When a senior dog’s microchip allowed rescuers to track down her owners, they assumed a happy reunion would be on the cards. That wasn’t the case.
According to the ASPCA, last year, approximately one in every five dogs entering a shelter or rescue in the United States was returned to its owner. The microchipping of pets plays a significant role in facilitating these happy reunions, allowing rescuers to contact any worried owners using the information contained within.
However, as the story of Molly, a senior dog currently in the care of the Forgotten Dog Foundation in Santa Monica, California, shows, these reunions are not always happy ones.
Gina Castillo, the foundation’s Rescue Director, was first alerted by a local contact about a small, scared senior dog that had been brought into a Long Beach shelter.
“She was found running around on a busy street and somebody picked her up and got her to safety and took her into the shelter,” Castillo told Newsweek.
Staff soon discovered Molly had a microchip containing a phone number. That’s how they were able to locate her original owners.
“The owners told the shelter that they gave her away eight years ago to a friend but didn’t speak to that friend any longer,” Castillo said.
Despite some confusion over her living situation, the prospects of Molly leaving the shelter soon looked good.”They told the shelter they were so excited to hear about her and that they want her back,” Castillo said.
They were supposed to pick Molly up the next day. However, things didn’t go as planned.
“They didn’t show up the next day, the next day after that or the day after that,” Castillo said. “Then it turned into two weeks with phone calls and emails being sent to these people and then basically ghosting the shelter.”
Castillo doubts they ever truly intended to pick Molly. “I can’t prove it but she was found in a terrible condition,” she said. “Rescues out here have a database to see if anybody’s looking for missing dogs. For two weeks straight, I checked, and nobody had posted anything.”
Castillo only understood just how bad Molly’s condition was when she brought her to the Forgotten Dog Foundation.
“Molly has luxating patella in her back leg which is basically when the kneecap dislocates from the knee joint,” Castillo said. “She also has sight issues and early stage 2 kidney disease. For two months after she came out of the shelter, we dealt with severe ear infections. One of her ears was so bad that the bacteria she had was E. coli and staph.”
One veterinarian described Molly’s mouth as a “complete mess.” She had to have 11 teeth removed. Molly had several abscesses as well as infected gums and bone.
“She also had a 3mm fistula tear repaired, which is basically a hole in the nasal cavity which is formed from infections and rot in the mouth,” Castillo said. “Wherever she came from, she was left in a horrible state of neglect.”
All told, Molly’s treatment has set the foundation back nearly $4,000 while she remains on a special renal diet that costs $100 a month. It’s all been worth it, though, just to see Molly back to full health.
“Molly has the best personality. She’s so quiet and sweet with a little sass to her. She acclimated absolutely perfectly into my home,” Castillo said.
Molly won’t ever be put up for adoption. She will live out the rest of her days as a “sanctuary dog” with Castillo, who specializes in looking after the foundation’s senior pups.
“Molly is such an easy-going dog,” Castillo said. “She loves to go everywhere with me in the car. In fact, I have a little stroller for her so I can take her into stores and she has the absolute best manners!”
Castillo believes more people need to take dog ownership “seriously” and understand they are in it for “the long haul.” She said: “Dogs get old and like people and getting old comes with issues, medical issues which takes finances. Be prepared for that.”
In the meantime, she would urge anyone wanting to help to consider adopting a senior dog.
“Some people say ‘I couldn’t do it because what if the dog only lives a few months?’ I say so what? Even if it’s for a few months you are giving that dog probably the best few months it ever had and the best few months it deserves!”
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