Estelle's shelter mug shot - she looks so sad!!!
Estelle’s story is one that reminds us of why we got into rescue, and, more importantly, that rescue isn’t always pretty. A kind-hearted viewer had put out the call to NYC rescues after seeing Estelle on an Adoptable Pets segment of the local news.
The woman's heart had been struck by this tiny trembling creature. She somehow gained access to the knowledge that this dog had been put on the euthanization list to go out that evening. Desperately, she reached out to rescue groups, even offering to contribute towards her care. Usually rescue groups are given notices of all the animals in need before they are put on the euthanization list, but this girl had somehow not been given that opportunity.
“How could that be?” we asked, “She was just on TV this morning!” We couldn’t stand the thought that poor Estelle had been used for publicity, because she is a small, attractive Chihuahua, but then would be put to sleep the next day. We also couldn’t allow her to be suffering for one moment longer in the loud, confusing shelter.
But all was not as it seemed. When we said we wanted to take her, a shelter employee told us the little dog wasn’t doing well, hinting that we should leave her. She had multiple mammary tumors, a bad cough that was probably pneumonia, severe dental disease and possible neurological disease, and would need “expensive vet care.”. There was no way we wanted to see this sweet dog die alone and scared in the shelter. If it was determined after further examination that she was suffereing and humane euthanzation was the most merciful thing for her, we would at least have given her a chance, and she would go to rest with the gentle, caring touch of our vet. Estelle was pulled from the shelter that very night.
In order to get her care as soon as possible, our friend Linda of Posh Pets rescue pitched in and took Estelle to her vet close to the shelter for the night until . She spent the night curled up in a cozy blanket. When our Waggytail volunteer picked her up the next morning, the vet staff remarked that she was “a very nice Chihuahua!” and that she had eaten like a champ.
Little Estelle didn’t fuss or complain when placed into a carry bag, and was calm and quiet for the whole trip to Cooper Square Veterinary Hospital. While waiting with our volunteer, Estelle laid quietly in her lap like they were old friends. Our wonderful vet examined her, took X-rays and told us Estelle wasn’t in as bad a shape as the shelter had previously thought. Her lungs were clear, and her heart was strong. She needed to be on antibiotics for her cough and her teeth, but other than that she wasn’t in an urgent situation. In fact, he thought that pain from her teeth might actually be causing her twitching. While she has some lumps on her mammary glands - unfortunately a result of her not being spayed - the lumps appeared not to have spread into her organs, and though they could or could not be cancerous, surgery at this point in her life to remove them would be counterproductive to her health.
Estelle snoozing in a dog bed at her foster home.
Both of the vets at the office were charmed by this little dog, and thought there was no way she should have been given the death sentence. She's not in pain, and she's happy and sweet, so best to just let her live her last days, whether 6 months or 6 years, as she is.
We were of course overjoyed! With instructions from the vet for medication and a follow-up in a week, Estelle was cuddled inside a volunteer's jacket and carried away to a cozy Waggytail Foster Home. She conked out on a little dog bad, curled up under a blanket right away. She only woke up when her foster mom’s male roommate came home, and proceeded to stare at him lovingly. Another surprise from Estelle, she’s a Chihuahua who loves men!! Of course she got her way, and spent the rest of the night tucked in next to him on the sofa.
Estelle is still with her foster mom, taking her medicine and living like a queen. At last report, she was watching the Westminster Dog Show, and trying not to be upset that a Chihuahua didn’t win! While little Estelle is happy to be out of the pound, what she really wants is a forever lap of her own.
If you, or anyone you know would like to give sweet Estelle a loving home, or to make a contribution to help her or other dogs like her, please visit http://www.waggytailrescue.org/
Estelle has been given a second chance to thrive. She also has been allowed to live out her last days in dignity and comfort, rather than confused and alone in the shelter. And that knowledge makes the hard work that we do so worthwhile. We know the folks at the shelter have some difficult decisions to make, sometimes in less than ideal circumstances. That’s where those of us in rescue can come in, to offer a helping hand and some compassion to as many animals as we can. If they live another ten years or another 10 days, we know that we made a difference in their little lives.
