Saving Orson

A little old shaggy dog named Orson ended up unclaimed and out of time at the Bemidji impound. Nancy O, friend of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue and all animals, volunteers there and watches out for the abandoned pets that should have a second chance. She and others tried to find a rescue to save him despite his age and deplorable condition, but it was Act V Rescue & Rehabilitation in Bloomington that came through again.I've had so many emails about this little guy; I'm sure Orson's fan club will be glad to see his post! Marilou of PetHaven and MnPaw was present when Orson arrived at Act V and was moved to write about the organization and Orson on her blog. You can read the full post here.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MARILOU'S COMMENTS:
Today, I had the opportunity to experience first hand again how incredible Act V Rescue is and how dedicated and committed they are to truly helping the most unwanted and neglected animals. An older dog, Orson, was scheduled to arrive on transport today from up north. In our efforts to help the dogs up at Leech Lake Reservation we have also been helping dogs from the Bemidji impound. Volunteer extraordinaire Nancy O has been, and continues to be, an advocate for the dogs that land in the Bemidji impound and pulls them out before they are euthanized....

Nancy sent a note to MNPAW about Orson, "Hope you received the photo of Orson that Tom sent from his phone. Orson is a cutie, an older dog, and he needs a lot of work. He is loaded with mats and needs a good grooming and bath. But it looks like he needs a lot of dental care as well and am hoping that this is something MnPAW/AHS offers. He really does have a nice sweet personality, but is plenty stinky and a lot of that is coming from his mouth. Poor guy ... I am betting he cannot eat hard morsels of food and am betting that is all that was served in the impound. Perhaps he will need some tooth extractions and then soft foods the remainder of his days. For all the goodness his former family did not offer him, I hope he find it at AHS and can get the medical attention he needs. Even the officer at the impound is pulling for Orson. I held him when we picked him up as he was shaking so much, and now he is riding with Nancy B on her front seat...."

After Nancy's note I forwarded it to the founders of Act V Rescue. At the end of the day Dr. Vicki sends me an email and tells me to have Jenny swing by her clinic so she can take a look at Orson so she can check him out. I meet Jenny and Orson at Dr. Vicki's clinic. The horrible condition of this sweet boy is beyond words. He was shaking and shivering. His teeth were all rotted and packed with tartar. Most of them will probably have to be extracted. His body was filled with mats and as Dr. Vicki started to shave him we discovered his poor, weak body was infested with maggots. As he was shaved down we saw a swarm of maggots nesting in Orson's body. Maggots were wiggling out of his fur and dropping onto the table. There was an odor and stench from maggots and other critters that had found a home in his poor body that was beyond anything I had ever experienced. All the while Orson is being so patient and gentle and quietly crying. As Dr. Vicki and her staff work to make Orson better and to remove the mats and the maggots, I am rubbing his head and trying to comfort him. Jenny is holding the trash bag to collect the squirming maggots.

It was Orson's lucky day today! He ended up at Dr. Vicki's clinic and into the arms of Act V Rescue ... over and over I have heard stories and witnessed how they take in the most beaten down animal, both physically and emotionally. They did it when they took in the 3 puppies i'm fostering (Legacy, Lenny and Lazarus) .... they did it again today with Orson. There wasn't even a question in Dr. Vicki's mind of whether or not she was going to help Orson ... this was one of the worse cases she has seen and in the true spirit of Act V Rescue & Rehabilitation, they took this poor boy into their foster program. Dr. Vicki doesn't have a foster lined up for the sweet boy right now so after his bath he got to ride in style next to Dr. Vicki and will spend some time at her home till a foster home opens up.

Thank you Act V Rescue for your selfless acts and for all you truly do for the most unwanted and neglected animals. Because Act V works with animals in the most desperate situations, they are always in need of money to provide medication, surgery, medical care and/or rehabilitation. All of their funding comes from donations and 100% of each dollar goes to caring for animals. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Act V Rescue please click on 'Donate to caring for animals' on their website, www.actvrescue.org.

Marilou

FIRST UPDATE FROM DR. VICKI OF ACT V:
Orson had a very good night. After he and I shared a martini and watched TV (he slept thru most of CSI), he went poop and potty outside. He slept all night, no crying or barking. When I went to wake him up this morning I discovered he doesn't hear well. But, he was up and out again and enjoying his canned food and taking his meds for his mouth. He won't have a tooth left after Monday, but they are loose and rotten anyway. He's heartworm negative but is positive for anaplasma and lymes. Under all those matts is a chubby little boy! He actually needs a diet! I'll keep you informed on his progress.

Vicki and ACT V

SECOND UPDATE FROM DR. VICKI"
Orson disappeared after taking a nap on the floor. Since all he can hear is clapping I had a bit of trouble finding him.

I guess he used to be a house dog!

Vicki

FROM NEW FOSTER FAMILY:
LOVE this little goober! How does a dog get so neglected and yet be sooooooooo sweet?!

Orson has had his pill with his dinner, got some medicine in his ear and now he is scouting out the joint. He can go up stairs to the bedroom so I will put a bed in the bathroom up there so he can be by us. It appears he wants to get on the bed so I will keep him close by.

Thank you for letting me care for him. He must have been with the circus cuz every time I turn around he is sitting up on his haunches. CUTE!

Diane and Orson...........and Matthew is fond of him too.>>


FOLLOWUP FROM MARILOU:
Looks like the little guy is feeling much better! He looks very handsome in his red sweater....they stopped by last night.

Marilou