| Weight: 25 lbs |
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Medical condition: Poor hearing but otherwise healthy! |
| Other: AKA Big Papa! |
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Special needs: Needs a special diet to control bladder crystals, dry eye |
Description:
Big Papa came into Pug Rescue 4 years ago. Suzi our foster coordinator received a call from a volunteer at the West LA shelter stating that there was a really sweet elderly pug that had been transferred from the South Central LA shelter to the West LA shelter in the hopes of increasing his chances of adoption but after a month stay at the West LA shelter, as with most seniors, no one had shown interest in adopting him and his time was out, he would be euthanized if we didn’t step in. Suzi, our amazing foster coordinator sent out her usual distress plea, begging our foster volunteers to open their home to yet another senior, she luckily got a response from one of our very special long term foster volunteers. Suzi, called a transport and short term foster volunteer who lived in Thousand Oaks to see if she would be able to transport this old man to San Diego, the volunteer agreed to go get him and make the trek to San Diego as she often did. The transport volunteer arrived at the shelter to pick the senior up but when they brought him out she was horrified at the sight, he was really bad off. The poor old man could barely walk; he had a huge tumor on his hind leg that literally dragged on the floor, leaving a trail of blood as he walked. He was flea infested and filthy. The transport volunteer thought it would be a good idea to carry him onto the grassy area so he could relieve himself since the trip could last from 4-6 hours. As she waited for him to relieve himself she noticed that when he urinated, bright red blood came out, his physical state and the bloody urine alarmed her so she contacted Suzi and they decided that it would be best that one of the local approved vets check him out before he made the long trip. The transport volunteer immediately took him to the local approved vet in Malibu and they decided to admit him, remove the tumor and get to the bottom of the bloody urine.
The vet informed the volunteer that the poor old man whom she decided to name Big Papa “ Biggy Biggs” was in bad shape, the vet stated he was approximately 10-12 years old, that someone had poured what he thought may be car oil and god knows what else in his ears. The vet feared Big Papa may have internal bleeding due to the bloody urine output and he couldn’t understand how he was eating since most his teeth were rotten and he was suffering from a massive oral and ear infection. Big Papa stayed at the vet’s for a week recovering from the removal of most of his teeth, the mass and to clear up his systemic infection. He thankfully had no internal bleeding but the poor old guy did have kidney stones which thankfully did not require surgery and were later controlled with a high quality raw food diet.
Big Papa’s was discharged from the vet’s a week after he was rescued unfortunately the long term foster who had committed to foster him was no longer available. Fortunately for Big Papa the transport volunteer and short term foster agreed to foster him until Suzi our foster coordinator could get another long term foster to take him on. Big Papa was discharged and taken to his short term foster home; his foster mom immediately noticed that poor Big Papa might have been abused due to his reaction towards people. Big Papa was withdrawn, scared when she or her husband touched him, he would actually scream, he seemed terrified. Initially he spent most of his time cowering in an open kennel. His temporary fosters also noticed that he couldn’t see very well. Big Papa’s ear infection was so severe he required long term oral and topical antibiotics, his foster mom had to clean his ears on a daily basis, it was a horrific sight. Big Papa’s ears were so bad; they oozed green puss and blood for at least 3 weeks despite the heavy duty antibiotics he was placed on. It took Big Papa a long time to recover from his ears and unfortunately he really never did, the car oil and god knows what else his previous tortures had poured into his ears had taken a terrible toll on his ears.
Suzi was having difficulty finding a long term foster volunteer for Big Papa. Our rescue has a shortage of long term fosters. Llong term fosters commit to giving pugs a safe haven until they are adopted or pass away. Most long term foster pugs live out their remaining years with their long term foster family. Due to the commitment required to be a long term foster there is a shortage of these volunteers.
His short term foster admired his spunk and determination to live and decided to commit to being his long term foster. Big Papa’s foster was determined to get him out of his shell and show him love, affection and that all humans weren’t the source of pain and fear. Slowly Big Papa came out of his shell. He started by following his foster mom around the house but not quite yet letting her pet and love him, his disposition changed and improved once the daily ear cleanings stopped. He never warmed up to men and to date he still avoids them. Big Papa has been with his long term foster for 4 years now. Big Papa is remarkably happy healthy and spunky except for his chronic severe long term ear infections. Big Papa was recently taken to a specialist regarding his long term ear infections. Big Papa was diagnosed with MRSA ( a resistant bacterial infection ) in his ears hence the reason for his incurable long term chronic ear infections. At this point the only way Big Papa’s MRSA can be treated is by having him undergo a bilateral ear ablation which involves removing the ear canals. The two antibiotics used to treat MRSA are out of the question since they are extremely toxic and have a high incidence of causing renal and liver failure. Big Papa’s MRSA is contagious and his vet suspects that he has transmitted it to his two foster sibling French bull dogs. Due to Big Papa’s medical issues and his contagious MRSA, he cannot be adopted out. Big Papa will happily live out the rest of his life in his long term fosters home. His long term foster has graciously donated most of veterinary expenses to date but his upcoming ear ablation is more than she can afford to donate towards Big Papa and the rescue. We are kindly asking for donations towards his surgery which will cost approximately $2,200.00 to $2,500.00. Big Papa’s foster mother has donated the first $1000.00 dollars but we still need to raise the remaining funds. We kindly ask that you support our long term foster program by donating funds towards our senior’s medical expenses. Unfortunately for most of the sweet seniors the chances of adoption are bleak due to the fact that most people want younger dogs and or most people cannot afford to take on the financial responsibility of adopting a senior. Many seniors die in shelters because rescues simply don’t have the long term fosters nor the funds to take on these poor pugs. Most of these abandoned seniors have lived a life of unimaginable neglect and suffering and it’s our goal to provide them vet care, getting them healthy so we can adopt them out into good loving homes or at least provide them with a home with one of our long term foster families for the last days of their lives.
