A local
rescue was contacted, who in turn reached out to NorCal Boxer Rescue (NCBR).
NCBR immediately committed the funds for the dogs medical care and the same local rescue group facilitated a
transfer to a local clinic in nearby Bakersfield to assess the dog's medical
stability. Once it was determined she could safely travel, "Maria" as
she was named, was scheduled for a journey that would forever change her life.
Friday
morning came early for NCBR volunteer Cindy who awoke at 4:30am to drive to
Bakersfield and pick up Maria. In Manteca "Maria" was transferred to
another transporter who then brought her the final leg of her 340 mile journey
where she landed at For the Love of Pets (FTLOP) here in Grass Valley.
"Maria"
is under the care of Rob Avery, DVM. "She is loaded with worms and is the
skinniest living dog I have ever seen" says practice owner Dr. Avery.
"Thankfully she does not have heartworms, but she is obviously starving. It's going to take some time but I think she will be ok. She is the skinniest living dog I have ever seen" he added.
"Maria"
is being monitored closely by the staff at FTLOP. Office Manager Kim Furtado
says "she is at the heart of why we do what we do. You can dwell on the past and how
she got that way which will land you in a puddle of tears and anger or we can
use our skills to make her better. We choose to look forward. With cases like this, it’s not just the doctor that is invested. Each person here
keeps a watchful eye on her and reports on her improvement. We are excited
about each fraction of a pound she gains. We watch her bony body as she
explores her surroundings, realizes she is safe and her little stub begins to
wag slowly, like a normal dog. We grin from ear to ear when she sits next to us
to beg for a morsel of food or just shamelessly crawls into a lap. There are
piles of blankets placed about so that she can go visit her staff and have a
soft place to land. We have old dog fleeces and snowsuits that we have brought
in for her to wear so that she is always warm and has a bit of cushioning for
her bony body. Just imagine a year from now how she will look. She'll have a
glossy coat, the brightest of eyes, much more body mass and she'll likely be
bouncing about. There will be one of those YouTube before and after videos
likely titled, "Maria". That's when we'll cry because we are all just
saps that way. Tears of joy are so much better than tears of pain and sadness. Each
of us at this hospital will know that because NCBR chose us and appreciates the
passion we have for this industry, we got to help her become a dog again."
To follow Maria's case or to learn more about NorCal Boxer Rescue and how you can help Maria and the rest of their dogs, please visit their website.