Moose
We received an urgent call from a local pound, where a 15-year-old Yorkie was just surrendered to be euthanized because he suddenly couldn’t stand up.
We had only minutes to decide whether or not we could help this senior dog, who had only stopped walking just that afternoon. There was never a question. He deserved this chance. We knew it before we ever met him.
We rushed to meet this poor dog, not knowing what condition we would find him in. What we found was a sweet old boy who seemed confused as to why he couldn’t get out of his bed. Yet at the same time, he immediately trusted us, even resting his head lovingly on his rescuer’s knee for comfort.
After an exam, Moose was diagnosed with Schiff-Sherrington Phenomenon. This condition was caused by an acute injury to Moose’s vertebrae, causing his front limbs to extend and stiffen, andhis hind limbs to weaken.
While Moose could not get up initially, he did have feeling in all four paws, and could wag his tail. Due to the injury being very recent, Moose had a chance for recovery without a risky surgery. We arranged for him to have X-rays, bloodwork, supportive care, and pain meds; and hoped with all of our hearts that he would make a full recovery.
As we left Moose for the night, we gave him a kiss on his adorable little head, and told him to be brave and to get better. And then our brave new friend attempted to stand on his own. We took that as a good sign. ❤
It had only been a month plus a few days since we launched our rescue. In this short time we had experienced the joy of giving second chances and saving lives, as well as the heartaches from not being able to save them all. We said yes that day not knowing how we’d cover what we knew might be expensive treatment for a dog we never met. But it was the right thing to do. And it was the only thing we could do.
Moose defied the odds and walked again …and then some. With each new day, he seemed to knock years off his age, becoming more and more active and full of life.
One day our miracle Moose met a very special lady, who had been looking for a new best friend, after losing both her beloved husband and her most treasured dog in the same year. It was fate.
We all knew it the second these two special souls met. Moose’s new person bent down to give him a hug and said, “I’ll take care of you, and you’ll take care of me”. Since that day, the two have been inseparable. Moose continues to love his new life, and he inspires us to do all we can for others like him.
