18/10/2019
EDDIE’S STORY
AAR were alerted to a dog needing help yesterday afternoon near Benamocarra. The finders, part of the AAR rehoming team, were distraught not to be able to stop to help him but they already had AAR puppies in the car so rightly and immediately called the team for backup. Thanks to Gill Gardner and Sylvia Derrick initial assessment, clear directions and photos of the area we were able to find him quickly.
All we knew initially was that there was a dog laying beside a very busy road who seemed injured and unable to get up. Cars were whizzing past just inches from his head. No one else stopped to help.
Roger McClelland and I arrived and found him – for a moment we thought we were too late as he was so still laying there in the mud. When I approached and talked softly to him he lifted his head. His tongue was hanging out and his jaw and mouth were covered in mud and grit. Whilst Roger moved the car as close as he could, I managed to gently wash that away to make him more comfortable and he drank a tiny bit.
He was a big dog and we were so worried about moving him as we didn’t want to make his injuries worse. But this was clearly life or death and he was laying in a pool of blood. He obviously had a broken back leg that was bleeding heavily along with a smaller head injury that was also bleeding. He couldn’t move himself or stand. Between us, and with a blanket used as a stretcher, we managed to get him into the car. Traffic slowed right down to watch but again no one stopped to help. People would need to be blind not to see that we needed help and that he was bleeding heavily.
Our Rescue process swung into action and Ann Steel was our rescue co-ordinator. In a rescue like this it is vital that you have one person organising and managing both people and communication. Ann immediately alerted the vet hospital to our imminent arrival and also got out an immediate ‘found’ dog post in the hope that someone would recognise him.
As we dashed to the Vet Hospital I managed to stem the bleeding a bit from his leg and head and we tried to warm him up as he was so cold. He laid his head on my lap and looked straight into my eyes – he was so calm and gentle, it was like he knew we were trying to save him.
The vet hospital were waiting on our arrival and rushed us through. They immediately worked to stop the bleeding and then assess him. He was in deep shock, his gums were white and he was cold to the touch – like he had been in a fridge. His temperature was 35 degrees instead of 38 as it should be. The biggest worry was not the broken leg, which they felt could be repaired with an operation, but the danger of internal damage and internal bleeding.
They immediately got him x-rayed and on a warm drip with painkillers and antibiotics. They had him on a warming pad with warming blankets to try to bring his temperature up. He just let them do what-ever it was they needed and we were talking to him and cuddling him the whole time.
They did an ultra sound and found internal bleeding so rushed him in for emergency surgery – we knew that he might not survive in his weakened state. Sadly they found catastrophic internal damage and could not save him. He died on the operating table.
I called him Eddie – no one should die without a name.
Every one tried so hard to save him – the vets and my AAR team were amazing. I hope that he at least knew love and care in his last couple of hours.
We don’t know his history. We have since found out that a dog matching his description was seen in Velez Malaga on 22 September. People tried to catch him but couldn’t – we are sure that it was him as Galgos are very un-usual around here. We don’t know if he came from a hunter or a loving home and just got lost.
If you ever see an animal in need, please alert your local rescue and vets or police. Even if you can’t stop to help, please tell someone who might be able to help. We couldn’t save Eddie, but we might be able to save the next one that needs us.
He was a sweet, gentle soul and our hearts all break for him. Go run free at the rainbow bridge Eddie.
DIANE MCCLELLAND
PRESIDENT AXARQUIA ANIMAL RESCUE
Email: [email protected]
www.axarquiaanimalrescue.com
