By Janet McAfee
The two Spaniels entered Loving All Animals’ dog rescue program on the same day, May 13, 2016. The dramatic differences between the two animals make for an interesting juxtaposition. At the time, we did not realize that one would play a role in saving the life of the other.
Finn is a 4-month-old bouncing Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, healthy, full of exuberant puppy energy, and touting papers from the American Kennel Club declaring his pedigree. His owner purchased the beautiful tri color dog at a high price from an East Coast breeder, only to have her other dog become very unhappy with the newcomer. She was adamant that no additional training would help, and insisted the new puppy be rehomed.
A beautiful Spaniel mix dog was in a medical crisis at our local county shelter in Thousand Palms that morning. I responded to a desperate plea from Michelle Bergeron, the shelter’s rescue coordinator. Listless and weak, the 4-year-old dog would probably not have survived another day with a red blood cell count of 6%. She peered gratefully at me with her big beautiful brown eyes. She sat very still beside me in the car as we traveled quickly towards Desert Dunes Veterinary Hospital. I kept my hand on her soft head, noting that she responded to the petting. I named her Angel.
Dr. Emswiller at Desert Dunes grimly confirmed the diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and proceeded with a blood transfusion to save Angel’s life. AHA is a serious condition in which the body attacks its own red blood cells. Left untreated, it is usually fatal. We were elated four days later when a recheck of her bloodwork showed significant improvement, and our now beloved pup was out of the “danger” zone. Angel goes in for a follow-up at the vet in early July, but will likely need to remain on medication. Her future humans will need to take her for twice yearly checkups.
Angel was a stray shelter dog, picked up by animal control in a low income rural area. No owner ever came looking for her. Our dog trainer observed her hesitant demeanor, and suspects she was abused. The loving care of Angel’s wonderful foster mom, Nancy Atkisson, played a part in her physical and emotional healing. Nancy reports, “The look in her eyes and her constant display of affection show Angel is grateful for her second chance at life.”
A call came in from Tracey Moses within minutes of Finn’s adorable photo appearing on Facebook. Tracey works for a Santa Monica firm where the owner brings his rescue Cavalier to work. She reports, “I was already in love with this breed. They are sweet, kind, and make the best companions. I was looking for a dog I could take to work with me, and take for walks on the beach.” Finn’s adopter made a generous donation that helped fund Angel’s costly medical care.
Angel continues to thrive in her foster home. Her foster mom enthusiastically reports, “Angel is the best dog I’ve ever had, devoted and loyal, loving and easy going”. Angel will soon seek her “forever” home, a home that will provide lots of love and the veterinary care she will no doubt require.
Donations enable animal welfare organizations like Loving All Animals to provide a safety net and medical care to give homeless animals like Angel a second chance. The shelter dogs they rescue and rehome often have received no previous veterinary care. Donations from Loving All Animals’ supporters fund numerous surgeries and lifesaving procedures on many of their rescue animals. All the animals also need to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. You can donate online at www.lovingallanimals.org and designate “Vet Costs” as the reason or call (760) 834-7000.
Jmcafee7@verizon.net
