Love for Lucy - Local Burn Victim Needs Medical Care and a New Home

We don't make it a habit of asking for help from the community and fellow animal lovers.  Our organization works rather silently in regard to the pets we help, perhaps to our detriment.  People say we should be more vocal about what we do, we agree, and it has become our new year's resolution to do so.  OK, just as soon as we finish helping dogs like Lucy.

But perhaps this blog is more about the need to journal, from a psychological standpoint, you know, it is supposed to make one feel better about a sad situation when they write.  OK, is it working yet?  Hummm...  But the reality is, this is a difficult blog to deliver yet I feel the need to do so for two reasons, 

1. to send a message about responsible dog ownership and,

2. simply because funds are so badly needed to help Lucy with her medical care.

She is a dog that Outreach to Pets In Need (OPIN, Inc) was asked to take into its rescue and help.  And although we knew it would be costly, we took her into our care this past Saturday, Jan. 26th. OPIN has supported the Stamford Animal Shelter and the Stamford and surrounding communities since 2007.  There have been many sad cases like Lucy's, but this one, is one we will never forget.   

Let's call January 26, 2013 Lucy's birth date.  It is the day we took her into our care, the day she arrived at the emergency vet in Norwalk, CT, suffering burns on the majority of her body.  But is also the first day of her new life, free of backyard breeding, free to be a loving pet to someone someday.  She was given her new birth name, Lucy, and is now a much loved dog, which will never be left out in the cold elements again.  

Lucy is a four-year-old bull terrier that recently had two small puppies.  Lucy was forced to sleep outdoors in a makeshift doghouse in her owner’s yard, covered with a tarp and space heater.  The tarp caught fire and her puppies were sadly killed.  It is thought that Lucy was trying to protect her puppies and that is why she did not run away. The kind-hearted veterinarians of VCA Norwalk, CT were able to save Lucy. She is very badly burned, but is expected to make a full recovery. We are establishing a fund for Lucy's treatment. Please help, if you can. Every dollar counts.

Lucy will need a home upon her release. She is a sweet, loving dog. If you are interested in adopting Lucy, please complete an application on our website: www.opinpets.org  Questions may be directed to outreach@opinpets.org or call, Ali at:  (203)326-0216.

Responsible Dog Ownership

It is winter.  Dogs should not be outside any longer than we would. Frostbite and hypothermia are deadly conditions. Do not adopt, buy or give a home to a pet unless you have permission from your landlord or it is in your lease. Please call Animal Control or the Police if you see animals outdoors for long periods of time or any other alarming condition. We are their voice. Please tell friends, neighbors, and contacts to spay or neuter their pets. OPIN offers low cost and no cost "SNIPS" in Stamford- thousands of programs exist in the United States. Please help us prevent this horrible event from happening somewhere else.

Donations

Please make checks payable to OPIN. Memo: Lucy and mail to: P.O. BOX 488, Riverside, CT, 06878.  Or, donate online at:  http://opinpets.org/help-lucy/