Obese Senior Dog Dumped on Michigan Highway Is Now Happy, Healthy, and in a Loving Home
The 15-year-old Belky is now living her best life with her favorite unicorn plush toy, which is what she should do. Belki is in a serious dilemma. The elderly, obese dog's family had abandoned her earlier this summer on the side of a Michigan highway, where she lay with puncture wounds that had become infested with maggots.
Fortunately, the lover of that family knew about the local police, and Belki was unable to drive at the age of 15, thanks to her infinitely beautiful life. Once she received a bevy of medical aid, she was soon ready for a replacement home, again, proving that senior dogs are even as deserve adoption as the other pup. "It's not their fault that they are old and they are not doing also ," says Breanna Dalton, who adopted Belky last month. "They need even as much love as they did once they were puppies."
After family and friends called the police on July 13, the police found Belki on Highway 696 in Saginaw and transported her to the Saginaw County Animal Care and Control Center (SCAC). There, Belky quickly received veterinary care, which made a huge difference. "It started with an honest Samaritan who was willing to urge involved," Bonnie Kanicki, the director of SCAC, tells Daily Paws. "We encourage people: If you see something, say something. And we're very fortunate that a lot of people do."
Belky's condition on her rescue was dire. Kanicki says the pup had "severe" open wounds on her back, extensive hair loss, and was so overweight that she couldn't walk, giving SCAC reason to believe Belly was a victim of neglect. SCAC has since opened a cruelty investigation into Belky's previous owners.
"It was pretty clear that she had not been cared for a really while ," Kanicki says. According to her report provided to Daily Paws, veterinary staff shaved her matted fur, treated her wounds, and extricated the maggots. She also received flea treatments, vaccines, and much-needed medication to treat a thyroid condition that contributed to her obesity. After several weeks of treatment, Kanicki reports that Belky's weight was down 20 lbs., her hair had grown back, and her wounds had closed. That meant she was finally able to find her new forever home.
SCAC posts often on Facebook about new rescues, asking their followers to love and Share in the hopes of catching a possible adopter's attention. It worked. Staff at the Humane Society of Midland County saw a Facebook post featuring Belly and took her in, consistent with the Bissell Pet Foundation, whose latest "Empty the Shelters" event led to Belky's adoption.
That's when Dalton found Belly. She saw during a post that Belly may be a senior dog with health problems and thought, "I want to be the one to assist her." ThoughAlthough older dogs are usually more difficult to adopt, Dalton is still worried that someone will pick up Belki before he can hope to satisfy this cute puppy. "I got lucky for her to still be there subsequent day," she tells Daily Paws.
On August 19, just a few days after being adopted, Belki and Dalton went to her new permanent area in Bay City. Michigan. She was one of 1,805 pets adopted during Empty the Shelters that week. "To have brought [Belly] through her rehabilitation, to possess her get into an exquisite home, that's a hit story that inspires us to stay doing what we're doing here," Kanicki tells Daily Paws.
Belky's life has continued to enhance since her adoption last month. She's now taking meds twice each day for her thyroid issue and is already shedding weight, Dalton says. Dropping some pounds has little question helped Belly walk again, too. Unable to steer when she was rescued, she now loves walks, her new orthopedic dog bed next to the air-conditioner, and her favorite unicorn plushie.