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There are as many answers to that question as there are people doing rescue work.
The following pictures may help explain in visual terms why we became involved.
Mikey's Story...
Desiree, a Pitt Bull rescuer in the Little Rock, AR area, contacted us about two bassets she found and was caring for. She asked if
there was any way we could come get these dogs. Well... yes. As a matter
of fact, we were making a business trip there the next day and would
bring them back with us. So... Mikey's story began with a trip "home"
in the back of a funeral coach. Desiree warned us that although
the little girl was in pretty good condition, the boy was in pretty
bad shape. We were in no way prepared for what we were about to
see. The pictures do not begin to reflect the condition Mikey was
in.
• Click on the images for a larger view in
a new window•
- The first picture is Mike as Desiree found him. He should weigh
about 60-65 lbs. He weighed in at 38.
- Picture #2 is on the ride home, and 24 hours after Desiree
put a Preventic tick collar on him
- Picture #3 is in our front yard. Those spots on him are just
some of the thousands of ticks he had on him.
The next morning found us travelling with Mike and Molly, his companion,
to Gladys' where they were to be fostered. Mike didn't even get
to get out of the car... we picked up Gladys and took him immediately
to Dr. Kuhl, DVM, because we didn't think he would live much longer.
Doc checked Mikey and found that not only was probably 8 - 10 years
old, anemic and suffering from severe starvation, but he had the
worst case of heartworm Doc had seen in his entire practice. He
also said Mikey wouldn't have lived another week, maybe two, if
he hadn't been rescued.
The long, slow process of building him up began. Gladys diligently
and lovingly fed Mikey 3 meals a day, gave him vitamins and kept
him quiet while he gained enough strength to undergo the heartworm
treatment. About this time, Gladys adopted Mikey so he was now her
boy, and he had a forever home.
About three months went by and Mikey thrived under Gladys' care,
so his heartworm treatment began. Because of the severity of the
disease, Doc did some research and found out that the safest way
to treat him was to do it gradually over a period of a couple of
months. November 6, 2001 was Mikey's last treatment - the interceptor.
Once again, Doc braced us for what could happen - if it was going
to kill him, this would be the treatment that did it. He had a couple
of rocky moments, but Mikey, trooper that he is, pulled through
and is now a beautiful, healthy, happy boy weighing in at 60+ lbs.
with the softest, silkiest, shiniest coat you've ever seen. He is
also the very distinguished Patriarch of the kennel, and all the
younger dogs defer to his gentle wisdom.
Here's Mikey as he was January 13, 2002. There's not a decent picture
of him here because he was so excited to have company that he wouldn't
hold still. For a 10 y/o boy who's been as sick as he was, he sure
has come a long way!
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