Homeless, sick dog under staircase finally saved in Ranau
Published on: Monday, November 23, 2020
By: Dr Roslee bin Haji Abbas
Text Size:
IT GOES without saying that every dog deserves to be loved and cherished. Unfortunately, some pooches end up being cast aside without a warm family to care for them. This was the case of a sick homeless dog in Ranau. The sick doggo had spent all her life on the streets of Ranau town and was very sick. One of our volunteers in Ranau discovered the dog’s plight and alerted us.
When Heart rescue team came in for the rescue, we were completely shocked that this was an animal, let alone a living one. She was not moving whilst we were staring intently at her. The dog was so sick and weak that she refused to lift her head or consume any food. She was terribly thin, only skin and bone. The doggo was inflamed, red and itching, the lower part of her body covered in flea scabs and sores. She had given up all hope in life. We named her Gardenia.
Gardenia, a homeless dog had been living a bleak life filled with multiple uncertainties. There was never enough food or medical aid for her. But what she really desired was a sense of belonging. However, all her hopes were washed away when she got really sick. The poor dog realised that she had become “untouchable” due to her sickness. People would look down on her with disgust, while her various oozing wounds never let her rest comfortably. She felt defeated, and curled up under a corner of a staircase of a building.
Before taking her to the vet clinic, we diligently kept cleaning her mangy wounds and caressing her with love. She endured with pain, her legs were numbed, unable to stand up. The heartbroken dog had no idea how to react to the sudden compassion coming from humans. The sick stray dog’s legs were numbed which restricted her movements.
Since she was too feeble to extricate herself, she offered her paw to us knowing that we were her last hope. Gardenia was quiet the whole time and never attempted to make any struggle during the rescue. Instead, she just stared at us with a blank look in her eyes. We knew that the doggo was not afraid of us, and she also somehow understood that we were there to help her. Because of her condition, we were scared to touch her. Thus, we bundled her 15kg body in rags. We proceeded to gently hoist her out of the staircase building where she had been hiding and seeking refuge from the sun, rain and humans. Gardenia is a true survivor but no dog should suffer like she did. She was just so sick. We cannot imagine the pain and trauma that Gardenia went through.
We cannot help but feel amazed as the dog obediently let us carry her as we went to the car. Gardenia was a very trusting pooch despite the miserable state she was in. We feared that the pooch might not withstand the ninety-minute ride to the Tuaran veterinary clinic because she was too ill. We decided to bring Gardenia directly to the nearby vet in Ranau.
When we arrived at the vet, the vet checked that Gardenia was unstable. Unfortunately, the three - year-old doggo’s check-up revealed that she was sunburned, dehydrated, malnourished, and on top of that, has the worst case of mange, asteothritis and anaemia. Her health was unstable thus the vet kept the rescued pooch in their care and under observation until she stabilises. We hope Gardenia’s health gets better soon.
This sweet-natured girl with the big brown eyes and the perfectly pointy ears almost didn’t make it. She was just so sick when she arrived at the vet clinic. Dogs like her have little or no chance of survival out on the streets. And they have nobody to help them but you. Only you can rescue more helpless puppies and give them a life they truly deserve.
We need your support to help us change the lives of homeless animals who are sick, injured, hungry and going through the darkest of times. It’s only your generosity that can change their agonizing lives, and this year more than ever we urgently need your donation. It is only together that we can change lives. Without your urgent help, many homeless animals like Gardenia will be left alone in the streets to fend for themselves. Your support will help save these lives. Please help us save more homeless animals like Gardenia! Every animal deserves a second chance.
We receive no government funding and rely on the support and kindness from our community, private donations and charity bazaar to complete our mission. Heart does not euthanise animals to make space to house others. We are A no-kill animal welfare group and work to preserve life whenever possible.
If you would like to help to pay for Gardenia’s medical veterinary bill and her other expenses please send your money to:
CIMB BANK BERHAD
Account no.
70 3762569 4
Every ringgit helps! Thank you in advance for your generous, big and small (and no donation is too small)! Have a heart. Donate.
ADVERTISEMENT
