Hear Him Roar

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November 25, 2009 I received a call from a friend of mine who works at the local animal control facility. A dog was given up by his owner and while the dog had been slated to go to a local shelter the shelter would not take him now due to the dog having two seizures while at animal control. “I know the dog might be pretty sick. He’s also drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot. Could be a urinary tract infection, or maybe it’s just the stress from being here and given up by his family,” Cathy said, but I have nowhere for the dog to go.”

I knew what “I have nowhere for the dog to go” meant. I was the last chance for Simba, the five-year-old lab/rottie mix. While talking to Cathy I learned that Simba’s owners had kids and that Simba had a littermate that they kept. I asked Cathy why they gave the dog up. She said, “I don’t know some stupid reason, something about not having love enough to give the dog.”

“What?” I said flabbergasted. Then I just shook my head. It wasn’t the first time I heard a stupid reason for giving up a pet. Sometimes the real reason is far different than what the owners say. In this case could it be because Simba is sick?

Of course I couldn’t see putting Simba to sleep without giving him a fair chance, especially since Cathy said he was a very sweet dog and excellent with other dogs, cats and children. Besides Cathy offered to pay for blood work to see what the cause was for the seizures. How could I say no? That evening Cathy brought Simba to our vet to have blood drawn and urine taken for testing and then headed to my house where he would stay for a while.

When Simba arrived I looked at the chubby black dog with tan markings as Cathy led him inside. His eyes looked bleak and his head hung sadly. “Poor baby,” I said petting his head. “You must be so confused.”

After he was settled in I found the papers Cathy gave to me and read Simba’s Dog Profile, a form owners fill out when surrendering their dog. Three things caught my attention and made me saddened for Simba and outraged at the owners.

When asked, why are you giving up the dog, the answer was: Not giving enough love with large family. I scanned lower and saw they had three children, 10, four and three. Then it asked, Relationship with children? The choices were 1. Loves 2. Likes 3. Tolerates 4. Dislikes and the owner circles Loves. Finally the real whopper was the answer to this question: Is there anything else you’d like the potential new owner to know?

He writes: He was the perfect dog at the right time. He gave us the love we needed when we needed it.

No, I am not kidding. That is what he wrote.

Meanwhile as I worked upstairs I could hear Simba howling and howling. His voice was so sad it broke my heart. He was ripped away from the only family he ever knew, his owners, the children he “loves” his littermate…his life.

Making Simba as comfortable as possible has been my number one priority. I have taken him for walks and checked on him frequently. So far there hasn’t been any more seizures but he is drinking a lot of water and is peeing bucket-loads on the floor. While he is eating enthusiastically he has thrown up twice. He is acting normal enough as far as activity for a five-year-old dog so I am confident since today is Thanksgiving, and the vet’s office is closed, he can wait until tomorrow to be seen by the doctor. My amateur diagnosis so far is ear infections, an eye infection and could it be diabetes or a urinary tract infection? I hope and pray nothing more serious.

Earlier today I lead Simba outside for a walk. He dutifully follows along beside me but with an air of confusion, who is this person? Why am I here? He doesn’t sniff much just walks as if in a semi trance, occasionally scanning the area around him. I console him periodically and he wags his tail ever so slowly. Each person we passed he perked up and then looked at the person for enough time I knew he was looking for some recognition. I knew he was looking for his owner.

We finished our walk and I put him back into his temporary home. I closed the door and headed up the stairs. Before reaching the top of the stairs I heard his forlorn cry don’t worry boy. They didn’t deserve your love anyway. We’ll find someone else you can love. Then, Boy I hope what he has isn’t life threatening.

Tomorrow we get the test results and we will determine what to do for Simba from there. Already he has won my heart. He is obedient and is beginning to grow attached to me. He likes scratches behind his ears and likes to climb up on me when I am sitting down and bathe my face with his tongue. He patiently stands there as I clean out his infected ears.

He will make a wonderful dog for a deserving family. Please keep Simba in your thoughts and prayers for his healing physically and mentally, and finding the perfect family.

Date: November 27, 2009
Posted By: Sandy Kamen Wisniewski

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