Emergency, Emergency . . . Puppies Appear in Mass on Pana Streets

Woof, woof from Panajachel! This is Einstein, retired street dog reporting . . .

Puppies, puppies everywhere! It seems some of my friends haven’t made it to a Healthy Pets clinic yet! For the last several weeks, humans have been dropping off abandoned youngsters at the clinic, Mayan Families headquarters and at the homes of volunteers.

First there were 8 puppies found wandering along the side of a busy street in Jucanya. Then 4 more found tied in a costale and tossed down by the river to die. Another 5 were taken in due to poor health and the fact that there is a deadly Distemper epidemic running through Pana and Solola. Yesterday, program director and my foster companion, Selaine received several more calls for help.

Over the past couple of weeks, Healthy Pets has found homes for 8 of the homeless pups and there’s a good possibility that 2 more adoptions will occur today.

A big wag of the tail to our friend Xenii at AWARE for her help in sending 4 pups to the U.S.A.!

On that note, I received some correspondence from Andrea and Miguelita, the two adult females who were adopted and now living in their new U.S. homes.

Here’s what Andrea’s companion Elaine wrote for her:

I think that I mentioned to you that Andie is very protective of her turf and won’t allow another dog in the house which keeps me from adopting any more pets . Anyway, I went away for the weekend and boarded the dogs at a friend’s kennel. She’s been a trainer and owner of a boarding facility for years. She and I had talked about Andie so she was aware of her behavior. After I dropped off the dogs, my friend put the dogs in runs and Andie immediately become assertive. So my friend put a LARGE assertive dog in the next kennel to see if that would stifle Andie. Well, if Andie and this large dog could talk, here’s what the conversation would have been:

large dog: I’m big and tough and I’m gonna be the boss while I’m here.

Andie: yeah, you think you’re bad…….well, I’m ‘badder’…..so, go ahead, take a shot.

I laughed at my friend’s description of Andie and the large dog. But, I have to really respect Andie for her survival instincts and her fearless nature. I love this short, squat little dog with all my heart. At the end of the day, she’s the one snuggled next to me……she’s just wonderful.

TeeHeeHee . . . I know just how she feels! A wag of the tail “Hello, from Pana”!

And from Miguelita’s new best friend, Nancy, we heard this:

She is doing very well. After her initial unwillingness to even enter the house, she is now quite comfortable. In fact, I went downstairs last nite to find her in my favorite spot on the couch! X-rays revealed the fractured hip, a fractured number 7 vertebra, and a beer cap in her tummy (we hope that will pass gently). Once we have rechecked her platelets, which seemed a bit low, she may be going on a course of prednisone. But the doctor and all the vet staff just love her; they are taking very good care of her. I believe, assuming all goes will with the meds, we will plan a surgery to remove the bone at the hip end of her leg to eliminate the bone on bone rubbing. The doctor does not expect a problem from the fractured vertebra as it is already fusing healing.

She is just charming. No accidents in the house. Well behaved, very vocal. We just love her. She especially loves sitting outside watching the goings on in the neighbor’s yard. They have a young sheltie who keeps Miguelita very entertained, and after Santiago and Pana, I am sure she finds my yard rather boring.

Nancy, just a note from an old retired street dog, I’m sure she LOVES your yard! It so nice to have a yard to call your own! Big wag of the tail!

As you all can gather, Emergency Services is hopping! The Healthy Pets team is doing its best to provide proper care for all the orphans and severely injured animals BUT we need your help! Several of you readers have responded to the call for help with the sterilization clinics by pledging monthly commitments. I am happy to report that based on budget projections, this service is financial sound for this fiscal year.

However, Emergency Services is struggling financially. Please open you heart to the needs of these youngsters as well as the adults treated through the Healthy Pets Program.

Your donations go directly to dog, cats, puppies and kittens in need.

Please help us!