The woman's heart had been struck by this tiny trembling creature. She somehow gained access to the knowledge that this dog had been put on the euthanization list to go out that evening. Desperately, she reached out to rescue groups, even offering to contribute towards her care. Usually rescue groups are given notices of all the animals in need before they are put on the euthanization list, but this girl had somehow not been given that opportunity.
“How could that be?” we asked, “She was just on TV this morning!” We couldn’t stand the thought that poor Estelle had been used for publicity, because she is a small, attractive Chihuahua, but then would be put to sleep the next day. We also couldn’t allow her to be suffering for one moment longer in the loud, confusing shelter.
But all was not as it seemed. When we said we wanted to take her, a shelter employee told us the little dog wasn’t doing well, hinting that we should leave her. She had multiple mammary tumors, a bad cough that was probably pneumonia, severe dental disease and possible neurological disease, and would need “expensive vet care.”. There was no way we wanted to see this sweet dog die alone and scared in the shelter. If it was determined after further examination that she was suffereing and humane euthanzation was the most merciful thing for her, we would at least have given her a chance, and she would go to rest with the gentle, caring touch of our vet. Estelle was pulled from the shelter that very night.
In order to get her care as soon as possible, our friend Linda of Posh Pets rescue pitched in and took Estelle to her vet close to the shelter for the night until . She spent the night curled up in a cozy blanket. When our Waggytail volunteer picked her up the next morning, the vet staff remarked that she was “a very nice Chihuahua!” and that she had eaten like a champ.
Little Estelle didn’t fuss or complain when placed into a carry bag, and was calm and quiet for the whole trip to Cooper Square Veterinary Hospital. While waiting with our volunteer, Estelle laid quietly in her lap like they were old friends. Our wonderful vet examined her, took X-rays and told us Estelle wasn’t in as bad a shape as the shelter had previously thought. Her lungs were clear, and her heart was strong. She needed to be on antibiotics for her cough and her teeth, but other than that she wasn’t in an urgent situation. In fact, he thought that pain from her teeth might actually be causing her twitching. While she has some lumps on her mammary glands - unfortunately a result of her not being spayed - the lumps appeared not to have spread into her organs, and though they could or could not be cancerous, surgery at this point in her life to remove them would be counterproductive to her health.
Estelle snoozing in a dog bed at her foster home.
Both of the vets at the office were charmed by this little dog, and thought there was no way she should have been given the death sentence. She's not in pain, and she's happy and sweet, so best to just let her live her last days, whether 6 months or 6 years, as she is.
We were of course overjoyed! With instructions from the vet for medication and a follow-up in a week, Estelle was cuddled inside a volunteer's jacket and carried away to a cozy Waggytail Foster Home. She conked out on a little dog bad, curled up under a blanket right away. She only woke up when her foster mom’s male roommate came home, and proceeded to stare at him lovingly. Another surprise from Estelle, she’s a Chihuahua who loves men!! Of course she got her way, and spent the rest of the night tucked in next to him on the sofa.
Estelle is still with her foster mom, taking her medicine and living like a queen. At last report, she was watching the Westminster Dog Show, and trying not to be upset that a Chihuahua didn’t win! While little Estelle is happy to be out of the pound, what she really wants is a forever lap of her own.
If you, or anyone you know would like to give sweet Estelle a loving home, or to make a contribution to help her or other dogs like her, please visit http://www.waggytailrescue.org/
Estelle has been given a second chance to thrive. She also has been allowed to live out her last days in dignity and comfort, rather than confused and alone in the shelter. And that knowledge makes the hard work that we do so worthwhile. We know the folks at the shelter have some difficult decisions to make, sometimes in less than ideal circumstances. That’s where those of us in rescue can come in, to offer a helping hand and some compassion to as many animals as we can. If they live another ten years or another 10 days, we know that we made a difference in their little lives.
Estelle napping with her foster sister. Look at that smile!!!
