WE’RE ALL DUNROAMIN’

Posted On March 13, 2013

GREAT SCOT!

One very disturbing condition that we see all too frequently is that in which an outdoor dog suffers from an embedded collar. This situation has many upsetting implications. They include the fact that the collar was placed on the dog when he was much smaller and he has, in effect, grown over the collar. This means that no one has noted the condition or placement of the collar for a very long time; that the strong odor of infection has been missed or ignored; that the dog is not in close proximity to attentive people; and that he has remained on his chain for extended periods of time with no relief. More disturbing is the knowledge that the collar or chain has been a constant source of pain and irritation for months. Try putting an elastic band tightly on your arm and leaving it in place for a week – this will not begin to approximate the discomfort suffered by these dogs. To fully understand, you would have to wait until the elastic had embedded itself into your skin and left a wound 2-3 cm wide and 1-2 cm deep; become severely infected; and the oozing of the infected material had caused a skin infection below the wound and extends for 8-10 cm on the surface.
 

These were the circumstances that had prevailed when I met Scotlund ̶ named for the leader of the Animal Rescue Corps, a group that works continuously to rescue groups of animals from unacceptable conditions. The dog’s appearance might stop some attempts at friendship. At 110 lb, the Shepherd/Saint Bernard cross was an imposing animal with his muscular body and his huge, broad head, accentuated by the blood and secretions surrounding his entire neck and his scruffy coat. His behaviour revealed that he was not used to being in a house, or a car. He had difficulty walking on smooth floors and frequently slipped and lost his footing if moving too rapidly. Worse, he ducked when a hand reached for him and was wary of shovels, brooms, sticks and other potential assault weapons.
 

But if you looked into his light brown eyes you would be lost in a huge pool of unconditional love and unending goodness. Despite the unspeakable conditions of his life and the ever-present pain encircling his entire neck, this dog loves people. If you were not sold by the love in his eyes, his demeanor would convince you in no time. I can only recall one other dog who was greeted by my dogs with the warmth that Scotty received. That was a very weak female who had been shot in the head and in the back and left to die in the woods. My guys, rather than greeting him with the aggressive postures that they had used on a golden female pup just two weeks earlier, walked slowly toward the massive dog and greeted him with concern. “Did you hurt your neck? Are you okay?” Their greeting was returned in a very gentlemanly fashion, introductions were completed and the bachelor herd settled down for a nap (there were no sports on TV at the time).
 

That huge fellow was a delight, learning to greet people with confidence and oozing goodness and stability. I was fortunate to be there when Scotty met his new family. To watch him walk beside his new friend, leash loose and looking down into the little boy’s eyes made my throat tighten and I couldn’t swallow. Despite having just met them, Scotty seemed to know that they were his family. He waited while the children were safely in their car seats before climbing in the van, as if he had been doing it all his life.
 

His progress reports are glowing and I am confident now that this is a dog I will never need to worry about again. He has a wonderful family to do that.