Dobermann Welfare: caring

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Caring Hands - Gypsy

Gypsy

A telephone call at 22.30 hours on a Monday Evening in December. A man had witnessed a road traffic accident involving a Dobermann. He had a Dobe himself and he was very concerned.

The Dobermann, a bitch, had a broken back leg, and she was fortunate that the policeman dealing with the incident liked dogs. Instead of taking her through the normal system, he took her to the best vet in Motherwell near Glasgow (Scotland). The caller was worried, as when he called the vet, he was told that he couldn't operate as there was no-one to pay for the procedure. The owner had been traced, but he refused to take responsibility for the fees! The caller asked could we help?

It took me two hours to track down the right police station, and I ascertained the name of the vet that the poor bitch had been taken to. I telephoned the vet the next morning, and explained that if ownership was transferable, then we would take responsibility for the cost of the operation. The vet sounded a lovely, and very compassionate man.

I enquired for two weeks about how she was, until finally she could leave the surgery. We urgently needed a foster home in Motherwell, as the vet was 120 miles from where I live, so it wasn't feasible for me to travel all that way everyday. We couldn't find one, no matter how many people I called. This was mainly because it was too close to Christmas, and everyones arrangements had been made, which didn't include a very sick Dobie bitch.

I finally did find a foster home for her, which is 1½ hours drive from my home, and 1 hours drive from the vets. As a result, we agreed that the foster homes vet should do the follow up, and she was to be seen after 6 days to check the wound, and then again after 6 weeks to see if the plates and pins in her leg were to be left in or removed.

Two lovely people, the Sinclairs in Irvine (Scotland), took her into their home and their hearts, and named her Gypsy. She was apparently wandering the streets of Motherwell for some time before the accident.

On the sixth day after release from the surgery, she was duly taken to see the Sinclairs vet for a quick check up. He gave her the once over, and declared that she had terminal cancer through all the lymph nodes of her body.

Gypsy has to go back to the vets in Motherwell for a biopsy. He has offered to do this at cost as he did the leg operation for £250. He has also offered to keep her in his surgery over Christmas if we need to. It all depends on the result of the biopsy. Gypsy is such a beautiful natured dog, we feel, no matter what the heartbreak at the end of the day, that she deserves a chance. She has had no life to speak of so far, perhaps we can offer it to her. Please God.

Update: 4 January 1998

Poor Gypsy has had very extensive surgery, and the veterinary bill has exceeded £350! All of us hope that Gypsy can get through this difficult time. She deserves the chance.

Update 18 January 1998

It has been proven that Gypsy has terminal cancer. She will be on medication for the next week, then we will see if her condition has improved. This poor girl really does deserve a break. We just hope that she will live to get it.

Update 15 February 1998

Gypsy did not respond to the treatment medication she was on. Therefore, it was considered kinder to put her to rest rather than her endure any more discomfort and pain.

This poor girl had had no life to speak of, and, it was reported, she had been wandering the streets for some time. It was only when a car hit her that someone reported her. If she had been found sooner, she may have been treatable. We shall never know.

We all hope that poor Gypsy is Resting in Peace, and that she is now finding happiness at the Rainbow Bridge with someone who adores her.

Submitted byKath Miller

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