Lifestyle7 min(s) read
Published 11:17 14 Aug 2019 GMT
When the 'Hope For Paws' team got this call, they were shocked. The LA-based charity helps to rescue homeless dogs, and this one pooch had been spotted on a number of times. This dog had been living amongst the trash and surviving off eating scraps of thrown away food for ten months.
[post_page_title]The Garbage Site[/post_page_title]
When the 'Hope For Paws' team arrived at the site, they knew it was the exact same description they had been given. Somewhere here there was a dog in need of help, hiding amongst the garbage. Can you even spot the dog in the photo above? Because she is there, but this lovely dog was so poorly kept, covered in mange and mud, that you could barely recognize her as being a dog.
[post_page_title]Dog In The Trash[/post_page_title]
The dog they had been searching for looked absolutely dreadful. It was as if it was no longer a dog, with hardly any fur growing on its skin, and a number of problems with its health. The dog was a female, so they decided to call her Miley.
[post_page_title]Furless Paws[/post_page_title]
As the Hope For Paws team got closer, they could see that her paws and her stomach were completely furless in some places. How had Miley managed to survive here for so long? Miley needed medical treatment immediately - it was hard to tell what breed she was with all her fur gone.
[post_page_title]Bribing With Treats[/post_page_title]
It was hard trying to persuade any dog to leave their home with a bunch of human strangers, but for Miley, it was the worst thing possible. She didn't trust them, and even worse than that, she didn't have any desire to leave. One of the team tried to coax her over with some tasty dog treats. But would she take the bait?
[post_page_title]Miley Takes The Bait[/post_page_title]
With her stomach rumbling and recognizing that yes, it was definitely food, Miley nibbled at the food before wolfing it down. Now they had gained Miley's trust, they decided to keep feeding her little bits of food before she changed her mind. The dogs have to feel that they are being cared for when they are rescued, and that will make it much easier to fit back into domestic life with human companions afterward.
[post_page_title]The Leash Comes Out[/post_page_title]
Dogs are a lot more obliging and will do as you wish if you have a dog lead on them, so it was vitally important that Miley felt comfortable with the team before they put a leash on her. First, the team decided it was best to show Miley the dog lead beforehand. Then she ate a couple more treats. It was then it was time to put the lead on...
[post_page_title]The Rescue Begins[/post_page_title]
Miley had laid down again on her bed of trash, and it was becoming difficult to get her to sit up. All she wanted to do was lie down and sleep. To be honest, she really needed the rest. But Hope For Paws were determined to get her up and going, ready to pull her to safety and give her the medical attention she desperately needed.
[post_page_title]Not Budging At All[/post_page_title]
The moment the team gave a gentle tug on the leash, Miley was not happy. She recoiled with a slight aggression to her stance, that suggested she was not going with them. It appeared that this dog needed a little more attention and coaxing than they had initially believed.
[post_page_title]The Sudden Change[/post_page_title]
As Miley lay back down, one of the volunteers gave her a little affection by stroking her on her head. Immediately, the positive attention and love she felt from that completely melted her fears. This little act of compassion seemed to change Miley's mind.
[post_page_title]Leaving The Rubble[/post_page_title]
When one of the volunteers gave a gentle tug on the lead this time, she got up and walked with them, albeit very slowly. She was still very nervous about the entire situation. How any dog could manage to survive somewhere like that is beyond me. Miley deserved better, but she was still scared of what was to come, and when the team drifted too far from the dump, suddenly, she did this...
[post_page_title]The Scared Stray[/post_page_title]
Scared to leave her home in the garbage, Miley began to pull away from her rescuers, who had worked so hard to try and get her into safety and out of the dump. But how could she trust humans again? The last humans who had been her owners had probably abandoned her, and left her to be a homeless stray on the streets.
[post_page_title]The Fast Joruney[/post_page_title]
They prayed she would continue walking with them until they got to the car. Luckily, she was scampering along now and was doing better. It was essential they got Miley as far away from the dump as possible in the quickest amount of time, so she wouldn't suddenly rethink her actions and want to go back, or cause a fuss.
[post_page_title]Getting Into The Car[/post_page_title]
The rescuers knew it would be too difficult to get her sitting in the backseat, so the moment she managed to get into the front, they let her stay there, where she would be safe and not scared of anything. She stood below the chair, but after a minute or so, Miley jumped up onto the seat so she could get a comfy spot ready for the ride ahead.
[post_page_title]Time To Travel[/post_page_title]
Before they knew it, Miley had curled up on the chair in the passenger seat of the car, and was already lying down, licking her sore paws clean. The rescuers rushed in the car over to the nearest veterinary clinic. But it was taking a while to get there, and Miley began to get tired.
