.

She threw an absolute blue today on the terrace and I could not understand what she was doing. Then I clocked a butterfly, she was not chasing the butterfly but she was chasing the shadow it made on the terrace. Even my spotty lad thought she had lost the plot...lol

Each day this little girl is getting stronger and her personality is showing through as she now trusts us. Wonderful creatures dogs :D

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Postby crazyred » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:09 pm

Bless you Troglodyfae,

She must be feeling LOADS better to be playing. Amazing what a little care & attention will do. OH is dreading when we eventually get out of our apartment and onto our own plot, I'll probably have it filled with waifs & strays in no time. I've already got 2 cats and huge dog and there we have to stop until I have some land....

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Cassandra
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Postby Cassandra » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:20 pm

It's amazing what a little TLC can do. We had a galgo tied to our shelter gates a few weeks ago and she was in such poor condition that the manager was convinced she had leishmaniosis. An urgent blood test was taken and in the meantime she was given all the usual care plus bathed to treat her skin which looked very sore. It was a holiday weekend so the blood tests took longer than usual and everyone was getting too attached to a dog that may have to be put down. To our amazement they were clear and a few weeks later with love, care and attention she is a lovely healthy girl ready to go to a new home :D Now that's the really hard bit to achieve :?

Don

Postby Don » Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:47 am

I can relate to all you are saying Trog. When we first took our little one in, all she wanted was to know there was someone close. She used to cower down in a little heap whenever you approached and she never complained one bit when we or the vet did exams or removed ticks etc. Now after a few months she is starting to play and push the boundaries so a little training is now on the agenda. What I have found is a remarkable empathy from our local vet who treats us quite differently as somebody who has rescued a dog off the street compared to many of his "clients" who have their little status symbols. It would be so easy to take one, and then another and then .....

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Troglodyfae
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Postby Troglodyfae » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:29 am

I have just come in from the terrace because our little girl found her voice for the first time :lol: :lol: She was barking furiously so I went to investigate what had caused her to suddenly become vocal. It seems one of my cats has uncovered a mouse nest, and had deposited one of the babies on the terrace and then lost interest in it and walked away. Little girl was barking at this tiny little mouse :lol: :lol: Needless to say I removed little mouse and put it into the long grass. I doubt it will survive but without appearing callous I would rather it did not.

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Postby katy » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:42 am

She sounds lovely, glad to hear she is recovering :D


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