it's daffodil! healing from baldwin park shelter, mange and emotional scares.

i know i should be writing about at-choo, but really this affects at-choo in my spirit. and those of you who buy at-choo help this to happen - you help to save a life.

this is daffodil who was at baldwin park shelter/pound until monday, august 2, 2010.

when i saw her behind the bars in her kennel my jaw dropped open. i looked closer - surely this couldn't be what i thought i was seeing. i couldn't believe the severity of her mange. i opened the door and she retreated to the back corner, head down. i got as small as she is and took my time and gently touched her bumpy, hairless back and saw her relax - a bit.

i carefully picked her, afraid i would cause her skin to crack and bleed. instead she clung to me, holding my arm with both her bumpy swollen legs and pressed against me. clearly she was terrified and clearly she was in pain - she was swollen, crusty, bumpy and had hair on her tail, but most of the rest was gone.

i go to baldwin park shelter every 2 weeks to help robin harmon, angel extraordinaire who on the behalf of Best Friends (you know, the group that took in michael vick's dogs and rehabilitated them in utah) organizes 'pup my ride'- a transport where 30+ dogs are saved from euthanasia and go to utah where they lack small dogs. i was looking for 2 mange chihauhaus and came across daffodil. now, what to do.

get her out of there and to a vet. but the bills . . . money is money, but a soul is never replaceable.

surely this must be a cruelty case - owner surrender it said on her paper work. really? we learned that animal control had been contacted about daffy and went to her home and confiscated her. her 'owner' (a word i hate because animals are not disposable like shoes, whatever. we are their guardians in my opinion.) was cited and fined. i still think he should be charged with cruelty. i would love to testify on daffodil's behalf. love to.

once to the vet (severe mange, infection under the mange, infection in both ears) we then went home to quizzie and ollie-pie, my other baldwin park alum. daffy didn't want to come inside - stayed outside and would just sit at the threshold of the door. if she dared to step inside, the minute she saw me she stepped back outside and sat. i'd carry her inside with her heart pounding - she would then retreat back outside. but to even get to her was a challenge as she would back away, tail down. so i did all my tricks - became small, didn't look at her, went sideways to her side as i crouched down. my hand always out with a piece of tempting treats accompanied by a soft positive voice, hopefully soothing.

well, 2 days later it's as if a door has opened and she has let the worries start, just start to disappear. i was thrilled when i saw her wag her tail when she saw me - sooooo exciting to be acknowledged for what i've been trying to do - get her to trust and accept love.

i'm giving her medicated baths, plus her meds, sprays and lots of chicken to make it all wonderful, if that's possible. she has found her voice. toys and playing is way down the road - don't expect her to know what that's all about, but my nurses, ollie-pie and quizzie will show her.

life is all new to her outside of a back yard. scary and way too different for her. i took her to Maxwell Dog, since i thought it might be time for a collar, but decided to wait till she heals more. daffy was treated to a tag with her name and my phone number (she was too ill to be microchipped when she left the shelter/pound). tense and nervous we went back home and the video is what it was like when we got there.

stay tuned - i hope to do updates and create a blog just for her. wish us both luck - especially sweet daffodil!!!