This afternoon I am setting off to collect a dog that has already come such a long way, geographically.
I was approached about 6 weeks ago by the same source that brought us the wonderful Eden, if I could help another dog in Romania that was showing the exact same signs as our little star. Spending all day staring at the corner in a kill shelter, this little one was staring euthanasia in the eye and being so shut down she has nowhere to go.
She was so thin and weak, her future looked very glum, how could I not offer to help?
I think it is important to state from the very start here that this is a very special case, and we are NOT in a position to start importing dogs from abroad. Likewise for everybody that is against the act of dogs seeking refuge in the UK, we take dogs in from all over the country. Breed, location and issues bare no discrimination to us.
That said, our little dogs physical condition deteriayed rapidly over the next few days after Georgia had asked us to help. Her body was so dehydrated and weak that she was rushed to the vets and places on intravenous fluids. Without this she would have almost definately died staring at that hideous corner.
I was given updates as much as possible and we all prayed for her that she'd pull through and we'd get to meet her. This was her on her way to the vets and at the vets. These pictures were the first time I saw her face.....
It was almost as if she knew she had people behind her and I'm delighted to say our girl pulled through after a week or so and was released to a 'halfway house rather than back to the kill shelter she'd cone from.
Even there though she continued to be shut down and didn't show any interest in interacting with humans, she is simply so terrified. As you can see her surroundings weren't the greatest, and for the specialist care she needed she simply had to come to us.
So on Wednesday she set off from Romania and headed towards us. Its a 3 day drive in a van and I can't start to imagine how frightened she is. Whilst there isn't the aggression that Eden showed on arrival, the fear is horrendous as the following two photos show.
The first was taken as she left Romania, the second over 24 hours later in Germany. The bedding has been changed but thats the only difference, she hasn't moved in all that time.....
Right at the start of this adventure I was asked to give her a name as she didnt even have the dignity of being called anything. I decided on Indi.....
She is due in the UK this morning, and I am collecting her late afternoon. She has been so brave and shown great strength to get this far, feels like we've been through so much together already. I can't wait to meet her.....