Big Boy

The final video of the evening at MN SNAP's fundraiser, the Furry Tail Ball, told the story of Big Boy, a black lab mix that has been through too much suffering, but despite that, or maybe because of it, he has found his happy ending.

You should read Big Boy's first post from two years ago when he came in with his throat cut open and infected from a wire around his neck that had been used as a collar. He stayed at Red Lake Rosie's Rescue for two months healing. He returned home and Karen followed up with him regularly.

Then at the June 2013 clinic with MN SNAP, Big Boy was brought in again. As we described it then:

"The most heart-wrenching intake was Big Boy, a dog well-known to Karen. He was brought in with his foot missing, about four inches of exposed leg bone, and a massive infection in his upper leg. Apparently caught in a leg hold trap, Big Boy had been missing for three weeks. We were all shocked that this dog could chew or break his foot out of the trap and make it home. He was dehydrated, emaciated, and very weak."

Big Boy

There was a post about his miracle rescue then and now we have this beautiful video from Pablo Jones telling Big Boy's whole story: https://vimeo.com/pablojones/review/78324675/02cfae71b3

The finale of the Furry Tail Ball was when a beautiful happy Big Boy was brought out on stage for Karen and Polly to greet him. Not a dry eye in the house at that point :-)

Thank you again to MN SNAP and their board of directors for honoring Karen & Polly at your fundraiser, for working with RLRR at our clinics, and for going above and beyond to get Big Boy the urgent help he needed. On that day, all the stars aligned so that he could be saved.

Big Boy's recuperation: video 4

Big Boy's recuperation: video 3

Big Boy's recuperation: video 2

Big Boy's recuperation: video 1

A Miracle for Big Boy

Big Boy, a community dog, first became known Red Lake Rosie's Rescue in 2009 when he was neutered. Then in 2011, he spent two months convalescing at RLRR after he came to us for treatment of a neck laceration from an embedded wire. He became our friend and since that time we have visited Big Boy with food, treats, and to check on how he was doing. He always greeted us with a smile!

Dr. Kim caring for Big Boy

We learned that Big Boy had been missing for 3 weeks. On June 11th, he came limping home, emaciated, dehydrated, and with the lower part of one leg missing. We believe he was caught in a trap and bit off or broke off his leg to escape. Thankfully, this was during the June clinic and the owner brought Big Boy to us.

Special guests of MN SNAP were visiting the clinic and happened to be at the warehouse when poor Big Boy arrived. Dr. Kim stabilized him and gave him pain medication.

In a twist of fate and remarkable act of kindness, one of the guests, Britt, who is a supporter of MN SNAP, offered to transport Big Boy to the Twin Cities on her family jet. As a result, he was able to leave that afternoon from the Bemidji Airport and was taken to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Hospital for help. There was not a dry eye in the warehouse as all these events fell into place. It was as if we were all there for the sole purpose of helping Big Boy!

Transport

As we carried Big Boy aboard the beautiful white plane, it was like a dream come true. Here this very broken, humble Big Boy rode out with so much dignity. It was amazing! He had his own pair of private pilots and laid on a very cushy blanket attended by 8 very loving people, plus one puppy Cassidy, and an orphan duckling.

Karen :)

BRITT WROTE LATER THE NEXT DAY:
Big Boy immediately was taken to the U last night where a number of doctors ran tests and fell in love with him. Even though these amazing animals are all very special - he has already left a big impression on all of us including the doctors tending to him. 

They have controlled any pain - given him a bath and before surgery this afternoon I got to spend about an hour and a half with him. He cuddled with me the whole time. He would look at me and then put his head into me and would let me hug him.

I know you said Big Boy was your friend and I believe that your friendship with him deserves great respect so he will always be given the best. As all animals deserve the best - Big Boy has touched a number of us and I personally will cherish that.

