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Afghan Hound Rescue Central Ohio
Phone: 614-747-0795 email: ahrco@columbus.rr.com |
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Winston ~ Photos - scroll down for photos of Winston From the Zanesville Times Recorder - May 22, 2007
Reports from our Veterinarians See the graphic photos below this story and judge for yourself if Winston was cared for as his owner claims. 12-23-2006 To all our friends, we are sorry to share with you that Winston passed away Friday, December 22, 2006. After being diagnosed with pneumonia, with only one quarter of his lung function remaining, our vets determined that to continue in our attempt to save his life, would only prolong his misery. Sadly, we agreed. We are working with the county officers and shelter staff to prosecute his former owner.
On December 13, 2006 we were contacted by the Zanesville Animal Shelter asking if we would take an afghan hound into our program. They sent photos. We were told that he was thin and had at some point in the past 2 years had suffered a broken leg that had been left untreated. Two days later, Susan, an AHRCO volunteer drove to the shelter to collect the dog we now call Winston. Although severely malnourished, and with a badly deformed leg stemming from an old untreated injury that must have caused him immeasurable pain, he is the sweetest, gentlest boy. We have named him Winston as he is such a brave little soul... a winner is everyone's mind. The 2 photos below showing the condition of his coat were taken by the shelter staff. The others were taken Saturday(12/16) morning in my basement.
When Susan arrived at AHRCO headquarters, between us we lifted him from the car and set him on the ground. Although Susan had called from the shelter, I was not prepared. The sight of his emaciated body and deformed broken leg moved us to tears. We carried him inside, down the basement stairs to the comfort on a warm cot. We contacted our vet. scheduling an appointment for Monday evening. In the interim we started him on antibiotics and offered him food. As the weekend passed we made many, many trips to the basement to sit with him, to cuddle him, to cry over him, to beg him to please eat. We rushed to the store for high quality pet foods. We offered him chicken, eggs, hamburger and rice - we used all the tricks we've learned in 30 years of caring for this breed - all in hopes of getting him to eat. We carried him up and down stairs to go outside to the bathroom. Once outside, Winston surprised us with his ability to compensate for the one leg was several inches shorter than the other 3, we watched, as the lower portion of his broken leg and foot acted as a flipper, waving around furiously as he attempted to increase his pace from tree to tree in my yard. Neighbors who witnessed his movement were horrified, coming closer to meet Winston they were sickened at the visible signs of starvation.
When we arrived for our vet appointment Monday evening, everyone in the vet. clinic was shocked as Winston hobbled in the door with his exaggerated gait caused by the shorter leg. For nearly 2 hours the vet and her staff examined Winston. Winston is approximately 8 years old. is severely malnourished, suffering the results of a broken leg that had been left untreated for approximately 2 years. He has an untreated abscess on his back, kennel cough and is very weak. We left with medications returning home to carry him once more down to the basement, to his now familiar heated cot. By Thursday night, it was obvious that his condition was not improving.
On Friday, Winston returned to the animal hospital where he was examined by 2 vets. After being diagnosed with pneumonia, with only one quarter of his lung function remaining, our vets determined that to continue in our attempt to save his life, would only prolong his misery. Sadly, we agreed.
~WARNING: These photos are untouched and vividly portray Winston's condition. click on each thumbnail for a larger view to appear below. There are 8 slides in the group
showing his condition on arrival at the shelter
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