Against All Odds

This particular day in April, 1999 started out like any other.  New dogs and cats to take care of, vaccinations to give, health assessments to complete…the day went on as usual until I saw our Animal Control Officer pull up to the front door.  My heart jumped into my throat when I saw the truck– I knew something was wrong.  As I jumped from my chair and headed for the door, my mind raced with the possibilities of what it could be.  What I saw next I will never forget.

 

When the truck door was opened, I saw a large black Labrador Retriever mix dog laying there.  She stood up when she saw us and I noticed her poor condition.   Her ribs and hip bones stood out from her skinny body, her coat was dull and filthy– she was a skeleton with skin covering her.  She wagged her tail at me and tears came to my eyes. 

 

She had been spotted by a Deputy Sheriff serving an eviction notice.  She was chained up in the yard with no food or water and trying to nurse eleven puppies.  The pups were only two weeks old at the time he found her. The deputy immediately notified Animal Control who promptly came to their rescue.

 

As I led her into the shelter, the Animal Control officer sped off to retrieve the puppies.  I checked her over from head to toe while she drank water from a bowl.  She was so dehydrated the skin on her neck stuck straight up when it was pulled.  When I was finished, I settled her in to her new “home” in the kennel area.  Complete with food, water, blanket, toys and a rawhide chew.  She gave me a gracious wag as I walked away.

 

The poor puppies were in much better shape than their momma.  She had been giving them every ounce of her nutrition in the milk they drank.  Because of their young age, we placed them with her in the kennel so they could be together.  We fed BJ three times a day in order to supply her with the food she needed to gain weight and nurse so many puppies.

 

To complicate matters, BJ had a Uterine infection that the Veterinarian discovered in her exam.  This can be life threatening if left untreated.  The recommended treatment is an immediate spay to remove the uterus before it can rupture.  Since we did not own BJ, we couldn’t have her spayed.  We tried to contact the owner to obtain permission to have her spayed before it was too late.  Meanwhile, she was given antibiotics to buy her some time…

 

Then, disaster struck…after a few weeks some of the puppies started getting sick.  Six of the smallest puppies were affected and had to be given IV fluids and injections of antibiotics three times a day.  The staff and volunteers took puppies to their homes to care for them at night and on the weekends.   According to the Veterinarian, BJ’s infection had been passed to the puppies and was affecting them.  We worked around the clock battling the sickness to save the six four week old pups.  Despite our best efforts, however, four of the puppies died. 

 

At last, the owner surrendered his ownership of BJ and her puppies to us.  We had BJ spayed and weaned the puppies away from her.  Both momma and puppies were improving daily, and BJ began to rapidly pick up weight as her milk dried up. 

 

It was amazing to me that despite the obvious neglect and abuse BJ had endured with her previous owner, she never let it affect her love for people.  Adults, children, cats or other dogs– she loved them all and would greet everyone with a tail wag and a doggy grin. 

 

Her former owner was found guilty of animal abuse and ordered to pay for the medical charges and boarding BJ and her pups had accumulated.  To date, not one penny has been received to pay for the $879.91 bill.

 

BJ’s story ended in August of 1999 when she was adopted into a loving home with other dogs.  I am told that she spends most of her time indoors either laying on the couch or in the bed.  Her favorite activity is watching the ceiling fan go around. She is happy and comfortable and never has to worry about going hungry again. 

 

For the seven puppies, the story ends the following March when the last of the surviving puppies was adopted.  Each of them went to good homes where they  are loved and cared for.  A truly happy ending after such a horrible beginning.

 

Although BJ’s story has ended, sadly there are many other abused and neglected animals whose stories are just beginning…