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"Freedom"
A very special note of thanks goes out to all of the benefactors
and donators who heard about Freedom here on the internet, and selflessly
gave towards his medical care. Another page will be added soon with
the names of all of Freedom's Friends.
Another special note of Thanks goes out to Robin Wentworth,
a volunteer for Lowcountry Boxer Rescue, for taking full responsibility
of Freedom's care.
Special notice!: If you have visited
Freedom's page here before, please take the time to re-read it now.
Some changes had to be made and there is a new update at the end.
Thank you!
Intake date Feb. 5, 2004
Feb. 5, 2004: just arrived
Feb. 5, 2004: unable to open his eyes
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Freedom, although not a Boxer, was a rescue mission we couldn't
have turned away in a million years.
Freedom was surrendered to LBR by his breeder in February 2004.
He was only 10 months old, and had a bad case of generalized demodectic
mange (treatable, but usually predisposed genetically with an immune deficiency
disorder). He was almost unable to stand from the infection and swelling
in his feet. His eyes were both severely infected and he had bilateral
corneal ulcers and no tear production. He could not see at all the
night he came to us. He was painful all over his body and what little
bit of hair we saw, fell out after the crust was gently washed away during
his first medicated bath. The former owner, had done what she could
to that point, but due to lack of the astronomical funds it would cost,
she preferred to surrender him to someone who could maybe give him a better
chance. Even we here at LBR had no idea how extensive his treatment
would be until he arrived.
**************
A caring veterinarian felt that he had a slim but very real chance
of recovering and leading a happy life, so began the myriad of treatments
and medications that would range from every 1 to 4 hours of having to do
something to him. He was on medications for the demodectic mange,
orally and topically; medicated baths and soaks for this skin infection;
oral antibiotics for the overall systemic infections inside and out; immune
system boosters; topical rubs with antibiotics and vitamins for his skin;
3 or 4 different types of eye drops and ointments for the ulcerated corneas
and loss of tear production due to the massive infections; special diets
for his upset GI tract as well as those with ingredients that would help
improve his overall health.
After 36 hours, one of his eyes began to rupture through the cornea
from the intraocular pressure from the infections. He spent 2 days
at the emergency veterinary office getting a special blood serum therapy
of drops in that eye, hoping to regrow blood supply to the surface of the
eye to begin a slow healing process. We feared for more than 2 weeks
that we would have to have the eye removed. However, the blood serum
drops worked! Although it is a very slow process, the vessels inside
the eye began to spread to the ruptured ulcer and began healing it from
the inside.
****************
 
Feb. 12, 2004: cuddling with Robin dressed in protective baby-wear,
after being medicated.
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Feb. 23, 2004: eyes are nearly cleared of the ulcers and skin is
healthy and hair is starting to regrow. He is spunky and feeling
good for the first time in his young life.
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***************
By the end of February, Freedom had one eye completely healed, and
the right eye, which had begun to rupture, was still healing slowly.
His demodex was about 60% improved, and he began to regrow hair in small
patches. All of his treatments and medications continued, but the
little waif started to show signs of feeling good and enjoying life!
He played for the first time, running circles around the house, which tickled
his foster mom to tears of joy!
***************
In March, Freedom's coat was growing in all over his body and as
you can tell from the pictures below, he was stretching and playing like
a normal, healthy pup! He continues to touch every life he comes
in contact with. He still has some live mites on the latest skin
scrapes (3/11/04), so we are still treating him. He will need to
have a negative scrape before he can be neutered, but we are hoping that
it will be very soon. There is a good chance that surgery, like any
type of stress on his immune system, could bring back some demodex that
we will have to treat for a short time, but it will be much easier to control
at that point.
Five weeks after Freedom's initial rescue, legal charges against
his former owner/breeder were filed by the Berkeley County SPCA.
Investigations of the former owner has turned up no concrete evidence of
animal neglect or cruelty with any other animal she owns and cares for.
We at LBR gave permission for the case to be filed, as an example of animal
crueltly laws at work, if anything could be done. We were informed
told that she was arrested (willingly turned herself in) during the week
of March 22, 2004, and then released on bond agreeing to the necessary
roll calls and such until a court date would be set. We will likely
be called upon sometime in the future to help represent Freedom in court
on behalf of neglected and abused animals everywhere. Updates on
Freedom's legal case will be posted as they are available.
**************
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March 7, 2004: after 4 weeks of intense treatment, he's feeling
like a spunky puppy, enjoying life like he never had before!! His
body is covered in new hair growth as well!
March 7, 2004: Come and get me! I'm ready to play! :)
March 21, 2004: Freedom mothering orphan kittens from the SPCA
April 19, 2004: Freedom looking snazzy in the yard in his ever-growing
tux!
