Earlier this year I described several current animal abuse cases in the Bluegrass. Fortunately, our legislators have finally listened to the public outcry. On
April 28, 2008, Gov. Beshear signed Romeo's Law, which makes dog or cat torture a felony. While doing research for that article I was likewise moved to action.
I first heard Princess' story on the morning news on WVLK-AM as I drove my daughter to school on April 11. As soon as I got home I pulled the story up online: following a neighbor's complaint to authorities about a neighbor's Great Dane, Princess, officials investigated and found the dog so weak from starvation that she could not stand. At only 75 pounds, she weighed half of what a healthy Great Dane should weigh. She also had a large tumor on her left front leg and a "bedsore" on her right hip. Just outside the small pen where she was kept, there was a covered garbage can containing bags of dog food. As horrible as the story was to read and hear, the photographs were even more affecting.
I immediately called the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter and told the director, Amy, that I wanted to provide for Princess' medical needs. Amy discussed the case with the county attorney and brought Princess to my clinic on Friday evening, April 12. As she hobbled through the front door she paused to sniff me, wagged her tail and headed straight for the bowl of treats on the counter. Despite the physical and psychological torment she had endured, her spirit and appetite were intact.
The shelter staff had done a good job of feeding Princess, and she had already gained four pounds when she came to me. Still, my main concern was determining if the weight loss was solely due to neglect and starvation or whether it was a symptom of her medical problems.
Princess was put through a complete medical work-up, after which I consulted with veterinary specialists in the fields of radiology, internal medicine, oncology and nutrition. We determined that the first priority had to be removing the cancerous leg and, hopefully, minimizing the spread of cancer to other parts of her body. It quickly became obvious that her weight loss was purely due to neglect and starvation. On a diet consisting of six cans and 18 cups of food a day as a part of a specialized diet, Princess quickly regained strength and weight. By April 22, just 14 days after her rescue, her weight was up to 102 pounds and she was deemed ready for surgery.
Surgery to amputate the cancerous leg was performed on April 22. While her overall health had greatly improved since the day of her rescue, Princess was still far from an ideal surgical candidate. After a long morning of surgery and two blood transfusions, I felt that I had done all I could to see to her immediate needs. Due to the loss of the leg and her still frail physical condition, I expected it to be several days before Princess would even be able to stand. I went back to the clinic to check on her that evening and, just eight hours after surgery, found her standing, looking for food and waiting to go outside.
Two weeks after surgery, Princess continued to amaze me. After losing over 12 pounds due to the amputation, her weight is back up to 96 pounds. Though still weak and easily tired, she is walking well and even runs short distances. She picks up toys and runs outside. She greets everyone with a tail wag and is not shy about asking for a belly rub.
Princess came home with me for the first time on April 24. Since then she has accompanied me to and from work each day. She spends the days lounging in my office or in the courtyard at the clinic. At night she sleeps in front of our fireplace on her very own bed. She is adapting well to family life.
Princess' story has touched many people. We receive a steady stream of calls from reporters and pet lovers who want to know how she is doing. She's received a custom made collar from a woman in New York and a box of toys, some hand made, from a woman in Florida.
Princess still has a long way to go. Through all of this she has never acted sick and her eyes have always been bright and lively. I cannot explain what made me call the shelter that day, but I am glad that I did. Every princess deserves a chance to live happily ever after.