17/04/2024
Today we took a 13-year-old Labrador into our care. His owners said he was sick and they couldn’t afford to take him to the vets. We were told his teeth were bleeding so we believed he may probably just have gum disease. His owners asked us to take him temporarily as they were being made homeless, so I asked if they would consider letting us take him permanently as he was too elderly for such upheaval and he needed to see a vet in case he was in pain.
He was picked up this morning and it was soon apparent that he had a huge tumour in his mouth, that was dripping blood and he was in a lot of discomfort.
He was taken to emergency vets, where we were told this poor boy was suffering immensely and had been for some time. His bottom teeth were jutting out at angles as the tumour had been pushing into his jaw and gums. The vet who saw him was also upset by the pain he must have been in constantly and the only option was to end his suffering there and then.
It’s been a hard one to swallow today. Not because he had to be put to sleep, as I was actually pleased we have been able to end this living hell for him… but to think of how he must have suffered and for how long is quite unbearable.
Two of our volunteers, Nicola and Geoff, have gone above and beyond today. They fetched him, took him to the vets and were by his side as he went to sleep. This is the sad, but often necessary side of rescue and to me it is just as important as all the happy endings we post. We would also be lost without volunteers who put their own feelings aside for the sake of the dogs who need them.
This isn’t posted for recriminations and I am going to try to turn the comments off as they won’t change what happened today. If it’s not possible, please don’t leave a negative comment or the post will be removed.
But if you can’t afford vet bills and your dog is in pain or suffering to this extent, please do the right thing for them instead of pretending you cannot see the pain they are in every hour of every day.
We hope you are running across the fields tonight, free as a puppy again ❤️
