Molly-a story of abuse, rehabilitation and triumph

A family from one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in South Florida neglected and then abandoned Molly, a female standard poodle, who is one of the many sad cases we see. 

 

03/09/2004 Before her scheduled euthanasia, Molly was rescued by Animal Aid. She is emaciated and near starvation,  weighing about 25 pounds -- half her normal weight. The veterinarian thinks she hasn't eaten in a month. Her eyes were matted shut.  Her teeth are decayed and she has a serious eye and ear infection.  She is one of the most pitiful neglect cases we have seen.

Molly's fur was matted to the skin. The red spots on her front legs are caused by her rubbing her terribly infected eyes and ears.

You can see her infected eyes and the sores that discolored her mouth. She was covered in ticks that made her anemic too. Her eyes are not open--- that is the infection oozing out and discoloring the fur. She is not smiling, dental infections have discolored her mouth.

She needs expensive medication for her eye, ear, and dental infections.  Her foster parents report she is improving, but needs around the clock care, medication and proper nutrition to get healthy.  Can you find it in your heart to make a donation through PayPal?

Here is Molly getting shaved. Since she was so matted, the fur came off in one, huge pelt that looked like another animal. She smelled horrible!  Tammy, the groomer, possessed special skills to handle such thickly matted fur without burning or cutting Molly.

Tammy's proud of her work! But that's just the first step in getting Molly back in good health. You can clearly see her ribs and how emaciated she is.  When we first gave her food she refused it, but is slowly starting to eat more each day.  

Molly has trouble with her balance, because her ears are so infected and she is so weak. Here she catches herself before falling.

Notice how Molly's hip bones and ribs stick out into her skin.  She needs a really cushy bed to avoid skin injury. Luckily she's in a great foster home and that cushy bed is King Size!  

Here is Molly with a dog of the same height and bone structure. He weighs fifty pounds. If we can pay for all of the medical treatment Molly needs, including spaying, a dental cleaning and ear cleaning under sedation, we expect her to make a full recovery and look just like her foster brother, who was also a rescue.

UPDATE:

Molly is ridiculously intelligent.  During the first few days, she had a couple of "accidents."  She quickly learned where she was supposed to go, and that she could get my attention quickly by "knocking" on the patio door.  (She also "woofs"" to go out)  She is taking full advantage of her training of me.  I have learned to fill her food bowl when she knocks on it, fill her water bowl when she knocks on it, give her a biscuit when she knocks on the bucket, and open the door when she knocks. 

I don't think Molly had much "inside living" before now, but she has warmed up to it easily.  Molly has even started to play with toys!

03/20/2004  Since Molly would not eat in the beginning, the vet feared she might be "shutting down and giving up".  He didn't know Molly!  Molly has been adapting quite well to foster living, and has a real desire to live.  She is eating ---  a lot!  You can already see the difference in just 10 days.

This is Molly's ear.  You can see the dramatic improvement over the picture above. Months (or years) of neglect have caused a severe, painful infection.  This has caused Molly to shake her head and scratch at her ears a lot, resulting in formation of a kind of "blood blister". (See arrow)  I hope to get Molly to the vet tomorrow for evaluation concerning when she will be ready for spay/dental, and what will be the next course of action for ear treatment.

03/22/2004  Molly went to the vet. An antifungal ointment has been added to the antibiotic ear drops.   She developed a cough on Saturday, so she is on a new oral antibiotic. (The doctor heard "moist lung sounds"--I don't know what this means, but I don't like it.). This needs to cleared up before she can be spayed.  She has gained 12 pounds since 03/09!!!!  One ear is still really sensitive, inhibiting close examination.  When she is spayed, they can take a better look and clean them out really well.  At this point I do think she is nearly deaf.  The vet estimates her age at 9 years, the same as her standard poodle foster brother, pictured above.

UPDATE:  3/24/2004 Molly really played for the first time today!  My standard engaged her in a game of  "keep away".  Molly chased him around and around the backyard, running and barking.

UPDATE:  03/28/2004  Molly is getting stronger and more playful every day, as these pictures clearly show.  Her ears are still sensitive, but her cough has greatly improved. 

UPDATE:  04/04/2004  Molly went to the vet this week.  Her eye infection is gone.  Her ears are vastly improved---she can hear something, but at this point, not much.  I'm not sure of the level or permanence of her deafness.  She now weighs 40 lbs!!!  She still has a bit of a "cold" so she is taking Baytril, a different antibiotic.

UPDATE:  04/12/2004   Molly's cough is much better.  She is acting more playful and "poodle-y" all the time.  She is now wagging her tail frequently--something I did not see at all for weeks.  At this rate of improvement, I hope to schedule her spay/dental for next week.

UPDATE:
  04/20/2004 Molly is scheduled for her dental, spay and ear cleaning on Tuesday, April 27.  Say a prayer for her!

UPDATE:  04/28/2004  Molly was spayed and had her teeth cleaned.  No teeth needed to be removed----yeah!  The vet's age estimate is now 5 years.  Molly now weighs 45.9 lbs!!!!

UPDATE:  05/03/2004  Molly rarely coughs and is doing great post-op.  I will post an updated pic of  her soon.

Here are a couple of pics taken on May 6, 2004.  Look how much bigger Molly is!  She is approaching 50 lbs!!  The raised fur on her lower back isn't a hipbone sticking out like before, but a tuft of fur that is growing faster than other places.  Molly is promised!!  She will be adopted tomorrow night!!  

HERE WE GO.........

Molly was adopted by a wonderful couple in South Florida.  Here she is, freshly groomed, hanging out in her backyard with her new brother, Nikko!  How is this for an "after"?

UPDATE:  December 2004...Many thanks to "M" & "J", Molly's adoptive parents, who have given her such an incredible life.  Although completely deaf, through the use of hand signals and a vibrating collar, Molly has learned "Come", "Sit", "Down" and other commands.  Who would think that a dog, who 10 month's ago was at death's door, would have come this far??!!  

Once again, there were many who said Molly should have been euthanized when we first got her.  One of our reasons for being a "no-kill" shelter is that we feel that every animal, no matter in what shape they come to us, deserves the possibility that the rest of their life can be spent with love and comfort.  We cannot deprive them of this opportunity.  

Thank you for letting us share Molly's story. Please consider a donation of any amount to help other pets with a sad beginning like Molly.

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Animal Aid, Inc.
Lyons Plaza
1463 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek,  FL  33063
Hours: Mon - Sat 1 - 5 pm and also by appointment
Tel: 954.984.8349
Fax:  954.984.8354
E-mail Tamerac@aol.com

A 501(c)(3) all volunteer non-profit group
All monies raised go directly toward helping homeless animals.


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