On an ordinary day in late April, The Lost Dogs’ Home Ambulance was called to attend to a stray dog in need of some help. Minnie had been found wandering the streets aimlessly. Ambulance drivers horrified by her emaciated state and the matted condition of her coat.
Upon her arrival to The Lost Dogs’ Home, Minnie was taken straight to The Lost Dogs’ Home Veterinary Clinic where it was debated whether it was humane to keep her alive as she staggered around in a wasted state.
It was decided that she was to be closely monitored for a day or two and given only very small meals, but the day after Minnie came to the Home she nearly gave up. She was found in the morning by staff slumped and unable to stand. After a small meal and some help standing she slowly started showing signs of recovery.
Animal Attendant Louise Barrett met Minnie three days after her arrival at The Lost Dogs’ Home. She was shocked to feel Minnie’s bones through her skin. Clipping Minnie’s matted coat soon revealed her incredibly emaciated condition underneath. She weighed just 5.4kg, which was already more than when she first arrived. Wrapped in warm jackets, Minnie was fed four small meals a day and given specially arranged bedding as she was having trouble moving due to her weak and unbalanced state. During the day, she would just wait at the front of her cage waiting for the next person to come past.
Even though Minnie was physically in very poor shape, her personality still shone through. Everyone that she would see or meet at The Lost Dogs’ Home was greeted as if they were a long lost friend. She was so overjoyed to meet people that she would try to jump up in an attempt to greet them.
After Minnie had finished her eight days as a stray at the Home, she was fostered by Louise to make sure she continued to put on weight and build up strength. Minnie had no training, and she couldn’t sit because the muscles in her hind legs were still too weak. After a few weeks of persistence she started to sit and improved markedly to the point where, after a month, she would sit as soon as her bowl of food came out. It also took about a month before she would lie down and relax on one of the many dog beds inside Louise’s house.
Minnie’s favourite past times were chasing the cats, (who completely ignored her), playing tug-of-war with the other dogs, having her back scratched and her ears rubbed. By the end of her stay with Louise, Minnie would come when called, she would get her toys when asked, she would go to the toilet on command, sit down when told and sit for food on command. Above all Minnie loved a cuddle. She would stop whatever she was doing and just stand there while she got patted or scratched.
Getting her bowels under control was a real effort. The battle for weight gain versus having to scrub down the pavement was tough. Her body struggled to accept any fat in her diet and so for a while her weight plateaued. However, in Louise’s care, she slowly gained muscle and on the day she was desexed at The Lost Dogs’ Home Veterinary Clinic, she weighed 11.1kg. Minnie had more than doubled her weight in two months!
Minnie was put up for adoption as a healthy and well trained dog and she soon found a loving family to take care of her. The Hawkins family of Brighton adopted her and are overjoyed with the playful addition to their family. Upon arriving at her new home Minnie was taken for a walk around the yard on her extender lead. She unexpectedly, and to the horror of her new family, walked straight off the edge of the deck and into the pool, not realising it was water! Minnie had come a long way but there is still an awful lot for her to learn!
Minnie is just one of thousands of lost, stray and abandoned dogs and cats that come to The Lost Dogs’ Home every year. She is fortunate to have received a second chance at life thanks to the dedication of Animal Attendant Louise Barrett, the Veterinary Clinic staff and her new family, Dawn, Steve and Tessa Hawkins.
