7 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Neglected dog well-fed, but not well-groomed Continued from page 1 Fall Mississauga-Oakville Bridge Centre Bridge And The American Contract Bridge League weeks, weeks, $149.00 Lessons FOR BEGINNERS...87:30, beginning Sept. 21 FOR "RUSTY" PLAYERS...8beginning$149.0021 Monday mornings 9:30, Sept. Monday evenings st rd st "She couldn't walk because the hair on her back legs had completely matted together," said Johanne Golder, executive director of the Oakville and District Humane Society. "The biggest question was trying to find where her eyes were in there because you couldn't see her eyes at all. Her nails were completely overgrown and her eyes and ears were swollen shut with infection, completely swollen shut." Golder said the infections set in because the dog's fur was so heavily matted that moisture became trapped against the skin, allowing bacteria to flourish. Those at the shelter estimate it could have taken as much as a year for the dog, now known as Daisy, to arrive in the condiLOVES ATTENTION: Despite her negtion she was found in. lect, Daisy has retained a friendly personality. With Daisy's arrival, the shelter took immediate precautions to stop her from get"Things would have to be pretty bad for a ting any worse. dog to get like that. It was disgusting. I've "We did a quick exam and realized she never seen anything like her. The pictures was in a bad way. We took some pictures of do not do the whole situation justice." her and then got her to the vet. They had to An investigation by the Oakville and completely shave her down, which wasn't District Humane Society's Animal easy to do and was quite painful for her," said Protective Services Department is currently Golder. underway and charges could be laid if the "She's got rotting teeth and gums and all dog's owner is found. of that is going to have to be removed and A charge of animal cruelty or neglect carwe think there has been permanent damage ries more than just a slap on the wrist, with done to her ears, maybe those convicted facing a even her hearing." fine that could run as "She's not skinny, so When shaved off the someone was feeding her. high as $60,000 or a matted fur weighed in at prison sentence of as She couldn't have been out more than two pounds. much as two years. Despite her tough scavenging on her own in Daisy has returned ordeal, Golder said Daisy that condition because she from the veterinarian and is doing better in that she couldn't see." is currently at the shelter is eating well and is on where she is continuing antibiotics and eye and Johanne Golder, executive to recover. ear medication. The road to recovery is director of the Oakville and Golder said the way District Humane Society expected to be a long one. Daisy was found was terHowever, one day Daisy rible, but also strange. will be looking for a While she had been terribly neglected in home. some ways, in other ways it appears someDespite what she has gone through, one was caring for her. many would be hard pressed to find a better "We wish she could tell us because her dog, Golder noted. weight is good. She's not skinny, so someone "She loves people. She follows everybody was feeding her. She couldn't have been out around. She loves food. She's a little old lady, scavenging on her own in that condition you know, her eyes are a little cloudy, which because she couldn't see," said Golder. is a senior kind of thing, but the whole vet "Also, she had no fleas or anything like clinic fell in love with her," said Golder. that." "She likes to be held and really loves Golder noted this strange shift from a attention." degree of care to no care suggests two possiGolder is hoping this incident will serve bilities concerning Daisy's origins, both of to educate residents that animal neglect which are unsettling. does take place in Oakville. Either she was terribly mistreated by her She also pointed out that because the owner or her owner is someone who is, per- Oakville and District Humane Society haps, elderly or has some kind of condition receives no government funding for its shelthat did not allow them to take proper care ter work, it requires donations from the of Daisy. public to help animals in need like Daisy. "What I'm concerned about is who is takAnyone wishing to donate to the Oakville ing care of that elderly person, then. What if and District Humane Society or provide she (Daisy) was living with someone who is information relevant to Daisy's investigation in as bad a shape as she was?" said Golder. can call 905-845-1551. Wednesday afternoons 1:30, beginning Sept. 23 Wednesday evenings 7:30, beginning Sept. 23rd BRIDGE GAMES FOR NEWER PLAYERS... Thursday mornings, 9:15 - ongoing weekly Please call (905) 820-5728 www.raynerbridge.com BUY LOCALLY SERVICE LOCALLY SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS P-410-09 Design-Build Projects for Halton Community Housing Corporation to be Developed Under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing 2009 Extension Program Issue Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Closing Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009 Closing Time: 2:00 p.m. Oakville Time www.halton.ca/shop Date: Friday, August 28, 2009 Time: 10:00 a.m. Location: Auditorium at The Regional Municipality of Halton, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 www.halton.ca/shop 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 260809