Big Boy in happier times

I think about his timing yesterday and it teaches me that when there is a will there is a way and I believe that your heart and love for these animals works like that everyday to accomplish the things you do. He made it to the clinic when you were there and you let us take him and help him. He trusts you and loves you and something helped him make it. He is the epitome of unconditional love. He has been through a lot and still loves through it. The world can benefit from him as he is a gift to the world.

Thank you for everything.
Britt

June 2013 Clinic

The Red Lake Rosie's Rescue / MN SNAP clinic in June will be long-remembered for the appalling number of ticks on the animals. Volunteers were kept busy removing hundreds of them. Many puppies and dogs had them down in their ear canals, which were challenging to remove.

Tick removal

We had some extra time to pull ticks, since a bridge was closed in Redby, which closed off access to the clinic for almost half the reservation. Nevertheless, MN SNAP altered 64 animals, and 31 previously altered animals were vaccinated, wormed, and given flea/tick preventative.

 The most heart-wrenching intake was Big Boy, a dog well-known to Karen. He was brought in with his foot missing, about four inches of exposed leg bone, and a massive infection in his upper leg. Apparently caught in a leg hold trap, Big Boy had been missing for three weeks. We were all shocked that this dog could chew or break his foot out of the trap and make it home. He was dehydrated, emaciated, and very weak.

Big Boy (more on his story soon!)

Big Boy had come in about a year earlier with a deeply embedded wire around his neck (see previous post). He spent many weeks at the shelter healing from surgery and infection, and Karen grew to love him.

After all of his suffering, Big Boy was fortunate to catch a plane ride to the Cities the same day. His leg was amputated, and he is doing well. There could be no dog more deserving of the love and care that he is receiving than Big Boy.

Two dogs were adopted by volunteers. Kim and Aurelia adopted a juvenile, Willie, now Denali. They had previously adopted another RLRR dog, McKinley.

Dr. Marie and her daughter, Natalie, took Delilah home, a sweet adult girl with demodectic mange. They have a RLRR cat from a previous clinic.

We always visit the Red Lake dump when going to and from the warehouse to see if there are any animals that have been left there. Lauren successfully trapped a cat who will go to a better life. We generally leave the bears at the dump, though, as they seem to have plenty of food.

Thanks go to Claudia and Tera for feeding everyone again; Dawn, Denise, Shelly, Mary, Jenny, and Carma, who came from the northern hinterlands to help groom and care for the animals; Kim, Aurelia, Amy, Colin, Jean, Deb, Lauren, Colleen, Carol, Nancy H., and Nancy O, and Dr Marie and Natalie . Also, thanks go to our local helpers, Jolene, Phyllis, Vivian, and Alonzo.

Help for Big Boy

During the past winter, I got a call regarding my friend Big Boy, a black lab that I had come to know. According to the caller, Big Boy needed help. I had previously had Big Boy at the shelter for a week, and then I also took him to the clinic and got him fixed and vaccinated and returned him home.

This time, Big Boy was in bad shape. He had been chained with a wire around his neck, and the wire had cut him clear through all around his head. The caller said he was nearly beheaded - so of course I responded that I would take Big Boy.

The caller said the wire had been removed and he said he had never seen such a horrible sight. I told them that if I helped, then Big Boy was never to be chained again. He agreed.

Big Boy was delivered to me that evening, and he began a 60 day journey of healing. He was given lots of encouragement, antibiotics, nutritious food and water. Well Big Boy and I had a friendship that went back a couple of years, so he was happy to see me and knew that he was going to get help.

After two months, Big Boy was ready to go home. Now I make visits to his home to check on him, leave food, and he always meets me as soon as he sees the Red Lake Rosie's Rescue van. He comes running and wagging. I know I have made a lifelong friend with Big Boy, and also with his family.

Big Boy is a testimony of how RLRR needs to have funds available for major medical at the vet and for the regular medical supplies like antibiotics, rimadyl for pain, dressings, immunizations, flea and tick medication,and wormer. We get requests weekly for help for animals in distress.

Thank you for your support!
Karen RLRR