I was the person who had the task of talking to the former
"owners" of Devon when we wanted to visit to make sure
he was a golden before we took him in. The owner said he was
a 100 lb red dog, sweet natured great with kids, walks nicely
on a leash, gives his paw and his name is Goliath! My mental
image at this point is a large red golden, out of control and
energy to burn - just the type of golden I seem to have the knack
of attracting! We talked about big dogs being in the house etc
and how they had had to put him in the yard because he was so
bouncy etc....
When I arrived at the house, I got there just ahead of John &
Gail, nothing in my conversations with the owner had prepared
me for what I met. On the end of a large rope which was looped
around his neck was this pathetic, droopy, weepy eyed dog. The
fact that he had four legs and a tail was really the only way
this dog could be described. My first reaction which I voiced
"this is not a golden", his entire body was crawling
with fleas and ants, every part of this dogs body with the exception
of his head was red raw from flea dermatitis. The only jumpy
bouncy thing about this animal were the large fleas who were
using his body as their own personal buffet!! His body appeared
malnourished and he was literally listless from days, weeks and
months living on a chain in the yard with only a small wooden
dog kennel for shelter from the brutal sun we have had in this
area so far this year. He looked up at me and this pathetic dog,
with barely any coat, and who had no reason to have any respect
for humans he looked at me and then he wagged his tail, and nudged
me with his nose to pet him. So I stood on the pathway petting
this pathetic looking dog until John & Gail arrived.
They too didn't think this dog was golden, I left it up to them
to call it, in my mind this dog was coming out of its present
home one way or another, but I kept that to myself. John &
Gail were of the same opinion, get this dog into rescue and at
least give him a chance at some sort of a life (if he has a chance!).
We had the owner sign the surrender and it was arranged that
I would pick him up after work the next day at 3:30pm. I didn't
sleep well that night, images of this dog kept flashing though
my mind imagining him crouching in his little dog kennel wasting
for another day of sun to burn his skin, laying there while the
fleas had their wicked way with what was left of his body. I
was convinced that this dog was too far gone to bring back to
health, but at least we would have tried and if he had to travel
to the Rainbow Bridge he would go knowing at least someone on
this earth cared about him. My plan was pick up the dog, use
the owners hose to at least bathe him, put Advantage on him and
get him to my vet that afternoon at 4:30. As always the best
made plans don't always come off smoothly.
As I traveled to pick him up the heavens opened and although
I was glad to see the rain knowing we had such a drought in FL,
I knew now I was in for a wet stinky dog, covered in GOD knows
what in my van for the trip to the vet. When I pulled up, Goliath
was tied to the door handle with the rain pouring off the roof
onto his body. The owner did come out and helped me get him into
a crate in my van. Goliath never made a sound all the way to
the vets, I talked to him and at every stop light I petted his
nose which was sticking through the bars.
The vets office could not believe the site I greeted them with,
but Dr. Neher was great, he has known me now for almost three
years and knew that I was upset, he joked about everything, fully
examined Goliath and of course the first test came back positive
HEARTWORMS. Dr. Neher agreed to treat these for the rescue at
cost :)
Malnourished, dehydrated, eye infection possibly and he suspected
every type of intestinal parasite known to the dog world :(
But all curable, all hopeful, I then proceeded to use their tub
and shampooed the fleas.....I think at that point there were
way more fleas than there was dog!!!!! With every flea that jumped
off and died this dog must have felt better....I know I did!
When I delivered Devon to John and Gails house later that evening
he looked 100% better than when I picked him up....this dog may
turn out to be not 100% golden...but he has a HUGE golden heart
and I know he is eternally grateful to John & Gail and I
for picking him up and taking him out of the hell he was in and
giving him a chance at a normal life.
This dog will make a wonderful companion, what ever love this
dog receives he will give back tenfold. Everyday I thank my instinct
for telling me to go to see that dog that night at that time....he
was spared from living in a kennel on a rope along with a million
fleas for the rest of his life. This is truly a GOLDEN RESCUE! |
