See Merci now after her amazing recuperation.
Watch the video | |
There’s a lot more to the healing process than medications and time logged in at a clinic. When all is said and done, after everything the vets and caregivers can do, a lot is still up to the animal. And for Merci the dog, that side of the equation wasn’t looking very good when she came to Best Friends.
Merci was found in about as bad shape as a dog can be, and still be breathing. Truth be told, even the whole breathing thing was in question — the poor girl was barely alive. Found alongside a dumpster, Merci had a broken leg; she was full of ticks; she was starving, and she was dehydrated. What’s more, she had horrible skin infections and a systemic case of valley fever. Put another way, she already had one or two feet on the Rainbow Bridge and was getting ready to make a break for the other side.
She was rushed to Best Friends, where the first part of the healing process could happen. Fluids, medication, good food, expert care, and ultimately surgery on her leg pulled her back from the brink. But that was only part of the solution. From her side of things, Merci shut down emotionally and stayed that way for an entire month. Life had dropped her at the bottom of the heap and she had no intentions of getting back up again.
Even after the surgery that should have given her some strength back in her leg, Merci didn’t want to move. She was depressed, and she wasn’t going to try, no matter what. For that long month, her caregivers along with the medical team did all they could to help her, but she was struggling with her part. It seemed like she might never walk again.
There’s something funny that happens at Best Friends on occasion. Every now and again an animal will make such a dramatic turnaround that the caregivers start to wonder about alien abductions! (Okay, not really, but that’s as good an explanation as any.) Merci pulled off just such a turnaround. One day something clicked inside her and she decided to try to get up one more time.
From that point on, she has simply not been the same dog. The valley fever — which can be treated but never cured — continues to play tricks on her balance, but the difference this time is that Merci keeps right on walking anyway. She might wobble a bit as she goes, but she knows she’ll get there eventually! Besides, she’s getting stronger.
Truly, it’s almost like she woke up from a bad dream. All of a sudden Merci began noticing things for the first time, even though they’d been there all along. Things like … the cookie jar! Merci became so skillful at convincing visitors to give her treats from the cookie jar that her caregivers were forced to set out a bowl of more healthy treats just for Merci.
She’s also been attending several of the Jin Shin Jyutsu classes with instructor and Best Friends’ staffer Angela Rovetto. Angela says Merci has become the ultimate ham in the class, stealing the spotlight time and again. In fact, Merci’s newfound enthusiasm for life has started getting her into trouble. No longer content to wait for somebody to notice her, Merci likes to give little playful tugs on people’s pant legs to catch their attention. (She’s landed herself square into some basic obedience classes because of that stunt.)
There may still be some physical setbacks down the road for Merci. But she’s come so far in such a short time, it’s hard to imagine she won’t face those setbacks head-on. Way to go, Merci. You’re an inspiration to us all.
Story by David Dickson
Photo by Gary Kalpakoff
To learn how your support can help make a difference in the lives of animals at the sanctuary like Merci, please visit our donation page.