UPDATE!!!! June 2004
Freedom is improving daily and has almost all of his coat back!
We've discovered that he is a black-brindle BT. It's very faint,
but he definitely has a few brown stripes in his black coat. :)
Freedom is nearly ready for adoption. We are presently beginning
the process of screening new homes for him now. He will have to be
placed local to us however, since his court case may take up to a year
to be scheduled and he will be required to be close by to attend the hearing.
We also would love to be able to keep close tabs on him throughout his
life as well. This little miracle has become part of all of our lives
here at LBR, and I don't think anyone who has known him these past 3 months
could ever totally part with him. :) He is scheduled to be
neutered the week of May 24th. We will be watching him VERY closely
for any signs of recourrent hairloss after that "stress" on his system.
He very well might have mild immune related problems throughout his life,
but we've been assured that this is a worst case scenario. Hopefully,
he will live a long and healthy life with his new family.
*************
UPDATE!!! August 2004
Freedom was adopted by a LOVELY family here in the Charleston area,
the Spanns. They were experienced with not only Boston Terriers,
but in special needs cases as well. The Spann family found us through
the Doc Williams SPCA's referal to us, and they spent many days with Freedom
at their home before making the final decision to officially adopt him.
Thanks the the generosity of the Doc Williams SPCA Spay and Neuter Clinic,
Freedom was neutered and microchipped before his new family took him home.
He is still under the care of our veterinarians for continued support ridding
him of the dreaded mites, but the last appointment showed impressive improvements
once again! We are now confident that Freedom will live a happy,
healthy life surrounded by people who love him dearly.
Thanks again to everyone who put forth such a tremendous effort
to save this special boy! We will never forget your extreme generosity
and kindness. The money that was sent to help care for him as well
as covering his adoption fees was an amazing show of selflessness among
his friends far and wide!
Freedom's pending court case against the breeder has over time, been
totally taken over by the Doc Williams SPCA due to the directors of the
facility and Berkeley County Animal Control's experience and resources
in this area of legal situations. Although, LBR's direct involvement,
aside from possibly witness testifying, is over, I will provide updates
as they are provided to me. If we are called to court sometime in
the future, I can only hope that the reasons the case was opened in the
first place is satisfying to those who felt it necessary. Truth will
be told, and nothing will be left out nor allowed to be twisted in favor
of either side. We currently have no information on a court date
at this time.
*************
UPDATE: Oct. 11, 2004
A lot has been learned during these past 8 months, including but
not limitied to fanatical rescuers, who want to "nail" anyone for anything
they deem as unfair treatment. Regardless of someone's personal situations,
there are those who will run with a small part of a story and turn it into
a personal vendetta. They hear only the part of the story that they
think is important enough to make an example of, and then things get totally
out of hand. I've spent some time tonight, revamping this page...
to reflect the real story. Not influenced by anyone telling me that
this former owner should be hung out to dry. I've had to come to
terms with a lot of things and I'm finally to the point in my life, where
I know the difference between right and wrong. I will no longer allow
there to be exaggerations. Yes, Freedom was in HORRID shape when
he arrived in our care, but I also need to remember that we were called
upon for HELP. This wasn't a "rescue mission" to get a dog out of
a life and death situation and away from abuse and neglect. It turned
into that over a short period of time, but that was my fault for letting
it! This was a case of someone who did the best they could with what
they had, then after realizing that his condition had far exceded her abilities,
she trusted whom she thought was a friend to try to help him. I let
that friend down and allowed what happened to be plastered all over the
media and internet. Yes, she could have asked for help sooner, but
even I've gotten over my head with cases and needed help when I didn't
think I could fail.
This is my public apology to Jessy Hillbloom. You were unfairly
treated and accused, and at the time I couldn't see that. I allowed
myself to be influenced by a lot of people, but it's time for me to realize
this and attempt to prevent further damage. I can not undo what's
been done, but I will from here on, use my own head, my own thoughts and
words, and my own heart when it comes to dealing with something like this.
Jessy Hillbloom, formerly of Highlander Boxers and Boston Terriers,
currently Pryde Boxers, has almost been ruined. And it was because
of me. My life is forever changed, since my eyes were opened tonight,
as I sat back and wondered what in the heck I was doing. I have had
no communication with Jessy since the night she turned Freedom over to
us. This is why things got this far out of control. I
have very likely changed the course of any future court case she has against
her, should I ever be called as a witness. I can only hope.
Things could have been so different, and I'm sorry. You were
a good friend and I let you down unlike anyone ever could have.
~~Erin Parham, director of operations, LBR
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