Have a favorite rescue story?
A kind of special-to-your heart adoption/shelter story?
Just email details to:
Give it a try! PLEASE???
SMITTY
This is a picture of Smitty when he was first brought into the high kill shelter I worked at as staff veterinarian. As you can see, he is in pretty rough shape, although he seemed healthy. Upon further investigation it was determined that he had heartworms, 4 different intestinal worms, and of course, loaded with fleas.
After a good grooming, bath, and treatment for fleas and intestinal parasites, I treated him for heartworms with funds from Rescue Hope. We of course also administered all necessary vaccinations. I kept him in my office to make sure no one euthanized him.
Then my father suffered a stroke, and left for Heaven. I was out of the office for the week.
Smitty was put in the isolation kennel while I was away and I was shocked upon my return to work to him absolutely covered with scabies, a skin parasite that causes skin disease and INTENSE itching. (see photo to left). It is easily treated, but it takes a while, and this skin mite is contagious to humans. (Yes, I have been infected by this mite and it does make you miserable!)
Although I knew how to treat him, I took him to Dr. MacDonald, a most excellent veterinary dermatology specialist. As we were working towards building an educational program, I wanted to keep Smitty sort of as a "shelter mascot" and teaching tool because he was such a good example of so many health and personal care issues common to canine health problems, and thought a visit to "the veterinarian" would be an important part of his story.
Long story short, Smitty's skin was cleared up and his hair began to grow back. He turned into a beautiful and very special little guy. He is now with me and thriving. A few months after my father died I experienced some sort of collapse from exhaustion (later diagnosed with fibromyalgia) and was forced to resign my position as staff veterinarian. So I adopted Smitty through a friend in rescue who retrieved him from the facility. I was scared to death they would put him down. To see his complete transformation see photos to the left.
I hope to have many more happy years with this incredible creature. He does something I have not experienced with a pet before - instead of following me, he always walks in front of me wherever I am going, as if to guard against any harm I might be running into. And he looks back at me frequently to make sure I am okay. He is my main man!
GIZMO
CHECK BACK FOR MORE STORIES!
GIZMO'S TERRIBLE TALE COMING UP NEXT. COME BACK TO FIND OUT HOW THIS PRECIOUS BABY WAS RESCUED FROM A HOUSE OF OVER 100 DOGS.
