Having Courage

A few weeks ago the animal community was stunned at the news of a severly emaciated German Shepherd. His condition was reported in anonomously, but he was found tied to a tree with no food or water. It appears he had been left that way for a long while, some estimate 5 or 6 weeks, though I cannot believe he survived that long.

Here is a snipet from from the Examiner.com about German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County (GSROC), the group that rescued the poor dog:

When GSROC found the dog, he was lying depleted on the ground too weak to physically lift his own head! At 37 pounds, he was literally skin and bones. A healthy German Shepherd his age normally weighs between 75-85 pounds. He bore the vacant gaze of an animal so overtaken by the war waged upon him that the ghost of his own death had long since been beckoning. In fact, to look at him one couldn’t even be certain he was still a living dog. His was the image of a creature who had all but given up mentally and physically. However, it was a sheer force of will that allowed this dog to survive for as long as he had. And for that he was aptly named “Courage.”

The GSROC rescuer raced against the clock trying to get Courage to the emergency care at the Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove. She feared he might not even make it to the hospital. Once there extensive emergency treatment was immediately enacted upon him including a thorough GI flush, blood, plasma, electrolyte and vitamin transfusions, antibiotics and fluids. Numerous tests were also conducted to determine organ functionality. This initial examination revealed that he, literally, would not have been able to survive one more day in those conditions. He’d held on as long as he could. When flushing out his intestinal tract to remove blockage found in the system, the vet learned it was full of dirt and rocks – Courage had been eating dirt and rocks to survive. Dirt and rocks.

Full story:

http://www.examiner.com/x-40189-LA-Dog-Rescue-Examiner~y2010m4d15-German-Shepherd-Courage-victim-of-cruel-abuse

Today, and demonstrating that once again, with a little love and care and due in part to contributions from the public (I donated a little bit and I hope you will, too), another dog is given a new lease on life..

Thankfully, Courage now basks in the love and attention of his new foster family, GSROC volunteers and Community Veterinary Hospital staff, not to mention the whole of Southern California and beyond.

From Maria Dales of GSROC says:

“Physically,” she said, “it's so refreshing to see some meat on his bones, although he has a long way to go. If this is how he looks at 55 pounds, he needs to be an 85 pound dog easily, so he'll continue to eat the high quality diet that the vet has prescribed.” His vet is Dr. Bill Grant of Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove. And thanks to Dr. Grant and his staff, the affable dog seems to be getting the right amount of medical attention and TLC required for a full recovery.

To donate or learn more about Courage, call this number: (714) 974.7762 at German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County, a registered non-profit 501c(3) organization serving Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and more. Also keep updated on his progress on his web-page.

Courage's abuser, one Kimberly Nizato, faces up to five years in prison.

Share

xoxo (Thank you to German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County and Dr. Bill Grant of Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove.)