Do you remember the story of Ana, the podenca near Valencia, with a badly injured hind leg and who was so distrustful of humans that it took nearly 3 months to catch her. During that time she had some pups - who are in foster - and is now safe with 112carlotagalgos.
Ana's problems were not over after she was caught. Vet Paco examined her injured leg and pronounced it too damaged to repair, then she caught an infection, and now she has had to have surgery to remove her leg. But not to worry, 3-legged amputees can run as fast as 4-legged if they want to! Charl tells Ana's story so far.
'She looks at me with her amber eyes, so pure and intense, that I melt each time I look at her.
Her behaviour tells a tale of when enclosed, she feels claustrophobic. A sign of her galguero keeping her in too smaller a place, her box on wheels to go hunting in, or who knows where he kept her? We don't know as many times we are just not there to see the abuse, but we pick up the pieces as the galguero washes his hands with what he regards as trash. The signs these dogs shows us, when we observe them, can be read and a piece falling into the jigsaw can be made as to their past. They cant talk, they cant tell us, .. but many times their actions speak volumes.
Many may remember when and where Ana came from. The trails of some fool, we can't tell.. a car knock down, a trap, or what seemed to look more like it, a bashing to the leg which made her bone break. Poor Ana, alone in Valencia, pups in tow, fed by Rosemary who kept her promise to see her rescue right to safety. She didn't give up and while no-one would take Ana, we did.
Ana has twice now been under anaesthetic to look at the leg and manipulate it. Ana's leg needed examining while she was asleep as she felt pain and there were recurring infections to deal with. The damaged muscle was too tight, just wouldn't allow the leg to work. But we had to try everything. The bone re-infected, twice .. and so the decision was made, for the benefit of Ana, to amputate the leg, a decision not made lightly and in haste but after a great deal of consideration, after 2 examinations. The amputation has been completed high up for this aids mobility balance.
Upon opening the leg the damage was too intense. Her leg just could not be saved. The nerves were damaged, tendons damaged, muscular damage and mass atrophy. It was the right decision for Ana. But sr.galguero you placed that onto us. It's my family, my children and I who look in her eyes each day, desperately wanting to tell her it's for her best, but seeing her pain. Unbelieveably she handled walking out of the vets better than when she walked in. False sense of security is there on a 4th leg which is constantly lame.
Ana's look in her eyes and when we went to get her. I heard her crying and when we went into the room to collect he,r ahh bless her, I could see she felt so safe. Just to be in our arms.
So here we are, chicken cooking for tomorrow as understandably she has no appetite for tonight, and planning a sleepless night in concern and visits to our stabled dogs. Ana is in her stable with Angela for company. All the dogs knew something was wrong and they all wanted to see her through the door when she came back. Angela her best friend lay nearby.
Her faith in us to hold her, like a child while in pain and to nurse her, and yet it was my decision in the end. Sometimes these decisions we have to make, and it's for their best. The wound while looks bloody is good, it's normal that there is slight blood coming through to drain. Her process is constant now, cold water to be applied to cut the blood supply there and inflammation. She's on several antibiotics, pain relievers. She looks at me and I caress her, she closes her eyes peacefully.. I promised her she would be ok. Neizan (my son) promised her a family of her own, someone who would love her, share their life with her and treat her like the princess she is. He told her 'just like Lucy'. A true fighter.
Ana is going to need good nutrition to recover, it's going to be slow and time consuming, we commit to every dog we have, in all their individual needs. The time she needs she will receive, but she needs a home. A forever, to show her that she has a forever waiting for her, all of her own. To show her love in a family environment, that hanging on in faith has brought her .. truth and love just for her.
Despite the ugliness of a hunters wrath, her love shines through.
Sr.galguero, how many dogs have you let down? How many have not served their purpose for you? How many have you been able to walk away from and left them in their pain, caused by you? At your cost Ana has lost a limb, for you tossed her out without a care, surplus to requirements. What we don't know is, did you cause the damage? At your disregard she received a blow to the leg which has fortunately brought her to the right place - to us - if she had remained in the fields where she was found, her leg would have infected so badly it probably would have gone gangrenous and the agony she would have felt.. immense. Your loss.. is our gain!
Sr.galguero "You have blood on your hands!"
Ana is going to need constant care for recovery, a good diet to aid her digestion, and further veterinary assistance. She has already undergone 2 anaesthetics so as not to cause her pain while looking at the leg and manipulating it, Of course now, with such surgery her return visits to the vet will be often. Constant antibiotics, and attention to detail.
If you would like to help us in anyway with Ana we would be very grateful for your help. correct food, vet costs and medication, and if Ana has reached into your heart, and you have a place for her to offer her a family, please please contact us. She will be waiting...
Ana is a fighter, has faith in us and we endeavour to help her heal and find her forever. This is one special podenca. Melt in her eyes, and love her forever.
Please take a moment to allow Ana a moment in your heart.. ya never know she may just make it melt!
In galgo & Ana affection, always.'
If you can help towards the heavy cost of caring for Ana, please Paypal a donation to comdelrio@hotmail.com and contact Charl at that address if you can offer Ana a forever home. Believe me, 3-legged dogs can move around just as well as if they had 4 legs!
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