Please consider donating towards our seniors or becoming a much needed long term foster, the oldies deserve at least a glimmer of happiness towards the end of their life god knows that in most cases they have only known neglect, suffering and heartache.
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Meet Biggie Biggs, known affectionately in his foster home as "Big Papa". He came to Pug Rescue from a shelter in LA a couple years ago. Here is Biggie's story, written by his loving foster mom. He is a perfect example of why we do this important work of rescuing Pugs. "Suzi contacted me and kindly asked that I go to the West La city shelter to pick up a senior who was going to be euthanized that same day if we didn't move and get there quickly.I got in my SUV and hauled a*! to save this old man. When I got here and they brought him out the smell almost knocked me over, he smelled like he was rotting and I was immediately concerned. The kennel attendant said he had been transferred from the South Central LA shelter " the hood " where he shared a kennel with mostly pit bulls. He had already been there for almost two weeks, he was transferred to West LA by the kennel attendants because they fell in love with his fighter personality and sweet disposition. Big Papa unfortunately sat at the West La shelter for a month and the staff there had also hoped against hope that he would get adopted he had enamored them too. But no such luck for this and so many other seniors, no one adopted him The shelter had contacted local LA pug rescue groups and no one stepped forward. Suzi was contacted as a last effort to save this old man. After the initial shock of his putrid odor I noticed he had a large mass hanging off the back of his leg, it was so bad it was literally dragging on the floor. He was flea infested, I could actually see the fleas crawling on him. Despite his horrid condition when I bent down and went to pet him and spoke gently to him, he just smiled, made allot of happy squeaky noises and he was full of spunk, he wobbled over to me, he was so stiff due to terrible arthritis, he walked like a little wind up toy. I then proceeded to walk him to the car and when I did he stopped to pipi and bright red blood came out and then I was really worried. I also noticed that his sight was extremely impaired. I was suppose to drive him to SD that day but due to his condition I seriously thought some thing might be really wrong besides the obvious so I contacted Suzi and I suggested he go to our local authorized vet in Malibu.I took him from the shelter right over to the vet and he determined he might be any where between 12-14 years of age. The vet immediately bathed, de-fleaed and dewormed him; did a dental and pulled 10 teeth, removed the mass and did additional testing to inquire about the bloody urine. His labs were normal and he was diagnosed as having struvite bladder stones which could be easily managed with diet. Big Papa also had horribly infected ears, they suspected some one had poured some type of oily substance in them and he had a really bad case of kennel cough too. It took almost a year to get his ears back to health, the poor guy developed a resistant ear bacteria infection so we crossed our fingers and prayed that the ear cultures we had done would be able to indicate an antibiotic that would cure his ear infections and stop his ear pain and problems. I had to clean Big Papas ears every other day and the poor guy would scream his little head off it was so painful but as soon as it was done he was back to his happy go lucky self.Big Papa is now 100% healthy for gentleman of his stature and age, he just got lab tested about 4 months ago and his blood results were all good. He is the bravest little pug I have ever met, during his ordeals he never showed fear, sadness nor did he get depressed. He is a happy go lucky pug who loves life and lives it to the fullest. He plays with my dogs at his senior ripe age, he hustles down the hall to greet us when we get home, he actually taught himself how to use the doggy bed steps !!! ( incredible ) considering he is blind. Due to Big Papa's ear infection he has lost some hearing but he does hear because when I say who wants a cookie he comes in tearing it up, his arthritis has dramatically improved now that he is on arthritis supplement vitamins. Big Papa recently developed severe dry eye in both eyes, we are taking him to a specialist in Beverly Hills to confirm the diagnosis and to have it properly treated. Big Papa will require most likely require a series of drops and ointments in his eyes for his remaining years in order to keep his beautiful little eyes moist and healthy.I have never met a living creature who wanted to live so badly, this little guy is a fighter and he has been through his ordeals with great strength, dignity and conviction. I am so happy I decided to foster this old man he has taught me and my family the true meaning of being a trooper and a fighter and most important he has brought us so much love and laughter. Thank you Pug Rescue of San Diego for saving this old man and bringing him into my life.
Analisa" (Big Papa's devoted foster mom)
As you can see, Big Papa is a well loved member of his foster family. Because of Biggie's advanced age, it would be very traumatic for him to change families now. He will stay with his foster family always as a Forever Foster. Supporting Pug Rescue means helping Pugs like Biggie, dogs that would have been euthanized in the shelter if not for us stepping in to save them. Consider donating in Biggie's name. He and his foster family would appreciate it. |
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