Look! What I found this evening

Hi Nick,

Just wanted to say i got my kitten in London - i did not want a cat as i had just got my own flat for teh first time ever and was enjoying life without responsibility - yet there was a homeless drug addict walking round with a kitten offering to anyone for a token sum of money - i could not allow this so offered £20 just to get the kitten and then find it a home. Of course the kitten never left my home and now runs the place - i couldn't imagine life without him but i have since found out since telling people Marley's story i have heard of cats and dogs in London being sold to concerned people by such dubious means. I don't know where these people are getting them from but it scares me thinking about it
I've attached a pic of Marley in one of his usual poses.

"Why do they always come to me?" my friend asked.

"Because you go out there with a bowl of cat food, calling, 'Puss, Puss, Puss',"I replied!

And that's how I got my last cat from her.

Birds, Indira, you're both absolute stars. I'm really glad the pups found you both!

Leaving Lennox (my weimeraner/German Shepherd X) behind for two months while I go off to India is going to be horrible. That's something about this trip I'm definitely not looking forward to.

Yesterday evening during my daily dog walk my dogs suddenly raced away and I could see them through the binoculars running up a hill where they started to bark at some bush.

When I went to check I found a very frightened young male dog with a chain embedded in his neck. I was a bit hesitant but when I carefully petted it he did not do anything so I lifted him and brought him home (1 km back!).

At home I found the chain was probably fitted when he was a pup and not enlarged as he grew. About half of the neck had a large, about 3 cm deep wound, infected and full with maggots crawling in and out.

We tried to remove the chain but did not manage so went with the dog to the welder to cut off. From there we proceeded to the government animal hospital in Panjim (the only animal hospital open after 17:00). There was no doctor but the assistants did a sterling job removing the maggots and cleaning the massive wound.

He is now in my bathroom. I am giving him drips, lots of pain killers and antibiotic. I hope he will make it.

The annoying thing about this is that it would have been completely preventable if only the chain was adjusted and not fitted with wire! I have attached a photo with my mobile next to the chain to show how tiny it was.

Anybody interested to prevent these kinds of incidents, please check on the chained dogs in your neighbourhood.

OMG, that photo is horrific, Birds. As you say, this is totally preventable and sounnecessary.

I hope your compassion and efforts are rewarded by that poor animal's recovery.

Please keep us posted.

Just to let you know that the dog is doing as well as can be expected. He started to drink some water by himself yesterday evening and ate a little mince this morning. Eating is obviously one of the signs that it is willing to live.

He is still very, very frightened. It does not help that, despite the painkillers, cleaning the wound is obviously hurting him. But by now I think I got all the maggots out so I only need to dress it two times a day which should be less painful.

Hi birds, thanks for the email. I'm so delighted the poor little thing is starting to improve

Of course there is nothing as magical as that moment when a poor little creature like this starts to trust you, instead of cowering and shivering his eyes light up when he sees you and you know that all your efforts have been worthwhile

I will send you an email as I've been thinking I might try and organise a little fundraiser before I go back to Goa.

Keep up the good work

Thanks a lot Lara! That would be very welcome.

You know, I am a bit worried what to do with this dog once he is better because I think he is not very adoptable in India as he will need a lot of TLC before he will trust again. I could keep him but I already have 8 dogs plus fosters and it will be difficult to introduce an adult male dog into my pack. Have to find a solution

But that is a worry for later, for the moment he is doing better and today for the first time moved away a little from his corner and lifted his head when I cam in, which is a least a good sign

Great work Birds, what a terrible ordeal for the poor dog.

How's your rescue dog doing, birds? Hopefully he's healing well now and is feeling more secure?

Hi Priya, thanks for asking.

The neck wound is healing well. I think another week and it will be closed. However, I found that this dog is full of other wounds.

In the beginning I thought, rather naively, that these were caused by the bushes of the jungle but at closer inspection I realised several were likely being caused by stick lashes (see attached photo).

On the back, hint legs and on top of its head there were welts everywhere just under its fur, so difficult to see.

Several times in the morning I found that parts of its body was full of fresh blood and pus because the abscesses had broken. He must have been it lots of pain but he is now healing, at least physically.

He is slightly less scared than in the beginning. At least he looks at me now instead of avoiding my eyes but it will be a long time before he trusts again.

http://strayassist.blogspot.com/

yes puppies are cute but...

I encourage anyone who cares to support the Goa Animal Welfare Trust, check out:

www.gawt.org

Oh my! He's been through so much already, and now you find these other wounds. Luckily he's been on antibiotics, but that wont heal the scars that've been inflicted emotionally. It's a relief to know that he's in a loving home at the moment. Just what he needs.

Bird, It was terrible to read about the poor dog's suffering. How can people do such terrible things to an animal. They should have left him on the streets rather than mistreating him. He would have been better off there!

Yes it is awful! You should see to poor soul.

I can understand somebody not being interested in animals, not wanting to get involved, not wanting them nearby and I even accept that some people are not able to take good care because they don't know or misconceptions, but I find it really hard to comprehend when animals get purposely maltreated.

And on top, what should worry society, is that people who do this to animals tend to eventually do this to humans as well.