To look at
Shay Shay now (insert photo), you'd never believe that she was close to death
when her owner, a backyard breeder of "game bred" pit bulls (pit
bulls bred to be fought), turned her over to rescue. He was, he said, unable to
afford to take her to a vet to care for a severe injury she had sustained after
she was allegedly "hit by a car."
When rescuers took
custody, Shay was severely malnourished, covered with filth, and suffering from
a compound fracture of a front leg, up near the shoulder. The bone was sticking
out through the filthy skin, but the breeder "couldn't afford" to
take her to a vet.
The vet told
rescuers that Shay had probably been shot. She also had a very severe bone
infection and, on top of all that, was heartworm positive! He was sure that the
leg would have to be amputated, but couldn't do that until the infection had
stabilized and she had put on some weight. The heartworm treatment would have
to wait until the leg had healed, one way or the other. All they could do was
wait and pray.
Miraculously, her
leg healed up without amputation, and her heartworm treatment was successful.
Once heartworm free, Shay was spayed. The entire process took about 12 weeks,
and the vet bills were high. But, Shay turned out to be a sweet-natured,
loving, friendly gal who wanted nothing more than a chance to be someone's
lifetime companion. After careful screening of applicants, Shay was placed with
a family who understands her breed and knows what wonderful pets they can be.
Shay's former
owner, unfortunately, is still breeding "game bred" pit
bulls--without the benefit of a vet.
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