CONNIE FINDS A HOME

We found the dog in a country lane, abandoned and close to death. Skeletal and hardly able to stand she was a pitiful sight. Her head drooped on a skinny neck with an unmarked collar hanging limply around it. She must have been wandering for a long time. Peter picked her up, quite literally, put her in the boot of the car and brought her home. We gave her food and water and wondered if she would survive the night.

In the morning he took her to the vet, who asked if he was prepared to ‘become involved’ a euphemism for paying for treatment. The alternative was to take her back to where he found her, which was no choice at all. We realised then that picking up a sick dog is an expensive act in Greece.

He was directed to an animal clinic where she was scanned, examined and treated for dehydration. She spent the night at the clinic and then we brought her home complete with pills. She had tic fever, a bloated stomach, anaemia and she was emaciated. In spite of the costly treatment the vet did not guarantee that she would survive.

Connie three days after we found her.

But survive she did. After a couple of days we began to see signs of hope. Although very unsteady on her legs she made the effort to stumble towards us. We gave her a kennel and a small enclosure to separate her from the other two dogs, who were not welcoming to the newcomer, and we called her Connie.

Connie’s sad situation was not an unusual one here. There are many reports of abandoned dogs, particularly hunting dogs like Connie. Some are found hanging from trees, others like Connie, have a slight chance of survival. Some people do feed stray dogs, but others put out poison.
It was a very satisfying experience to watch the dog’s recovery. When she was strong enough we bathed her and after that Elsa, our biggest dog, befriended her. Perhaps her smell had been off putting. The two are now close friends and inseparable.

She made a fast recovery, the bloated stomach disappeared, her faded black coat was replaced by a sleek shiny one and her collar became too tight and had to be replaced. She has great tenacity perhaps that enabled her to survive. She is very courageous and lively and is an affectionate little dog who wants to please. We fail to understand the mentality of the person who dumped her and left her to die.

We have two dogs standing guard now...