February 18, 2014
The call came in Monday night: a senior golden was in Calhoun County, Florida … had been picked up by the sheriff’s office … owner did not want him and was about to be destroyed … can we respond? Not much more on details except that the dog was apparently not a mix and seemed very friendly. A golden rescue out of New Orleans had been contacted. They did not have room, so one of their reps contacted us.
I made some more phone calls/text messages/emails and was assured this golden “guy” would be available for me to pick-up the next day. Since the county did not have an animal control facility, the dog was being kept at the Blountstown City facility.
I was already scheduled to rescue a golden mix from the Bay County in the afternoon – so this just meant an earlier start of the puppy mission for the day. Fired up the puppy-mobile and off I went to the booming metropolis of Blountstown, population 2,520.
My contact there told me to make a left on FL 71 and then a right onto Clark St. to the police station. Problem: someone removed the street sign for Clark St. and after a mile down the road I got that, “think I missed the turn” feeling. I fired up the navigation thingy, pulled a u-turn and found my way to the police station.
The city animal control warden had me follow him to the kennel facility where I met the golden boy I came to rescue. A quick “package check” revealed that he was a she – about 7 yrs old and loaded with fleas. I was told the county had taken her in during the last cold spell from her owner. He decided not to keep her and she had been housed in the city facility for about a month and a half. I asked what her name was – they didn’t know.
A bit thin, I suspected intestinal parasites and probably even heartworm. Some mammary masses were present, so also a good chance she had not been spayed.
Loaded her up and back on the road for the 50 mile or so trip to my local vet office. Beside’s being a bit stinky, she rode well except for not being thrilled about being behind bars. Decided to call her Callie.
Tests at the vet confirmed all the worm issues, including being positive for Heartworm. This girl will have a bit of a haul before we can get her a loving home. Hope she makes it OK since there is a loving forever home waiting for her down the road – that’s what it is all about!
After dropping her off, I headed to the Bay County facility to pick up a young male mix (see video below). He looked healthy, was updated on shots and tested heartworm negative (yea!). He got his turn in the puppy mobile and was dropped off at the vet office for a quick checkup and to be neutered.
All in all a full day and 2 golden kids rescued. My volunteers will work on getting fosters lined up and coordinate follow-up vet treatment as needed.
The vet office I used – Parkway Animal Hospital in Callaway, FL. – is fantastic! With rescue cases I don’t usually have the luxury of working with scheduled appointments. When we intake a dog it frequently needs vet services then and now. I’ve brought them cases ranging from just needing routine vaccinations to ones having fiberglass resin hardening on their paws – Parkway is always there for us.
Side note: Callie is a very lucky girl. The county she was in does not have an animal control facility and I was told that strays are simply destroyed – no chance of adoption or rescue. It’s very sad. Thanks to a few caring souls, she has a second chance.