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DALTON HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND HAS A WONDERFUL NEW FAMILY!
An update on Dalton follows his Golden Angel Story)
If ever there was a Golden Retriever who deserves to be a Golden Angel, it’s 7-year-old Dalton. How clearly I remember our first meeting. During a routine check for possible Goldens on Petharbor, I saw Dalton’s posting. He had been picked up as a stray and was being held at a local shelter. One look at his picture and I knew this poor boy was sick. I immediately called the shelter, but when my call wasn’t returned I drove there to see for myself.
Upon arriving at the shelter, I met with the vet tech who told me Dalton was really sick He had an eye condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca (also known as “dry eye” where dryness causes inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva) and was extremely obese. She was thinking she would put him to sleep. I asked if I could visit with him and was taken back to the isolation area.
There I found this enormous boy in the run, his sad eyes full of goo, and his entire coat looked like a solid mat of hair and dirt. He was so fat I wasn’t sure if could he could stand, but he did – very slowly. Like all Goldens, he was craving attention. He had that “please, please pet me” look in his eyes, and as I walked away he literally started crying. I turned around and told this sad looking boy, “Don’t worry, I’m coming back. You will not die here.” I knew Dalton was the “perfect” Golden Angel when I saw him. He was in dire need of medical attention, a bath, a proper diet, some exercise and most of all – love and attention. There was no doubt in my mind that all of the incredible GRRR faithful would rally to save this sweet Golden.
When I told the vet tech that I wanted him, she looked very surprised and began mentioning all of the things that were wrong with him. I asked if he was even neutered, and after she went back to his run to double check him, she came back and announced, “It’s a girl!” When her stray hold was up, I showed up Saturday morning with a beautiful girly collar – just the perfect new “outfit” to begin her life with GRRR. I began contemplating a new feminine name for her. Daphne? Dora?
We went directly to Dr. Carpenter’s office, and after one look at Dalton, Dr. Carpenter knew he had his work cut out for him. He began to carefully examine her. Dalton’s ears were so inflamed that Dr. Carpenter couldn’t even see down her canals. Prednisone was prescribed to address that problem. Her eyes would definitely require medication for the rest of her life, but of more immediate concern were her eyelashes which had been rubbing against her eyes. The constant irritation had caused some scarring on her eyes. Then Dr. Carpenter started to clip the hair on her belly, and just as he turned the clipper on, he said, “It’s a boy!” Dalton looked so comfortable in HIS new collar with the pretty flowers that I decided right then and there he could keep it, well at least for the ride home.
I took Dalton home that night for his first grooming. I’m sure he had never had a comb through his hair before. It took one very long night and a full trash bag to get the matted grime and old hair off of him. Dalton was so grateful – he must have thought he was at a plush spa. The human contact and all the attention made his Golden heart so happy. He wasn’t as enthusiastic about the bath, but still he was such a good boy. It must have felt really good to him to get all clean, and even though he’s too fat to really wiggle, I think I saw a slight movement that resembled a happy Golden wag.
Dalton’s thyroid test came back as low and he was immediately started on Soloxine. Thyroid medicine can make such a difference in facial appearance, so Dr. Carpenter decided to “tack” Dalton’s eyelids away from his eyes until he is stabilized on the new medicine. Within days of starting his new medicine he was already feeling better and even starting to play. Dalton’s facial appearance did change and he had entropianeye surgery. He’s not amused with wearing the E-collar, but I think it’s easier on him than the rest of the fosters that he’s banging into. An X-ray revealed Dalton’s hips are in bad shape and causing him a lot of pain. Pain medication has made a huge difference, and Dalton is gaining a lot more mobility.
Dalton is a Golden to be cherished. He’s so grateful for all we are doing for him, and it has been such an incredible experience watching a smelly, matted, sickly, obese dog emerge into a happy, playful fellow with a twinkle in his eyes. He went from a death sentence at the shelter to joining the GRRR family. It can’t get any better than that!
It’s heartbreaking to think that someone didn’t give this sweet boy basic care and attention. Goldens ask very little from us, but give us so much in return. Dalton now lives to receive the attention and affection he just craves from people. Because of our Golden Angel Fund, Dalton will never have another day of neglect in his life. He will delight in physical activity and play. I really love this boy and can’t believe someone would let him live in the condition he was in. Dalton is a very special boy who deserves life, love and care. Dalton now gets to do what all Goldens do best – be a loving, happy Golden. |
