“The puppy is sick,” was the first thing I heard when I walked into the shelter today and the last thing I wanted to hear. I walked over to her cage. Her name is Morgan. She was the last puppy from Sadie’s litter. Sadie had given birth in our shelter after we rescued her from the side of the highway. Morgan is a 12 week old pit bull mix.
She was standing behind the cage bars looking at me with sad eyes. Then she started to cough. “Call the vet and tell them I am bringing the puppy over,” I said as I opened the cage door and took Morgan in my arms.
Morgan was a gem in the car. She sat on the passenger seat leaning up to gaze out the window. Once she started to bite the knob on the radio and the station changed. I guess she didn’t like the song. She barely coughed on the way to the vet. Sometimes just being out of the shelter environment helps them relax.
The waiting room was crowded in Howard Beach Animal Clinic and we had to wait awhile but Morgan was extremely good. She sat on my lap the whole time. I was just grateful that they were able to squeeze us in at all.
Dr Weinstein saw Morgan. “What a beautiful puppy!” he said. He examined her and listened to her cough. “Do you have a nebulizer at the shelter?” he asked. I nodded. “Nebulize her three times a day and give her this three times a day.” He handed me an envelope with meds in it.
The volunteers were finishing up walking the dogs, the staff finishing up cleaning. We hooked up the nebulizer for Morgan and realized there was no sterilized water. So back to the vet I went, sans Morgan this time, to pick up the water. When I came back Morgan was asleep on top of a giant blue stuffed elephant I had just washed for her at the laundry mat. She was so happy to have her “friend” back. Veronica, our wonderful morning superviser, nebulized her and given her her meds.
Puppies are so fragile. I hated leaving her at the shelter. I went outside and dig in the box of doggie coats for some small coats that would fit Morgan. I was seriously considering taking her home till she got better. Its so hard for them to feel better in the shelter especially when they are coughing like this.
“We caught it early,” Veronica said. “She will be better soon.”
I kept my plan to myself as I picked out a couple of coats and put them on top of her cage. I’d have to keep her crated a lot though I think the crate I have is bigger than the cage she is in now… It was a risk bringing a sick dog home. She could get my dogs sick if I wasn’t careful. I thought about where I would put her… in the office was the best room though my dogs would have to pass her on their way in and out of the yard. My dogs sleep in my bedroom with me so that wouldn’t be good… I’d have to clear out a space in the office. I just moved and all my unpacked boxes were in the office…
I decided to go home first, set things up and tomorrow if she didn’t sound any better I would bring her home. I really couldn’t just walk in the house with Morgan. My dogs would try to jump up and sniff her and be going crazy.
When I left the shelter she was sleeping. The rest of the dogs watched me leave. Lennox, a white pit mix that I take to Alley Pond Park on weekends whimpered when I left. My heart breaks everytime I leave.
I stopped by our Atlas Adoption Center on the way home to meet with Bobbi and Denise, the wonderful girl who works the night shift at the Vetport. I make sure she knows how to use the nebulizer. “I told Mike we might have to bring the puppy home,” Denise said. Mike is her significant other. “I don’t want to leave her there sick. He has off all next week and can take care of her.” I just smiled at her. Denise has a huge heart. She already adopted one of the puppies because she brought her home when she was sick.
At home, I can’t stop thinking about Morgan. It breaks my heart when they get sick at the shelter. The shelter can be stressful enough without being ill. I have everything set up incase I have to take her home tomorrow.
Even as I updated our Facebook page I came across photos of Morgan and Scotch playing in the grass at the Vetport. Scotch is a big pit bull who loved all of the puppies. He and Morgan are now best friends. I remember the day we resced her mom off the highway and I remember the day she and the other pups were born at the shelter. That puppy will probably be in my dreams tonight! These dogs just have a way of getting into your heart and head. I am saying a prayer that Morgan feels better soon. I can’t wait to see her playing in the grass with Scotch again or even better yet, adopted into a great home.
To learn more about Scotch - visit Scotch’s Profile
Be sure to also check out Bobbi and the Strays Fan page on Facebook
