Emaciated Dog Covered in Ticks Was Hours from Death Before Samaritan Found Her, Says Shelter
An emaciated and severely anemic dog is recovering this weekend after a good Samaritan noticed the dying creature in Fresno County, California, and called for help.
“If you see something, please say something!”
Friends of Orange Cove Animal Shelter in California are pleading with the public to be a voice and advocate for animals who cannot speak up for themselves by simply making a phone call to the shelter to report animals in need of rescue.
The shelter responded to a call about a dog found alone, infested with ticks and too weak to move.
After driving to pick up the dog, Orange Cove Animal Shelter staff turned her over to the Valley Oak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Visalia to oversee the dog’s medical care.
According to Valley Oak staff, the dog was severely anemic from the “hundreds of thousands” of ticks on her body and hours away from death.
The dog’s gums, which should be a healthy red color, were ghostly white from the chronic tick infestation that had devastated her body.
But it seems the good Samaritan who reported the dog found her just in time, and Orange Cove staff are praising the person’s efforts, saying it was that phone call that saved the dog’s life.
“Thanks to a concerned resident who contacted one of our members this poor baby is on her way to medical care tonight and we can’t thank Valley Oak SPCA in Visalia for stepping in so quickly to help this poor girl found here in Orange Cove,” the organization wrote on Facebook.
“We here at FOCAS encourage our residents to reach out to us when you see an animal in need.”
Valley Oak SPCA staff stayed awake all night treating the deteriorating dog. They worked to kill the ticks on her body and clean wounds on her skin caused by maggots.
The exhausted but determined crew finally got home around 3 am, according to the video, after a long night of helping this poor girl survive.
The following morning, staff returned to the shelter to find the dog already feeling well enough to stand up and wag her tail.
The dog, who has not yet been named, is not out of the woods yet. Staff plans to do some bloodwork on the dog and continue to help her gain weight, heal from her flesh wounds, and move towards a full recovery.
Still, they are optimistic that this dog’s worst days are behind her.
“Seeing this poor skeleton of a dog being able to stand and eat and still be with us today, I’m really hopeful,” staff said in a Facebook video.
Valley Oak SPCA is hopeful that this dog’s story will inspire others to reach out and say something when they see an animal in need.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
