The kindness of strangers

Rescue dogs have always depended upon the kindness of strangers because the human with whom they made their pact failed to live up to his or her end of the bargain. There has been a bond and an unwritten agreement between our two species ever since the first feral canine moved in to live among a community of humans. In the modern human/canine relationship, dogs provide myriad services, but primarily companionship. They are that wagging tail and happy face that forgives all the mistakes we make every day. Most dogs receive only a small fraction of the affection and companionship that they give, but they subsist happily with that. There is no excuse then for a human that fails a dog in the way that Rocky was failed.

Rocky was very aptly named. He is one tough dog. Maybe it's because he's been so miserable for so long that even the minimal care and treatment he's had so far is making him feel so much better. The steroids we started him on after the first vet visit really kicked in fast. He's been gulping down water and running around like a pup. Today he went back to the vet for some surgical intervention on his face, neck, and ears. He also got neutered.

So Rocky had a rough day. But he also had the kindness of many strangers. The staff at Old Dominion Animal Hospital took excellent care of him. Dr. Allison Kramer (an absolute angel) did surgery, cleaned up and closed up the wounds, and did what could be done for the ears. She said that the ear canals are fused shut, and she thinks that the wounds on his face were formed by the infection bursting out from the inner ear since the ear canals were closed. He definitely has hearing loss, probably permanent, but how much remains to be seen.

Everyone said he was just the sweetest dog, however, in spite of the pain he must be in. They also bathed him and got off all the scaly dead skin off his hairless belly. He came home with a new supply of medicines and one more that I need to pick up from the Walmart pharmacy tomorrow.

Another angel came into Rocky's life today without even being seen. When I went to pick him up at the end of the day, I was told that a woman had come in and made a very generous contribution towards Rocky's bill. I don't know who it is, but thank you.

This smile is for you.