How can anyone
deliberately starve a dog? Or any living creature for
that matter? When Animal Control was called to a home
based on a tip about animal cruelty, they found an
emaciated 44-lb male golden retriever on the brink of
death. He was taken to an animal shelter where
volunteers feared for his life. They knew that if he
didn’t get veterinary care immediately, he would die.
Golden Re-Triever Rescue was called.
Our volunteer was
not prepared for what she ultimately saw. This poor
boy gazed up at her with dull eyes; he was giving up …
he was ready to die. She immediately arranged for
foster care and transported him to his temporary
home. He was taken to a vet where extensive testing
was done to ensure that none of his organs were
affected by his long-term starvation and severe
neglect. Thankfully none were. He was placed on a
bland diet to help his body re-adjust to food. Slowly
he started to realize that there was a reason to
live. We named him Spirit. It took several weeks,
but slowly that sparkle came back into his eyes; he
realized there was a place in the yard where he could
go to relieve himself without having to lie in it; he
realized he didn’t need to gulp his food down because
there really was going to be more. The shine came
back into his coat, he gained 30 lbs. and his medical
problems cleared up. Spirit was ready to go to his
new home.
A young couple
read Spirit’s story on our website and knew that they
had to adopt this senior. They wanted to give him all
the love and attention that had been sorely lacking in
his life. So several weeks before Christmas Spirit
was adopted and moved to his forever home. He was
re-named Ed. Ed got himself a big fenced in back yard
where he could play in the snow; he got a new orthopedic
bed for Christmas, and lots of toys. He was spoiled
rotten and loving every minute of it. And then
to make things even sweeter, he
got a new “human” baby to share his life with.
Ed’s life
certainly took a dramatic turn – from one of severe
neglect and abuse – to one of unconditional love,
safety and trust.
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