The case has been tried and we got a conviction, so I can now blog about this sweet pup.
Diamond was rescued from a really sad situation.
This was a husband/wife, female dog/male dog household. Diamond was bred to the male dog and had puppies. Somewhere in the mix, the husband left the wife. Diamond was the husband's dog. Diamond was left at the home and the wife starved her.
When this household was investigated, the male dog was found to be in perfectly good health, while Diamond looked like.... this. The male dog was the wife's dog.
She is by far the thinnest living animal I have ever seen. I have no idea how she was able to walk. She is a Pit Bull who on this day weighed 27lbs. She should have weighed 60. She is also the only Pit Bull I have ever met that would not wag it's tail. I don't think she had the energy. Her facial expression was one of complete exhaustion and defeat. Pit Bulls are strong and resilient. She was broken.
She not only had no body fat, but her body had consumed all of the muscle tissue on her frame, as well. She was literally, at this point, skin stretched over bone.
It was evident she had been nursing puppies - and that increased calorie demand is what likely drug her down to this point. She did what all mammals would do in the same situation - she sacrificed her own body for the lives of her pups. They had been moved to another location before Diamond's rescue, but we later got them. Sadly, all but two of them died. But those two are now safe and loved and in good homes.
The day Diamond arrived at the clinic, I consulted with a nutrition specialist to ensure that I did not harm her by overfeeding her (which I did the first few hours until I had the tucked-away revelation about re-feeding syndrome.) I had her at the clinic for 3 days before I transferred her to long-term care. On day 3 she wagged her tail and actually barked at another dog! :) I was so happy!
I have testified at one other animal cruelty trial in my career and have been haunted by regret over not saying the right things/how I wanted to say them/etc. and the ending was not what was right. This trial had the right ending: a conviction. Yet I still have regrets.
I wish I had asked the judge to send in DCS to investigate the home. There are children in this home. If the vindictive wife did this to the husband's dog, what will she do to the husband's children?
In the state of TN, there is legislation in place for just such a situation. There is a system that allows DCS to do an investigation of any reported animal abuse case if there are children in the home. Likewise, animal control is allowed to do an investigation of any case of child abuse when there are animals in the home.
Because most people that abuse animals also abuse children and vice-versa.
Diamond is over 50lbs now - just a little over 2 months from her rescue. I have not seen her but know that she is happy and thriving. Hopefully she'll have a new home soon.
A picture sometimes does speak a thousand words - and that top picture is what I showed the judge. He looked me straight in the eyes and said 'thanks for saving her.'
Happy endings are my favorite. :)
It was evident she had been nursing puppies - and that increased calorie demand is what likely drug her down to this point. She did what all mammals would do in the same situation - she sacrificed her own body for the lives of her pups. They had been moved to another location before Diamond's rescue, but we later got them. Sadly, all but two of them died. But those two are now safe and loved and in good homes.
The day Diamond arrived at the clinic, I consulted with a nutrition specialist to ensure that I did not harm her by overfeeding her (which I did the first few hours until I had the tucked-away revelation about re-feeding syndrome.) I had her at the clinic for 3 days before I transferred her to long-term care. On day 3 she wagged her tail and actually barked at another dog! :) I was so happy!
I have testified at one other animal cruelty trial in my career and have been haunted by regret over not saying the right things/how I wanted to say them/etc. and the ending was not what was right. This trial had the right ending: a conviction. Yet I still have regrets.
I wish I had asked the judge to send in DCS to investigate the home. There are children in this home. If the vindictive wife did this to the husband's dog, what will she do to the husband's children?
In the state of TN, there is legislation in place for just such a situation. There is a system that allows DCS to do an investigation of any reported animal abuse case if there are children in the home. Likewise, animal control is allowed to do an investigation of any case of child abuse when there are animals in the home.
Because most people that abuse animals also abuse children and vice-versa.
Diamond is over 50lbs now - just a little over 2 months from her rescue. I have not seen her but know that she is happy and thriving. Hopefully she'll have a new home soon.
A picture sometimes does speak a thousand words - and that top picture is what I showed the judge. He looked me straight in the eyes and said 'thanks for saving her.'
Happy endings are my favorite. :)
Wow! Good job, Doc! VV
ReplyDelete