ON TEMPORARY MEDICAL HOLD!
When the shelter staff called, they said they had two Bulldogs for rescue that were in rough shape. They warned us to prepare ourselves.
So, mentally and physically, we prepared ourselves for what we were about to see.
“Rough” can mean anything from old or blind, to starved or too fat to move. More often than not, it means abused or neglected. Some may be feral. Some may be sick.
But how do you prepare yourself for this?
How can anyone see these two Bulldogs every day and simply do nothing? It didn’t happen overnight. It most likely started on their feet. It’s demodex. Their mother likely had it and looked like this too. And every puppy in her litter likely looked like this. It’s treatable and curable.
Yesterday, I think I lost all faith in the human race. It was all Debbie and I could do to not fall apart. But we lifted each dog up and held them like they were fine pieces of China. Their skin was hot~ it felt as if they were on fire. The smell alone would take your breath away. And they had actually already received some care ~ a shelter worker was kind enough to take them home so they could be bathed, medicated and rubbed with cream.
When we left the shelter, the pups rode in silence, looking out the back window. We knew they were leaving a life of misery and abuse behind, but they seemed unsure. You can’t blame them.
Debbie and I rode in silence too, trying to understand how anyone could allow this to happen and not do anything. How could someone let them go and pretend they would be just fine?
Hawkins and Hazel Bloom are the lucky ones. They got picked up by caring animal services workers, who in turn contacted us because they knew these dogs mattered. They may be heartworm positive, covered in demodex and smell like death… but their lives still matter.
