So many new faces! We could use some help!

A lot has happened since our last blog update!  Grab a cup of hot chocolate, sit down, put your feet up, and we'll get you up to speed!


Every week, we've been distributing pet food to low income and homeless pet guardians in our local community, and every week, there are more reaching out for help.  


We are in DESPERATE need of dry dog and dry cat food, small (cat sized) collars (for dogs),  leashes, and zip lock bags. 


Today alone, we distributed more than 150 pounds of dry dog food, 96 pouches of wet dog food, dog treats, and nearly 40 pounds of cat food. We provided new, donated collars to 11 pets who had no collar.  Many of the dogs who arrive for intake are on whatever can be used as a leash. A chain, a rope, a telephone cord, a bungee cord!  Talk about creative! For intake of new animals, the word is out that pets need to be on a leash when they arrive.  Today we also distributed 18 new, donated leashes. You can't imagine the joy a simple leash and/or collar brings to a pet guardian struggling though hard times.  Allowing a guardian to choose the color?  EVEN BETTER!  


We will be unable to help all of the people coming to us this next week if we can't secure at least 200 pounds of dry dog food and at least 40 pounds of dry cat food before September 23rd. 


When you donate pet food, or funds to purchase pet food, you are saving a life.  You are helping to keep a beautiful and deeply loved animal from facing surrender to an animal shelter and possible euthanasia. You are also helping a person who loves that pet, often more than anything in this world, to keep their trusted companion by their side.


Unemployment in our desert community is approaching 18%, and those are only the "counted" people. This figure does not include the homeless, or those on permanent, fixed incomes.  Our region continues to experience job layoffs, businesses closing their doors, and people-and the animals they love-stuck in the middle. We purchase food in bulk, and provide food and treats to last one week.  If you could only see the thankfulness, the politeness, and the love and pride these guardians have for their animals? You'd be amazed.  

This is "Buda" proudly modeling his new lead and collar.

One of people who religiously comes to get food for his little dogs experienced what must be one of the worst things that can happen to someone: the old motor home he and his girlfriend live in, burned to the ground last Thursday morning.  I saw him last Friday. The shock of this tragedy was just beginning to set in, and I felt so sorry for him that I had to hold back tears as he told me all that had transpired. A little Chihuahua  "Baby Girl" was missing, two little dogs could not be saved and died in the fire, and one-suffered  "a couple of burns."  

Pedro, in the arms of his guardian. 

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Pedro's guardian, and Pedro immediately after the fire.

Enter Pedro. A really adorable little chihuahua guy, full of personality, who thinks he is THE cutest thing ever to walk the Earth on four paws.  


Another one of our regulars asked me if I wouldn't mind taking a look at Pedro, the dog pictured in our local newspaper who was rescued from the fire.  He was keeping Pedro in his home, while Pedro's guardians were dealing with the aftermath of the fire. 


Remember-these are people who do not trust easily.  They are proud people, they struggle in ways most of us cannot imagine, but they do whatever they can within their own circles to help one another. They are loyal to one another in ways that most of society has long ago forgotten, and for him to ask me to come look at this dog? I knew---it had to be serious---but he also knew by now that what I do, to help them feed their pets, is something I do from my heart. Not for money, and certainly not for fame, but to help make life's daily struggles a little less bleak, and to keep them together as families.  


This man, caring as well as he was able to for his friend's little pet, was obviously worried, and he said Pedro seemed like he was in a lot of  pain.  I went straight over to see this dog.  There was Pedro, curled up in a little ball on a bed, surrounded by  a little "blanket nest."   


I gasped.  Burns often don't show up on animals as quickly as they do on humans.  What earlier looked like a few, small, fairly nasty scorch marks, were now showing up as large, angry, third degree burns.  "Can you help him?  Watching him try to lie down has me nearly in tears, he looks like he hurts so bad!"  


He'd done all he could to help this dog, and his heart wanted to do so much more for the little life entrusted to him. Disabled, in a wheelchair and living day by day, he felt horrible that he was unable to more to make Pedro comfortable.


"He desperately needs a vet" I informed him.  "He has third degree burns on his little butt, his whiskers are singed, his stomach and paws are all burned, and he has blisters, indicative of second degree burns, all over his left side.  He needs to come with me right now.  I'll find a way to get him seen by a vet today. His lungs may be damaged too, and we need to know right now.  Not tomorrow, not next week, but now" 

Poor little burned nose!. 

"OK he said,  just please help him!"  It took the two of us more than 15 minutes to get Pedro cornered.  Even a finger laid on him elicited a response I'd expect from an extremely vicious dog.  Poor Pedro was in agony.


Pedro and I arrived at Banfield Animal Hospital (inside of PetSmart) in Apple Valley.  Burned, traumatized and in pain, he couldn't be picked up.  I led him slowly on a lead through the parking lot, and by the time we got to the clinic in the back of the store, he was moving very slowly, limping and whimpering.  His body hurt so badly that he chose to walk on burned paws. I don't know when I ever felt so sorry for a little creature. The staff attended to him immediately. 


After a full exam, it was indeed determined that Pedro had some serious third degree burns, and many second degree. Thankfully, his lungs sounded OK-for now.  The veterinarian stated that Pedro was one very lucky little dog, and was amazed he hadn't died. (Everyone working in the clinic had seen the story in the newspaper earlier that same same morning)


Off we went with painkillers, antibiotics, and prescription burn cream. Getting him back into the car had half the people shopping (and every employee) in PetSmart watching. Several wiped away tears as he proudly, but slowly stood on his own little burned paws-and walked out-by himself.  


I immediately went into "vet tech" gear.  I knew from the moment I set eyes on this dog that I was his only chance at survival.  Without it, he'd die-but with it, he could survive.  His wounds wouldn't be fatal unless he received no care, and he did not need to be euthanized. He needed professional veterinary care-and having those skills, how could I say no to a dog, whose guardian just lost what little he had-as he sat there helpless and in pain?  I couldn't. Pedro came home with me.


His guardians were shocked to see how much the burns had progressed in those 24 hours-and as I explained treatment, options, etc. they decided they wanted him to receive his care here-with me.  


For the past week, Pedro and I have spent a lot of time together. Twice a day he receives pain medication via injection. His burns are debrided if necessary, flushed and medicated, and he gets to go out for a little tiny walk with me.  

Pedro's left side, September 10, 2011.

This little dog has been more brave than words can express.  After losing all he knew to be familiar, including his guardians (for the time being) while experiencing the agony of severe burns, and the trauma of being in a fire, he's been a little champ.  He has learned to trust me, and even with the underside of his tail burned, he still wags it furiously whenever I am near. No longer in agony, he likes to curl up in my lap.  He loves to have his one (not burned) ear scratched, and he allows me to tend to his burns without biting.  He whimpers under his breath.  I cannot believe the spirit of this little dog-he is a blessing in my life-and he continues to amaze me.  I keep his guardians updated as to his progress, he gets to hear their voices on the speakerphone (which he loves!) He has been a stellar little guest in my home.  Pedro and I have several more weeks together-burns this severe don't heal very fast.  They will heal, but he will bear the scars of this fire, for the rest of his life. 


If you would like to contribute to our veterinary fund, or would like to donate funds to assist us in purchasing pet food, please visit our web page at http://AnimalResQ.org/donations.html  No donation is too small, it all adds up to help us-to help them.


Please note: We don't normally provide animal sheltering, but in an emergency situation like Pedro's, we will do whatever we can to help. If you would like to donate wet or dry pet food, or pet supplies, please email us at: contact @ AnimalResQ dot org