This bonded pair of sweet hound mixes was dumped in Canoncito last week. They were picked up by a wonderful dog loving family who asked us to help find them a good home. Clyde, the smaller one, was thin and we suspected worms. Not generally life threatening, unless they contract Parvo. Puppies with worms have a far greater chance of dying if they get it. Bonnie was bigger and much stronger. Clyde may have been the runt of the litter and he was deeply bonded to Bonnie so we hoped to adopt them out together. Then Clyde fell ill. The foster mom called to say he would not come out of the dog house. Wouldn’t eat or drink. We rushed him into the emergency vet for assessment and treatment. We had antibiotics and fluids to give twice a day. In the morning yesterday he was more alert and curled up with Bonnie in the house. By the dinnertime treatment he had taken a very bad turn. When I arrived he appeared to have just died. I rubbed him and starting crying “Noooo!.” Not wanting to upset the foster family I stopped to collect my composure. As I came out of the dog house Clyde picked up his head and groaned. I immediately gave him his injection and called the on-call vet. We rushed him in and started fluids. He would be warm and safe at the vet but we didn’t have great expectations as he was so sick. As I was leaving he was trying to sit up. Then tried to stand but couldn’t keep his balance. I stroked him and told him I loved him and to hang in, I’d see him in the morning. He took his last breath sometime during the night. RIP sweet Clyde you were loved by all who met you.

We are monitoring both Bonnie and a DAPS puppy who is too young to be fully immunized. So far both are healthy but we won’t be in the clear for another week. Your donations help us with treatments for these dogs. Bonnie and Clyde did not deserve the treatment and potential illness to which free roaming, unvaccinated puppies are susceptible. We have resources for unwanted puppies; Two shelters, transport to Colorado if they can’t be adopted locally, and local adoption through social media. There is no excuse for this abuse. Clearly we need to do more to connect with the owners who find themselves in a position where they feel all they can do is dump their unwanted puppies and hope they find their way to DAPS.

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