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Acton/Georgetown, Friday, May 11, 2007 25 YOU AND YOUR PET Skin and bones Trooper is rescued from near starvation JUDITH-ANNE KOLU UCHS volunteer Desolation, abandonment, loneliness, and above all starvation were all embodied in the first sighting of the dog that came to be known as Trooper. One of our animal control officers took the call at 7 a.m. knowing that this usually meant at this time of day an animal in severe distress or horribly injured. A homeowner had seen this mere "ghost" of a dog outside her house and called the UCHS and thank goodness she did. Our animal control officer raced to respond to the call, and on arrival her first thoughts on approaching the dog was "Is he even going to make it back to the Shelter". Standing, or rather wobbling in front of her was a black lab-mix skeleton weighing (it was later registered) 35 lbs.. Trooper was so weak from starvation that he could hardly stand, if he moved, he would wobble and topple over. Walking was not a possibility, he had no flesh to speak of and was virtually "skin and bones". The emotion of the moment was overwhelming for even our animal control officers, but she knew there was a job to be done. She spoke to him softly and picked him up gently, even this action caused him to whimper in pain. She laid him carefully on blankets on the front seat next to her and started to drive. What happened then was heartrenching... this dear soul laid his bony head in her lap, and just looked up at her as if to say at last, I recognize that "someone cares for me. A vet visit, and lengthy stay of many weeks, was immediate. The vet, who has been in practice for some time, was appalled at Trooper's condition and said she had never seen a dog so thin and emaciated. She felt he had weathered most of the winter (maybe even four months) battling starvation and sub-zero temperatures. She also designated him a "fighter" with obviously a strong will to survive. Trooper was fed six meals of puppy food each day for weeks, and was housed at the vet for all that time. Trooper's past, although unknown, must have been one of a loved trained dog, what happened to him we will never know. We feel he was an "indoor dog" fully housetrained and knowing you do not soil your den. He knows all his commands "go to be given a chance at a new life. The light returning to Trooper's eyes says it all. Pet of the Month bed", "speak', "shake paws", "come", "sit", "lie down" which makes his will to live totally amazing. He meets everything with great fortitude and has a very "special sweet soul". Everyone who meets him enjoy the experience immensely. Trooper is now in a foster home sharing life with two other large dogs, eight cats and four horses. He now weighs in at 50 lb and is slowly gaining weight on the puppy food and is fed three times a day, which will eventually go to two. Trooper is responding like a "normal" canine, a little afraid of the horses, respectful of the two resident dogs (who seem to know they cannot rough-house with him) and wanting to interact with the eight cats which he is learning after an indignant scratch or two is not a good thing! His foster Mum says he constantly demonstrates his very strong will to live, an inner strength which is emotional to see. For instance he is endeavouring to master stairs again, and tries valiantly, and she feels that once again he will do it. Were all the vet bills and the strain on the Society worth it? Of course they were. One look at the rebirth of this boy lets you know that the job the UCHS is doing is superlative. Trooper would have been euthanized at many facilities but that is why I am proudly associated with the UCHS because they feel it is the right of even those many would turn away to TROOPER UCHS establishes Trooper's Fund Upper Credit Humane Society is announcing the establishment of Trooper's Fund for the purpose of helping animals like Trooper and the many other special needs animals that come into our Shelter. This fund will allow us to provide the extensive medical care that goes into rehabilitating and healing these animals such as dental surgery, Xrays, orthopedic surgery, or other expensive medical procedures that without the help of kind people, we would be unable to perform. We can accept personal cheques, Visa, debit or cash. Please make cheques out to Upper Credit Humane Society, and indicate in the memo that your donation is to go to Trooper's Fund. Send to Trooper's Fund, Upper Credit Humane Society, 5383 Wellington Road 24, RR 2 Erin, Ontario, N0B 1T0 or call 519-833-2287. Genevieve the cat says thanks for donations Genevieve, the pretty calico feline, who had an injured eye due to a pellet gun, would like to thank the general public for the response to her surgery plea. Over $1,000 was donated to pay for her surgery. She has had great progress with excellent healing after surgery, some vision has been reinstated and the prognosis for a long and happy life in her new home is very good. The public's support has enabled us to have dental surgery for another cat in residence who was suffering. This kitty's teeth were giving her a lot of pain. Thanks to you she is now a happy cat eating once again, painfree and looking forward to finding a home. Thank you to all of you who supported us-- we could not have done it without you. Is your dog; Is your dog; Recovering from surgery? Experiencing Recovering from surgery? dysplasia? arthritis, paralysis, or hip Experiencing arthritis, paralysis, or hip dysplasia? Needing to keep fit for that competitive edge? 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