Rescue never ends
It’s been just over a year since our trek out to another county to evaluate the more than 50 Rottweilers that had been taken in from one person’s filthy properties. (See blog entry from last year.) The sheer volume of that experience has, happily, not been repeated since. But the stories that accompany many rescues continue to have us shaking our heads.
Last week we went to a shelter to evaluate a couple of Rottweilers. Though it rarely happens, our club had openings in two foster homes at the same time, and we had no calls from owners looking to relinquish their dogs. Here is the story of one of the boys we saw
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Back in January, the owners of an approximately one-year old male arrived at the low cost Rabies Vaccination Clinic. The workers counseled the owners about the benefits of neutering their dog -- lower annual licensing fees, less ‘wandering’ by their escape-artist dog (who was usually left alone in the yard for long periods while the owners were at work), fewer behavioral issues, etc. They were directed to low-cost spay/neuter clinics in the area.
It isn’t clear why Animal Control was at their house a couple weeks later. What was clear to the officer who arrived was the fact that something was wrong with the dog: the officer could smell the dog before he saw him!
The officer found that ‘someone’ had put a rubber band around the dog’s scrotum, constricting circulation and resulting in necrosis (and the accompanying stench). Naturally, the owners adamantly denied that they’d done it -- it must have been a neighbor.
Yeah, right.
And you didn’t notice the smell or the dog acting strangely? “Well, he’s been licking himself lately....”
The dog was taken to the shelter. Despite his condition, he was cooperative with the examination & evaluation. He was booked for surgery to remove the testicles, scrotum and related necrotic tissue, sutured and returned to the shelter for adoption. Great, a new beginning!
But wait. His story isn’t over yet.
He was adopted again about a week later. The new couple were told that the dog would need to be taken to the vet in a few days to have his sutures removed. Off they went.
But wait. His story isn’t over yet.
About a month later, he’s back at the shelter. It seems that the couple is getting a divorce, the man has moved out, the dog is left alone in the yard all day and is an escape artist.
But wait. His story isn’t over yet.
Upon examination, it was discovered that the sutures were never removed. “I forgot, and I’ve been really busy.”
Yeah, right.
I wonder why he’s an escape artist?
He’s about 14 months old, and a very compact and athletic boy, weighing 60 pounds. He and Brücke look -- and move -- like they could be related!
We evaluated him, and the other Rottweiler that the shelter had. Both passed with no problem, and Brücke was happy to offer her services to determine if they could ‘play well with others’.
We exited both boys and they are currently in their foster homes awaiting a much better New Beginning.
What’s the matter with people?
Annual Report:
Monday, March 23, 2009
