Puppy mill rescue: Savannah ' s story

Savannah is a miniature dachshund who was obtained at a puppy mill auction in a rescue we've been covering since Memorial Day weekend. I say "obtained" because the tiny little dog was not bought -- she was plucked from the kill box, tossed off as being too sickly to be worth anything.



Dr. Helen Hamilton and the other vets and vet techs who brought her back to their practices in California didn't agree, and they've slowly gotten the 6 and a half pound dog closer to her healthy weight of 12 pounds, cured her severe worm infestation, and dealt with her many health problems.



She's spent a lot of her time at the vet hospital, either at Boulevard Pet Hospital in San Jose, CA, or Veterinary Internal Medicine Service in Fremont, CA, but when she's not receiving medical care, she's getting lots of loving laptime with vet tech Aubri Lahann of Veterinary Orthopedic and Surgical Service, also in Fremont.



When Savannah went in for some much-needed dental work, her jaw shattered, probably due to an untreated gum infection that went into the bone, as well as malnutrition. Dr. Hamilton got her to veterinary dental specialist Dr. Steven Holmstrom of the Animal Dental Clinic in San Carlos, CA, who donated his services in wiring and plating her jaw.



Dr. Hamilton's office reported today that Savannah continues to do well, and they're still hopeful they'll find a good home for this sweet little dog -- assuming they can pry her away from Aubri, of course.



What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by supporting efforts to help Savannah or one of the other 48 dogs rescued that day? You can offer time, money, or a loving home for a dog by calling Boulevard Pet Hospital at 408-379-5554 or VIMS at 510-657-9151.



Photo by Morgan Ong/Universal Press Syndicate

Comments

[cheryl]

Can you post a newer picture of her so we can see her progress?

[Christie Keith]

I'll try to get one on Thursday when I see her!

[thomas]

It is great to see the vets involved and caring about the dogs and not just for them. Sadly we attended a hearing on a puppy mill in the finger lakes of ny last night, in the town of Starkey. The mill operator had received a permit last Oct. to open wuth 60 adult dogs he had asked to have his permut modified to allow an additional 20 adults , he was given the modified permit he can now have 80 adult dogs. They are kept 2 in a cage. He has an automated cleaning system that scrapes the feces from under the pens, like they clean factory chickens. the size of his facility is 1200 sq. feet. This is for 80 adults and any number of puppies. Oh by the way they consider dogs adult at 6 months of age, the first time they are bred.