[post_page_title]At The Vets[/post_page_title]
With a bit of a cuddle and scratch beneath the ears, she certainly felt this love and attention from the humans who had rescued her was genuine, and it wasn't long before she shut her eyes. They soon arrived at the medical center, but she looked so weak already, it was hard to know whether she would survive all of her injuries and sicknesses or not. If she was too sick, the vets would have to put her down...
[post_page_title]The Vet's Verdict[/post_page_title]
Luckily, the nurse on duty that evening was a lovely lady who treated Miley very carefully and patiently, aware that she had been a homeless dog that was hoping to get adopted. Miley had a number of problems with her health, but the nurse thought that she could survive, if they give her the right treatment immediately.
[post_page_title]Heartbreaking Sickness[/post_page_title]
Miley had a range of diseases, including an infestation of fleas and parasites all over her body, mange that pulled at her skin, making it tender and sore, as well as bacterial infections in her body. No wonder Miley was so weak, she had not only suffered from all of these terrible illnesses, but she was also suffering from malnutrition.
[post_page_title]Miley's Treatment[/post_page_title]
The vets decided that Miley would need to bathe herself in medicated baths that would help to clean up her wounds as well as get rid of the parasites. This wasn't going to be a quick fix for Miley, and the medication for her wounds stung when they applied cream on them. And now they had discovered what breed she was meant to be; Miley was a white Siberian Husky.
[post_page_title]Starting From The Bottom[/post_page_title]
Miley had sadly had to go back to being rock bottom to be able to heal. The only parts of her fur that remained had to be removed so that the vets could try and tend to all of her wounds, as well as get rid of the mange and the unkept pieces of hair that had knotted themselves together.
[post_page_title]Miley's Misery[/post_page_title]
She was completely deflated, with a number of bandages and her paws and face pink from her red raw skin. There is absolutely no denying that Miley was totally shut down by this, and she was not happy. But soon, her recovery period would begin, and hopefully, she would start to love and trust humans again. "It's not just the physical healing it's the mental healing," one volunteer said.
[post_page_title]Resting Space[/post_page_title]
With her bandaged legs stretched out in front of her, the poor stray Miley soon fell fast asleep. It had been a really tough time for Miley, and the team were keen to visit her to check up on her recovery. A week or so later, the team went to visit Miley, and a lot of her fur had begun to grow back. She seemed more perky, and happier, being a healthier dog that was now being cared for.
[post_page_title]Thankful Kisses[/post_page_title]
Miley was beginning to trust again and to say thank you to the one volunteer who had convinced her to leave the dump with them, she gave him something beautiful. Miley gave the rescue man a little kiss on the cheek, with a little lick of her tongue. It was the first sign of love and acceptance that Miley had given out since they had met her.
[post_page_title]Frankie's Story[/post_page_title]
Another dog was introduced into the dog shelter, a tiny little dog called Frankie. Frankie had the most heartbreaking rescue of them all. He was living in the underground piping underneath a highway when he was found. Immediately, they became close companions and begun to take care of each other. Miley really took him under her wing. For the first time in her life, Miley had made a friend.
[post_page_title]The Pipes[/post_page_title]
This is the tunnel where Frankie had been living. A volunteer explained: "He had been there for a long time, and so his emotional recovery is harder. These two creatures just bonded and became very good friends. Frankie was licking her wounds, so beautiful especially because he was so shut down himself when I held that camera in that room that day, I knew I captured the most amazing moment there."
[post_page_title]Best Friends[/post_page_title]
These two dogs absolutely adored each other. Frankie would even lick Miley's wounds clean, and Miley would try to cuddle up to Frankie, with her big paws. They cuddled together, they played together, and most of all, they looked after each other. Miley and Frankie became the best of friends, it was clear to see.
[post_page_title]Cuddles All-Around[/post_page_title]
Miley would help Frankie jump down from big steps because he was so small. Frankie would jump all over Miley, and both of them would give each other little kisses. It was a beautiful friendship. But soon, after both of them had been treated, it was time for them to go up for adoption in the shelter. They would be separated, but nobody would forget the special bond they had together...
[post_page_title]Healthy And Happy[/post_page_title]
Miley absolutely loved her new home, but when she saw the man who had saved her all those months ago, and completely transformed her life. But the most incredible part of the whole story was how healthy Miley was compared to when the rescue team at Hope For Paws had first found her! She was a beautiful white husky, with an entire coat full of fur, as beautiful and as white as snow. She had a lovely owner who treated her like royalty, and Miley was happier than ever.
[post_page_title]The Happy Ending[/post_page_title]
Both the rescue man from Hope For Paws and Miley found it so rewarding to be reunited with each other once again. When you rescue a dog like that, they never forget you. It was a special bond between the man and Miley that would last a lifetime.
Miley would be forever grateful for how he changed her life, and he was delighted to see how Miley had progressed and come along so far in just a year after finding her covered in mange living in a dump. Here's to many more dogs being rescued and given a good home!
