An enduring "Spirit"

Being in rescue means we see the best of the best. It also means we are confronted sometimes with cruelty and neglect so horrific, it is hard to talk about.

We are bombarded with emails about last chance animals. Animals which have reached the end of their life cycle unless someone can step up and save them. Some of these animals are perfectly healthy, young and adoptable and have simply run out of time. Others are of a breed, like a pit bull, who is so disparaged, the rescues who will take them in simply have no more room and then there are the old, sick and abused ones, who many believe should simply be put out of their misery.

We hear all the time that we should use our time and money to save the most adoptable ones. I say they all matter, each and every one. Dead is still dead, whether they are young or old and we should do all we can for each and every one.

When I first met Spirit, he was a sad excuse for a living animal. He was so emaciated he looked like a skeleton with skin. He had pressure sores on his hind quarters with no muscles in his back end. They had all been eaten by his body in trying to stay alive. He could not walk, but had to be lifted to go outside and potty and even then, could not hold it long enough to even make it outside.

He was found in Miami on a pallet truck, underneath a load of pallets. There is no telling how long he had been wedged in there and when inquiries were being made about pulling another dog from the rescue in Miami, we were asked would we consider this poor, old Dalmation, who probably did not have long to live.

He came back to the Gulf Coast and our vet's office, where he was diagnosed with starvation and dehydration. After some extensive rehydration, he regained his appetite and when I met him, he was doing better.

Better, I thought? He must have been really bad a couple of weeks earlier. As we lifted him outside to go potty from his kennel, he fell in the yard. His back legs would simply not support him. As we went to try and get him up again, there was movement and his tail gave the slightest wag. He wanted to get up. He wanted to walk. He was down but he was not out. When it came time to put him back in his kennel, he hopped up the step. It was a small gain, but you could tell this dog wanted to live.

I am happy to report Spirit is now walking on his own. He is still old and still skinny, but he has a great appetite and in spite of the incontinence which old dogs may suffer from, is happy and joyful with a wagging tail. He loves to be cuddled and loves kisses on his head.

He is an inspiration of what can be accomplished if you can see beyond what is in front of you. Please don't give up on the seniors or sick ones. They deserve a good life for as long as they have left. Just ask Spirit.

If you believe, as we do, all the dogs deserve to live, please consider giving a donation to keep our mission going. It doesn't have to be big, every penny counts. You can mail your donation to: Satchel's Last Resort

8101 Coash Road

Sarasota, Florida 34241.

Thank you from Spirit and all the animals we help.