Once again, TLC steps up...

Last week I was told that few folks know what TLC does because we don't 'beat the drum and blow the horn' every time we do something other rescues don't (or won't)... I promised them I would try and do better in this regard, so here goes  --- begrudgingly because I truly do believe good works depreciate in value if you are the one having to brag about them... 

Yesterday, Camarillo Shelter contacted us about a little girl found as a stray... "She looks bad, Linda" and without even seeing this little one, I said "Yes, we'll take her." ... This is what TLC does... It is ALL about the dogs and unless we are full to the max, we seldom (if ever) turn away a dog in need... 

I was not, however, prepared as to just how 'bad' is bad... Once I got the photo, I was ill... We have taken on some really hard cases in five years, but nothing like this... 

We named her "LoveBug" because she's going to need a lot of cuddles, care and love if she is to pull through this... But as bad as she looks, I heard she gave the bather some tail wags... sigh... The forgiveness of dogs and their situational look upon the world, ya know?...

Once she arrived at the rescue shop, she was weighed... Five pounds... Looking at her bone structure, I'm guessing (healthy) LoveBug should be around twice that... 

She was found wandering around the water treatment plant and if the size of those nails are any clue, she's been wandering around for some time on her own... I am SO amazed she was not some coyote's or bobcat's lunch... 

On bather on shift (Nikki) gently bathed LoveBug and as fragile as she is, LoveBug was smeared with feces and some kind of 'tarry' kind of substance as well... Bathed and wrapped in a warm towel, you can almost see immediate gratitude in her precious little face... 

Then off to find a sweater to keep her fragile bones warm... We had a hard time finding one small enough for her but yet large enough for her chest... LoveBug doesn't care it is a Christmas sweater - she is clean, it is nice and warm and she's in good hands now... 

Other volunteers got her bedding set up - it has to be nice and cushioned because she has no extra meat on those bones... 

While others hand fed LoveBug... We're a team effort when it comes to dogs in need... And everyone was SO happy when she actually stood up to drink water... It was heartwarming indeed... 

We are not quite sure exactly what is wrong with her... Was she just out on the streets too long and starving?... Is she ill and someone dumped her off?... No telling, but she's to be seen by our vet as well... We do know there is a mass on her leg that needs attending to... 

LoveBug also has patches all over her body are sores (?), bite marks (?), alopecia (?)... Dunno, but we are going to find out... And figure the best plan of action to get her healthy again or humanely euthanized if that is not possible at all...

But one way or another, LoveBug is going to be loved and not left to wander the streets again... It is a gosh darned shame some human did not get her the medical care she needed and deserved... No animal should be left in this kind of shape... 

This month it will be 33 years since I started volunteering in rescue... 

And just when you think you've 'seen it all,' God has a way of showing you that you have not... 

Some times I think it is His way of reconfirming your compassionate level inside of you... If He did not give you a test every once in a while, how would you really know how committed you are to No-Kill and helping every healthy, adoptable animal to find their furever home, huh??...

Stay tuned into the blog and our FaceBook page for updates on LoveBug... And know that no matter how little you hear about the TLC volunteers and the good work the rescue does, it goes on... Seven days a week, 24 hours a day... 

And now I close this blog entry with a gratitude look of love from LoveBug!

P.S. We are always in need of financial support and donations so that we do not have to turn away these munchkins when they arrive in our lap... Whether or not we have the funds, we find a way to get them the care they need and figure it out later!