Through the generosity of the posters on the ACME Doghouse Bulletin Board
'Chipi', as he was known then, had been owner-surrendered, with his 'sister Sheltie, for euthenasia to the Manhattan Shelter for the Care and Protection of Animals -- which is reputed to be the WORST shelter in NY. His owner claimed that 'Chipi' was 10 years old and had ear infections. 'Chipi' was put into a concrete 'hole in the wall' that was no bigger than a varikennel 200, where he stayed for 6 days. It had a mesh front.
The sister dog was put down immediately. Due to some error, Chip was skipped over and was there when Karen from Sheltie Rescue found him the following Monday. He had not evacuated his bowels or urinated the entire time he had been there. When she took him out of his 'hole' he could hardly walk. His nails had grown so long that they curled under and were growing into the pads of his feet. The hair between his toes was matted and growing into his skin. He had a MASSIVE coat (sable and white) that had never seen a brush or a bath. There was an ugly, inflamed, bare spot on his rump and down his spine.
When Karen walked him outside, he passed urine that had concentrated to the point of thickness. There was green pus coming out of his ears. The tear duct in his eye was inflamed and had grown a cyst. He was overweight with malnutrition.
She took him out of there -- bless her!
Four vets have seen him, as have numerous breeders and other sheltie rescue people. All have placed him at being no more than 5 or 6 years of age. Karen says that most of the dogs surrendered to that shelter are surrendered with a lie. It is absolutely heartbreaking....
And yet, in spite of a lifetime of neglect, somebody must have done something right. Chip has a wonderful temperment. He loves people and attention, and he loves the bandana he received at the Sheltie list picnic. But his body shows the signs of his neglect, his lack of nutrition. All of his joints are weak. He is very down on his pasterns. He needs to be carried up and down stairs.
All of my other dogs are athleltes. I hope Chipi can jump onto the couch. If he wants to spend the rest of his life being a couch Denali....I mean, a couch potato...(inside joke) that's fine with me. He's earned the right to be pampered.
Under Karen's care he is already improving. His ears are clearing up -- they're still sore but no longer red or inflamed. The hair on is butt is starting to grow back. He is a little stronger.
Chip will be coming home to me on July 11th, if the weather is not too hot. We've got him planned for a flight out of LaGuardia at 6:15 am and it arrives in Memphis just before 8 am, so I think we'll be all right. I'm going to drive up to get him (almost 3 hours each way). I don't want him having to sit in a crate for several hours waiting for a connecting flight to Little Rock.
Chip is your rescue, too. so those of you who supported this effort, be it with money or just good wishes, should take some satisfaction out of making this dog's life so much better than it was. And thank you!
from left to right: Dax, Robbie (rescue), Tommy (rescue) and Maggie (not her best picture)
(Picture taken 7/11/98)
As of 7/14/98, Robbie is steadily improving. He is voluntarilly doing the stairs, up and down, from my house to the outside, if I keep one hand on his withers for reassurance. From the minute he walked into the house he was accepted by the entire pack -- canine and feline. He is no trouble at all.
The first day he was here, he decided to join us in 'treat time'. This is a little ritual that has evolved, in which I call "treat time" and all the dogs volunteer some behavior in order to earn their treat. Maggie and Dax decided to do 'downs'. Tommy waved. And just as I was going to give Robbie his treat for coming, he very slowly and laborously began to sit, an action that causes pain to him and pain to anyone watching. As soon as his butt hit ground I gave him a treat and then a bonus. This dog has the heart of a lion.
We are as glad to have him as he is to being with us.
I would like to thank all of you very much for making it possible for me to come to my new home at Dax O'Buff's, where I am recuperating from the many physical problems I had.
When I came here I could hardly walk. Everything hurt so bad that I could hardly lift my head and I had to be carried up and down the stairs. Dax, Tommy, and Maggie have been great to me, always treating me gently. There is a little girl here, and I love her very much, and the man of the house is very good to me, too.
I don't know if it's the good food, the vitamins, the homeopathic remedies, the exercise, the affection or a combination of all of these things, but I am growing stronger every day. I can do stairs now. My back legs are working independently again, even if they are stiff. Two days ago I tried trotting for the first time in a long time. I was kind of shaky and I couldn't do it for long but I'll keep practicing.
Every day, Dax O'Buff takes us utside to play, in the morning before it really gets hot. The other dogs retrieve tennis balls or Dax the GSD catches the frisbee. I usually just walk around a little, then stand by Dax O'Buff to get some hugs and pats inbetween throws.
Yesterday, Maggie, the other Sheltie who lives there, was barking her enthusiasm as she ran after the ball. I watched her for a while, then I felt something wierd happen. There was a breeze on my flanks and looked around to find that my tail was wagging. When I turned back, Dax O'Buff had crouched down beside me with a big smile on her face. I lifted my head and kissed her on the chin, then I bowed as low as I could get with this still stiff body, then bounced up. Somebody was barking happily. I thought it was Maggie but Dax O'Buff was laughing and congratulating me for finding my voice. She said some more nice things to me and I just couldn't stand it any more. I turned around and I did something that took me a few yards away from DOB. I stopped dead in my tracks, until I realized that I had run -- a three beat canter, for the first time in I don't know how long.
It felt WONDERFUL, so I ran some more -- not too far because I like staying near DOB, and the other dogs came and ran with me and we made a big circle around her. Dax the dog offered me her tennis ball but I'm not near ready for that yet. I don't think it will be too long, though, before I am.
Dax O'Buff says that she will try and take some pictures of me this weekend to share with you.
This is a very good place to be, and again, I'd like to thank you all for helping me get here, and giving me this opportunity to live and get strong, instead of letting me be killed in that shelter in NYC.
