Chained dog starved nearly to death
- da: Varrath
- destinatario: German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County
Wednesday, Apr 7, 2010
Somewhere in a lonely back yard, a young dog lived chained to a tree without food, water or attention.
He waited for that food, and when it didn't come, he ate dirt. Eventually the dog laid down and he didn't get up.
But still, he didn't die.
An anonymous Good Samaritan stepped in April 7 and rescued the German Shepherd from sure death. The animal, not much more than skin and bone, wailed in agony on the way to get help.
The dog was taken to an emergency animal hospital in Orange County where a horrified veterinary technician called friends at German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County.
Everyone held their breath... would the dog make it through the night?
He made it, and GSROC went to work.
The nonprofit named the dog Courage and transferred him to Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove where Dr. Bill Grant got to work.
"This is as bad as it gets," Grant said Tuesday.
The dog is too weak to stand and can barely lift his head. He weighed 37 pounds -- less than half his normal body weight -- when he was rescued. But with a weak kiss and a sparkle in his big brown eyes, the dog made a connection with his caretakers.
"This dog does not belong here, with us," Grant said. "But he seems to be willing to live, and he's recovering well."
GSROC volunteer Shawn Hollub is Courage's guardian angel by day. She stops by daily to visit him and stroke the gold and black fur stretched tautly over prodding bones.
"I told him, 'If you fight, we'll find a way to help you get better,' " Hollub said.
And Courage is fighting. Grant said the dog, which he estimates to be about 3 years old, is eating well and attempting to use atrophied muscles to lift himself from the floor. He's not out of the woods yet and more tests will tell if Courage's kidneys and liver will recover from the advanced malnutrition.
Orange County Register reporter Samantha Bowen met Courage on Tuesday at the hospital. Despite his skeletal appearance and months of neglect, the dog was sweet natured and eager to kiss and be touched.
As Dr. Grant knelt to say hello, Courage mustered the strength to roll slightly and offered his belly to the vet. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"He's fought an incredible battle," Grant said. "And he's here. He's on the right road now."
It will take months for the dog to get back on his feet and resume a normal life, Grant says. But GSROC and its team of volunteers are prepared to help Courage recover and eventually find him a new family.
"He should have been dead," Hollub said with tears in her eyes.
GSROC is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who knows more about the dog's owners. They don't know where the dog originated but are hopeful a neighbor will recognize Courage's photo and call in a tip.
For more information about Courage's, e-mail info@gsroc.org. Donations toward Courage's medical bills and care can be made at www.gsroc.org or 177F Riverside Avenue, Ste. 143, Newport Beach, CA 92663. Call 714-974-7762 for more information.
Read more: Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Chained dog starved nearly to death - Garden Grove, CA (US) http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/16305/CA/US/#ixzz0nMo6OZAR
Help find the abuser and/or owner of this poor animal. Sign the petition today to show your support of Courage!
Somewhere in a lonely back yard, a young dog lived chained to a tree without food, water or attention.
He waited for that food, and when it didn't come, he ate dirt. Eventually the dog laid down and he didn't get up.
But still, he didn't die.
An anonymous Good Samaritan stepped in April 7 and rescued the German Shepherd from sure death. The animal, not much more than skin and bone, wailed in agony on the way to get help.
The dog was taken to an emergency animal hospital in Orange County where a horrified veterinary technician called friends at German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County.
Everyone held their breath... would the dog make it through the night?
He made it, and GSROC went to work.
The nonprofit named the dog Courage and transferred him to Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove where Dr. Bill Grant got to work.
"This is as bad as it gets," Grant said Tuesday.
The dog is too weak to stand and can barely lift his head. He weighed 37 pounds -- less than half his normal body weight -- when he was rescued. But with a weak kiss and a sparkle in his big brown eyes, the dog made a connection with his caretakers.
"This dog does not belong here, with us," Grant said. "But he seems to be willing to live, and he's recovering well."
GSROC volunteer Shawn Hollub is Courage's guardian angel by day. She stops by daily to visit him and stroke the gold and black fur stretched tautly over prodding bones.
"I told him, 'If you fight, we'll find a way to help you get better,' " Hollub said.
And Courage is fighting. Grant said the dog, which he estimates to be about 3 years old, is eating well and attempting to use atrophied muscles to lift himself from the floor. He's not out of the woods yet and more tests will tell if Courage's kidneys and liver will recover from the advanced malnutrition.
Orange County Register reporter Samantha Bowen met Courage on Tuesday at the hospital. Despite his skeletal appearance and months of neglect, the dog was sweet natured and eager to kiss and be touched.
As Dr. Grant knelt to say hello, Courage mustered the strength to roll slightly and offered his belly to the vet. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"He's fought an incredible battle," Grant said. "And he's here. He's on the right road now."
It will take months for the dog to get back on his feet and resume a normal life, Grant says. But GSROC and its team of volunteers are prepared to help Courage recover and eventually find him a new family.
"He should have been dead," Hollub said with tears in her eyes.
GSROC is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone who knows more about the dog's owners. They don't know where the dog originated but are hopeful a neighbor will recognize Courage's photo and call in a tip.
For more information about Courage's, e-mail info@gsroc.org. Donations toward Courage's medical bills and care can be made at www.gsroc.org or 177F Riverside Avenue, Ste. 143, Newport Beach, CA 92663. Call 714-974-7762 for more information.
Read more: Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Chained dog starved nearly to death - Garden Grove, CA (US) http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/16305/CA/US/#ixzz0nMo6OZAR
Help find the abuser and/or owner of this poor animal. Sign the petition today to show your support of Courage!
We the undersigned would like to show our support for Courage, and our admiration at his attitude and, well, courage towards life.
This story has been a great inspiration, and a wonderful tale of the value of life, and we believe no animal deserves to be treated like this.
We hope you find the abuser and put him away, so that Courage can have the justice he deserves.
Firma la petizioneFirma la petizioneThis story has been a great inspiration, and a wonderful tale of the value of life, and we believe no animal deserves to be treated like this.
We hope you find the abuser and put him away, so that Courage can have the justice he deserves.
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