Silas needs your help
3 years ago a young boxer male was left on the doorstep of a local Kansas
City Animal Control Shelter. The note gave the dog's name, his age (one
year) and said the owner could no longer keep him. The former owner asked
that they please find him a good home. "He is extremely well trained and a
very good dog."
Four years later the dog is getting a new name and another new home. He is a
natural eared, neutered fawn male. For his bone structure and age he should
weigh more than 60 pounds. He now weighs close to 35 pounds if that much.
The boy was rescued or "adopted" Friday, May 30, 1997 from the same shelter
he first visited 3 years ago. You could see the outline of veins between his
skin and bones he was so thin. There is no muscle tone. The dog could hardly
stand on his own or even hold his head up. His legs quivered violently when
he stood, they could barely support what weight he had. His feet are twice
the normal size and a beet red color. They were swollen and sore from being
out on the street for almost four weeks. Despite the rescuer's offer to lift
her new adopted dog in the car, the animal control officer had him jump up 3
feet into the back of the car.
Animal control had picked him up as a stray on Memorial Day (May 26) after a
call from the rescuer. The rescuer had been called early that morning by a
local boxer owner who tried to help the dog and feed him when he was seen
near their home. The good Samaritan, being unable to get close to him, was
instructed to call the local Animal Control Agency. Checking on dog two days
later, the rescuer was told the dog was doing fine, despite the "two bullets
in his head", the fact that he was in extremely poor condition and was blind
in one eye. The rescuer told the kennel manager that she was with Boxer
Rescue and that if the dog's owner did not claim him in the allotted time,
she would like to adopt or rescue him. She was told that the owner was at
the shelter at the time and had given permission to put him down. The
manager let her speak to the owner and it was agreed that the dog would be
released to Boxer Rescue instead. This is when the rescuer found out the dog
had been a stray for over four weeks. There would be a $16.00 adoption fee.
She told them she would get back in touch the next day after she had
arranged for a foster home. They said no problem. The dog would be waiting
for her.
The rescuer found out who the vet was that originally examined the dog for
the shelter and called for more details. The vet said he had known the dog
from his regular practice. He had been a house dog for several years and
then last year the owner started leaving him chained outside. The vet was
concerned that the dog had never had heart worm treatments during those
years. The vet said he had been a really good, smart dog. He had also
treated him in the past for a broken right leg.
When arriving to pickup up the dog, the rescuer mentioned the heartworm issue
and of the shelter vet's concern. The kennel manager said the dog should be
OK. Asked how he knew for sure, he said the owner's right here you can ask
her yourself. The owner was the animal control officer who made dog jump up
in the rescuer's car.
When taken to the rescuer's vet it was confirmed, the dog had two small
bullets or pellets in his head, one above his left eye that was badly
infected and draining badly. That wound site posed no immediate danger, it
will be removed when the dog is in better shape and can handle surgery
better. A second pellet appears to be on the edge of the socket of his right
eye. Remember, the original vet and the animal control officers thought he
was blind in the right eye. In testing, the dog could follow slow movement
of large objects. The very clouded right eye was from an extremely bad
ulceration. The right eye has been cauterized and is getting continued
treated. The rescuers vet has cautioned that the right eye may have to be
removed if repairs don't go well--but after three days of care, things look
very hopeful. There will still be a long treatment period of several months
before the eye is completely healed. The dog is also required to stay at the
vet's for 4-5 more days to make sure the eye is monitored constantly.
The dog's mouth was swollen and had small cuts everywhere from eating out of
cans and any other trash he could find. He had at least one broken toe on
his left foot. He also showed signs of a long ago healed break on the right
leg (the former owner had mentioned he had broken it over a year ago, it has
a terrible scare on it and is slightly bent). The dog's ears were full of
ticks and he smelled wretched despite spending 4 days at the shelter. As we
held him for treatment, he would lay his head in your hands and fall
asleep-this despite all the poking, prodding and treatments he was getting.
He had every kind of worm but heartworm. The now former-owner had said the
dog had received the heart worm treatment maybe a year ago from some vet
somewhere in Missouri. She couldn't remember anything about the vet, where it
was or what the office was close too. She thought she had given him the
preventative medicine up to 2 or 3 months ago. ( In our part of the country
you are supposed to give it year round).
Silas, as he is now called, is recuperating and gaining the strength to
continue the repair work. It is too early to remove the pellets. X-rays will
be taken. Blood work will continue. The diarrhea Silas had been suffering
(the first few days he was hospitalized it was like water) appears to be
under control thanks to the various medicines used. He's getting a special
super-fortified diet and eating well. Silas gets along exceptionally well
with the vet staff and the other clients (dogs, cats etc). This despite the
fact that the ex- owner said he had been chewed up by Rottweilers-but she
couldn't remember if that's how he broke is leg. He still doesn't move much
or very fast, that will come as he regains his strength. Giving him cortisone
could affect the healing rate of his eye, so the swelling in his paws and
mouth is going down slowly and is still very uncomfortable.
By the way, I'm the person who "rescued" Silas, if you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me. Fran Davidson-Mystique's Haven or
Haven1986@aol.com. I'm listed under Missouri and Kansas as a rescue
contact. In all my years with rescue, this little guy is in the about the
worst shape and deserves a better life. Please help. Pictures of our little
man will be available later this week. We'll work on his permanent
placement over the next few weeks. Right now I can tell you, he's lovable,
appreciative and despite it all, that little stub of a tail wiggles just
fine. We just want to see it wiggle faster.
My vet is helping us as much as he can, I need cover the supply costs and
treatment expense. American Boxer Rescue has offered their help. If you
can help Silas, please let Traci Hendrickson in Oklahoma know. Funds will be
used to help Silas' recovery and rehabilitation expenses. Please refer to
Silas when giving. All funds should go to American Boxer Rescue (501-3c
tax deductible status pending)
ATTN: Traci Hendrickson
% Silas
American Boxer Rescue Association
4412 W Kent Circle
Broken Arrow, OK, 74012
Many thanks to Craig Powell, Catonsville, Maryland for his help with
the pictures of Silas.
**Update..Update*** See Silas on his own page and in his own home. Can this be the same boxer boy?? Sure is,,,thanks to everyone who helped or contributed in any way. Rescue does work!!!
SILAS-AT HOME-September 1997
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