Happy New Year Animal Advocates! Thank you for all you do for animals.

Here's my own story about Rocky the starving Boxer...

My partner, Chris, and I had seen a dog in a pen in Dunkirk (Western NY) for awhile but he disappeared during the summer and a pool appeared in place of the pen. So when Chris saw the dog up for "sale"/adoption on the local humane society website, she contacted the owner to go see him.

That started the nightmare and subsequent rescue of Rocky, a starving 4 year old purebred Boxer.

When we met Rocky, we were stunned by how emaciated he was. This was a dog that looked more like a dead carcus than a living creature. He was all skin and bones; every rib, every vertebrae, and his pelvis stuck out from his body. The owner told us that he thought Boxers were supposed to be thin but we assured him that this dog was in serious condition. The owner admitted that he and his family were never home and he wanted to find a better situation for Rocky. We urged him to get Rocky to the vet and he told us he had taken him to the vet for an infection in a (horrible) scrape wound on his leg, and he said the vet didn't seem concerned about his weight (said he lost 13 lbs. over 8 months), but suggested he bring in a stool sample. He also said that Rocky would go for days without eating but he thought the dog was just depressed because they were never home.

We left there, trying to figure out what to do next. In the meantime, Chris contacted the humane society person who posted Rocky and told her what we found. We asked her to make sure he went to the vet and to call the vets office to see if his story checked out and to make sure he took the dog back for blood tests for his weight loss. At this point, I thought the guy was negligent but not that he was actually starving this dog. We thought the dog had to be ill.

I was literally sick about this for 3 days and couldn't sleep, thinking about it. We didn't have a place to take this dog and I was afraid he was seriously ill. The humane society person emailed me and stated in one short sentence that she talked to the owner and she was sure he'd do the "right" thing. I emailed her again but she didn't respond. Apparently, I'm just an agitator with no credibility but she wouldn't listen to Chris either and wouldn't get involved.

It was at this point that the "owner" contacted Chris and said she could have the dog as long as she would sign a statement that she wouldn't "come after him." She went to pick him up that day and we took him to the vet. The vet agreed that the dog was in bad shape but the blood test and stool sample only revealed dehydration, so she took him home until we could find a foster for him. The vet said to just see how he did this week and weigh him and if he was gaining weight, he may be okay.

Well, Chris fed him every 2-3 hours and he ate every drop she gave him. He gained 9 lbs this week and went from nervous pacing to happy excitement whenever he saw anyone. He seemed so much happier in just a few days. Our friend in a Canadian rescue found a foster home with a retired couple who were happy to take him, nurture him, and bring him back to health. Rocky was sent there on Friday with his new coat to warm his bones and a whole new future of food, love, and life.

Turns out he had actually lost 18 lbs; he went from 49 lbs in March to 31 lbs this week. We are beginning to think the owner kept him in the garage (because he's not house trained) and must have forgotten to feed him. I still find it hard to believe that anyone could watch their dog waste away and be so matter-of-fact about it. I also find it hard to believe that the humane society person could actually trust a person who let their dog get to this point to do the "right thing".

This was a sweet, trusting dog who forgave over and over again and lived without the most basic necessities for a long time.

The humane society and the vet's office failed this dog. He would surely have died without intervention. Their was no one to step in or step up, just Chris and I. Thank God for Chris! She's not afraid to get involved.

What is wrong with people?

UPDATE--Rocky continues to improve in foster care. He's gained 12 lbs in a couple weeks and his leg wound is healing. He's a joy to everyone who meets him. He is having problems in the house training department so we're hoping it's the prednisone for his injury and not his kidneys.