Animal rescuers become a sick, abandoned dog's many best friends

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rambo-20120713,0,1193566.story

Who would want a scabbed, stinky German shepherd abandoned by its owner? But a string of animal rescuers refused to give up.

By Rene Lynch, Los Angeles Times

July 12, 2012, 8:32 p.m.

The German shepherd was lashed to a fence inside an abandoned junkyard. With no food and water, he began drinking his own urine. Part of his right ear was torn or bitten off. A too-small collar was embedded into his skin. Lesions and scabs dotted his back where there should have been fur.

When an unidentified good Samaritan brought the dog through the front door of the Emergency Pet Clinic of San Gabriel Valley last winter, a stench filled the room. Dr. Jeffrey Patlogar took one look and thought the animal needed to be euthanized, immediately, to end its suffering. But almost as quickly, the vet noticed something else.

Video: http://www.latimes.com/videogallery/71039521/News/A-Dog's-Many-Best-Friends

The dog showed no sign of aggression. Perhaps that's why he had been abandoned, Patlogar surmised. Maybe the shepherd wasn't enough of a fighter, or a defender. There was something else. Kohl-black fur rimmed the dog's eyes and trailed off at the edges, making him look even sadder, more pitiful.

The veterinarian crouched down. "You look awful," he told the shepherd. The dog replied with a lick.

FULL story at link.

[joeybee12]

1. KNR!

[xchrom]

2. ...

[Danmel]

3. nice to see a happy ending

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

4. Yay!

Lucky puppy!

[mnhtnbb]

5. Yeah for the rescuers! My Snowy is a rescue.

[irisblue]

6. my rescue princess is asleep on her half of the couch.

I find it hard to read these rescue stories, I cannot imagine, nor do I want to, how a human can abandon their animals

[choie]

7. "he deserves to be fat and happy"...

Yes, he does. I'm sitting here with tears pouring down my face...yay, Sid and yay to all those who helped him. There's a place in heaven for you!

[TahitiNut]

8. "The dog replied with a lick."

I call those "KISSES" ... and its all we need to know about character.

[Dalai_1]

9. Great Post, Thank You! n/t

[nolabear]

10. Nothing like a good cry to start a Friday morning.

That was wonderful. People can be so bad, and so good.

[Omaha Steve]

11. I got some great replies from the emails I sent out too

Haven't heard any negative comments.