When four-month-old sisters, Ingrid and Greta, were taken into SCARS care on September 19, 2008 Ingrid weighed 20 pounds and Greta 24.4 pounds. (Their foster dad had named them after the movie beauties Ingrid Bergman and Greta Garbo.) They both were severely emaciated and suffering from demodex. This mite infestation occurs in dogs that are malnourished a
nd puppies are more vulnerable because of their underdeveloped immune systems. The extreme itchiness causes dogs to scratch, so Ingrid and Greta were covered with open, bleeding sores. The scratching causes infections so Greta and Ingrid were foul smelling. Their entire coats were infected and their feet and faces were swollen. They were also full of worms. They must have had some interaction with humans, because Ingrid had a choke chain around her neck that was on so tight the vet had to cut it off with a bolt cutter. The foster parents suspect Greta may have lost part of her tail at the hands of the same person that put the choke chain on Ingrid. Despite their poor introduction to life and to people, Ingrid and Greta love people, and are friendly and gentle.
After two weeks of proper food and medications, "the ladies" were beginning to make a comeback. The open sores had healed, the swelling had gone down, and Ingrid, who had been the sicker of the two, was beginning to make efforts to play with her sister Greta. Greta was always looking out for Ingrid. She had been sharing her food with her, bringing her toys and trying to get Ingrid to play with her in the garden. Everyone was happy to find that Ingrid had gained 10 pounds and Greta almost 7. The dried scabs had fallen off, helped by a couple of baths with organic non-soap shampoo. Ingrid had a little jacket for when she was outdoors.
Excitement mounted in the foster home when one morning in early November, it seemed as though a fine black peach fuzz was appearing on Ingrid! In a few days, it was unmistakable, and one morning a white bar, to match Greta's, appeared across Ingrid's chest. Greta's patchy coat, which had been dull, was being shed. The best guess that Ingrid would be brindle was wrong; Greta and Ingrid were looking more and more alike. They are each others' best friends: they groom one another and play together. The ladies continued to eat three big meals a day, plus fresh fruits and vegetables. They travelled twice with their foster family to their cabin in the Kootenays, enjoying the mild fall days there and running along the lakeshore. At 7 months of age in mid November, little Ingrid, now looking rather sturdy, weighed 41 pounds, outstripping her
more delicately built sister.
It is now mid December 2008, and they are finally ready for adoption. Both ladies have soft and silky coats, with a bit of a wave. They love the off-leash park and other dog-walkers frequently comment on how striking a pair they make, and how friendly they are. With all they have gone through and at their age, their foster parents intend that these two ladies spend their lives together. They have a joy and enthusiasm for life and a love of people which they are ready to share with a special home.
nd puppies are more vulnerable because of their underdeveloped immune systems. The extreme itchiness causes dogs to scratch, so Ingrid and Greta were covered with open, bleeding sores. The scratching causes infections so Greta and Ingrid were foul smelling. Their entire coats were infected and their feet and faces were swollen. They were also full of worms. They must have had some interaction with humans, because Ingrid had a choke chain around her neck that was on so tight the vet had to cut it off with a bolt cutter. The foster parents suspect Greta may have lost part of her tail at the hands of the same person that put the choke chain on Ingrid. Despite their poor introduction to life and to people, Ingrid and Greta love people, and are friendly and gentle.After two weeks of proper food and medications, "the ladies" were beginning to make a comeback. The open sores had healed, the swelling had gone down, and Ingrid, who had been the sicker of the two, was beginning to make efforts to play with her sister Greta. Greta was always looking out for Ingrid. She had been sharing her food with her, bringing her toys and trying to get Ingrid to play with her in the garden. Everyone was happy to find that Ingrid had gained 10 pounds and Greta almost 7. The dried scabs had fallen off, helped by a couple of baths with organic non-soap shampoo. Ingrid had a little jacket for when she was outdoors.
Excitement mounted in the foster home when one morning in early November, it seemed as though a fine black peach fuzz was appearing on Ingrid! In a few days, it was unmistakable, and one morning a white bar, to match Greta's, appeared across Ingrid's chest. Greta's patchy coat, which had been dull, was being shed. The best guess that Ingrid would be brindle was wrong; Greta and Ingrid were looking more and more alike. They are each others' best friends: they groom one another and play together. The ladies continued to eat three big meals a day, plus fresh fruits and vegetables. They travelled twice with their foster family to their cabin in the Kootenays, enjoying the mild fall days there and running along the lakeshore. At 7 months of age in mid November, little Ingrid, now looking rather sturdy, weighed 41 pounds, outstripping her
more delicately built sister.It is now mid December 2008, and they are finally ready for adoption. Both ladies have soft and silky coats, with a bit of a wave. They love the off-leash park and other dog-walkers frequently comment on how striking a pair they make, and how friendly they are. With all they have gone through and at their age, their foster parents intend that these two ladies spend their lives together. They have a joy and enthusiasm for life and a love of people which they are ready to share with a special home.
Ingrid and Greta have now been adopted.
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1 comment:
I am so glad that their story has ended up being a much happier one than it could have been.
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