maggies_lens

Windy, xihateyourex, we must be connected over the great animal-lovers intermindwebz or something. We all seem to have rescues going on!
Al and I decided to walk the dogs down where we went with the dirt bike. It meant we had to drive down this dirt rd that is used primarily by trucks at a spoil depot. It's heavily overgrown on either side with rushes, grass, blackberries and other weeds. People dump a lot of rubbish there as well which sucks. Once you get past that part tho it's actually not that bad. Anyway, we walked the dogs for about an hour or so and then headed back. I keep a hoof pick in the car to help clean off the huge thick gooey mud. We'd just finished cleaning our shoes and taken off, when Al suddenly slammed on the brakes. I looked up at the rd and there was a GHOST! I swear that's what it looked like. A little white ghost trotting down the rd towards us. It came right up to us and resolved itself into a very dirty, very skinny, scared little WHIPPET!!!!
Side note: maggie has a very serious THING with dogs that look anything like greyhounds and absolutly adores whippets, has wanted one for many, many years.
We called out to the dog and it came bolting for us. I opened my door and in he jumped! He, quick check showed he was indeed a he, was shaking like crazy and obviously extremely happy to be with humans. Kody tried to sniff him but the dog was scared and barked at him so he backed off. Poor litlle thing. I swear, I have never seen such a skinny dog in my life. He was nothing but skin draped over bone. Literally. His muzzle, ears, nose and legs were cut up pretty badly from sun burn, black berries and god knows what else. He was also crawling with fleas. But as soon as he settled onto my lap he started to lick my hands so gently. I hugged him close and that was it! He wasn't going ANYWHERE.
Well, I wish that's how it could be. But while I want him, and Al wants him even more than i do, we have to do the right thing. I called the Pearcedale Animal Shelter and asked if we could bring him in. They said to come straight down. Al drove while I cuddled 'Snowball'. Poor dog was just exhausted, you know? He cuddled into me as hard as he could. We turned the heater up and I held him close, getting gentle little licks for my trouble.The people at the shelter were falling over themselves when they saw him. Al took care of him while I did the paperwork. He perked right up with all the attention, let me tell you! But you could see he was very, very tired.
They took him out back to Quarentine where he will stay for the next 8 days. They'll scan him for a microchip. He has been de-sexed and he was very affectionate so I'm finding it very hard to believe he was dumped. I reckon he got out at some stage and has been running loose back there for a while. I'm hoping this will be the case and there is an owner worried sick about their litle dog who will shortly be getting the phone call to come fetch him. Who knows how long he's been out there? I mean he was SERIOUSLY skinny, so bad that I could feel every single bone through his lower chest when I was holding him. That is VERY unnatural in a dog.
We've indicated if his owners do not come forward after the 8 days and there are no takers in the adoption time-frame, we'll be taking him. I have a feeling tho that our chances of getting him are quite slim; he's beautiful for all his skeletal appearance and his nature is amazing so even if no owner comes forward he'll get adopted. Whippets are not that common a breed here and they aren't a 'popular' breed so ppl who get them usually seek them out from breeders specifically. Either way, he will NOT be put down, he has a home here if needed. Al esp is very enamoured of him. I'll call them tomorrow and see if he has a chip and what's happening.
Before we left the shelter I purhased that anti-fle liquid you put behind animals' shoulder blades as seriously he was infested with them and had been in the car with our two. The lady who did the paperwork for us was impressed with what we'd done and how we were willing to take him on no matter what that she gave us the staff discount on it, how nice was THAT of her! Treated our dogs as soon as we got home. We didn't allow them to sniff or anything so his worm burden (which no doubt he had) wouldn't have been passed on. Poor little guy. I hope he's ok. It's not easy to re-hab a starving animal, you have to be VERY careful with how much and how often you feed them. The temptation is to stuff them and give them full access, but in fact you have to give a very small amout but frequently. And it can't be rich stuff either. He's in good hands now, hopefully he'll already have had his first feed and de-flea. His poor skin was red-raw from the bites. I do have a couple of photos but they are on my mobile/cell. I believe he is pure white under all the fllth, with small brown spots on his back.
I'm so glad we found him when we did, I don't think he had long left. Whippets are not renowed for their ability to deal with cold and/or neglect. If someone has dumped him.... I will track them down and KILL them.