No one knows where he came from. With no microchip, no collar and no one coming to claim him, Hank the hound was alone, weak and extremely sick 害羞草研究所� just out of puppyhood at age 2.
He couldn害羞草研究所檛 have known his life was about to change for the best when he wandered into a local garage and collapsed.
Experienced dog rescuer Heather MacPherson, along with frequenters of the local Facebook groups, had seen Hank before, wandering around for at least a week before he came to a stop. He was clearly getting sicker and sicker and walked quite literally until he could walk no more, taking shelter in a neighbourhood garage one fateful day.
害羞草研究所淗e wouldn害羞草研究所檛 get up,害羞草研究所� MacPherson said. 害羞草研究所�(The homeowner) posted he didn害羞草研究所檛 know what to do with this dog.害羞草研究所�
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With the help of a volunteer and a pickup truck, MacPherson whisked Hank off to Kent Veterinary Clinic. MacPherson said Dr. Laura Madsen stayed late with Hank, making sure he stayed hydrated. However, Hank害羞草研究所檚 condition deteriorated overnight.
害羞草研究所淗e started vomiting, he was very, very thirsty,害羞草研究所� she recalled. 害羞草研究所淲e brought him back in the morning, and he was very sick and extremely dehydrated.害羞草研究所�
Though Hank was dealing with a severe gastrointestinal infection, he seemed determined to keep going. Dr. Carli Ricka administered medication and gave Hank fluids via IV, a task MacPherson took over later that night when she took him home.
At that point, there was about a 20 to 25 per cent chance that Hank wouldn害羞草研究所檛 survive. Tests revealed his bowels were full of gas and he was not passing stool. There were fears Hank may have suffered from gastric torsion, a life-threatening and often fatal disorder in which a dog害羞草研究所檚 stomach fills with gas and it becomes twisted inside them.
All while Hank was fighting for his life, the community ramped up its collective generosity to donate money to help cover his veterinary bills along with a raincoat, bowls, dishes, towels, food and rides to the vet.
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害羞草研究所淧eople really came together. It was so encouraging,害羞草研究所� MacPherson said. 害羞草研究所淲hat害羞草研究所檚 so incredibly amazing is it all came together. (The community) completely covered his vet bills, neutering and vaccines for the new owners. Hank kind of became Agassiz害羞草研究所檚 dog; he害羞草研究所檚 famous in Harrison Hot Springs, too!害羞草研究所�
After a few gruelling, long days, Hank was showing signs of recovery. A few days into recovery and he started eating a bit of solid food, much to MacPherson害羞草研究所檚 joy. The gas in his intestines started to go down and life returned to his eyes.
害羞草研究所淚t was pretty miraculous; he was on death害羞草研究所檚 door and very, very sick,害羞草研究所� MacPherson said. 害羞草研究所淔or the first two or three days, he just stared into space. He could barely hold his head up, and he wouldn害羞草研究所檛 walk. We had to lift him up and carry him out.害羞草研究所�
Soon, the dog害羞草研究所檚 personality started to show through. A few of Hank害羞草研究所檚 quirks rose to the surface as he rested. For a dog who was clearly emaciated due to his condition, Hank proved to be a bit picky with food. It had to be turkey. Not veggies covered in turkey grease. Not turkey that had touched fish or veggies. Definitely not turkey with medication or vitamins in it. His keen sense of smell due to his hound heritage ensured he would get his turkey and accept no substitutes or alterations.
After a series of 害羞草研究所渉uge victories害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� with him walking on his own and passing stool 害羞草研究所� Hank was at long last discharged. There was no torsion detected in his bowels, and he began gaining weight and strength as he continued to fight the GI infection.
害羞草研究所淚t was pretty remarkable and pretty quick,害羞草研究所� MacPherson said of his recovery. 害羞草研究所淣ow he害羞草研究所檚 got lots of energy.害羞草研究所�
Hank now lives with Harry Maslin, a heavy mechanic who lives out in Harrison Hot Springs. Hank is a regular at Maslin害羞草研究所檚 Abbotsford workplace, traveling with his adoptive dad to work three times a week.
害羞草研究所淗e just seemed, honestly, like he wanted to love but was scared to love (at first),害羞草研究所� Maslin said of meeting Hank for the first time. 害羞草研究所淚f only a dog could talk, you know? He could tell us what he害羞草研究所檚 been through.害羞草研究所�
Maslin said it took Hank a little bit to warm up to the kids, but it was clear he had a very gentle nature.
Hank has since developed an unlikely friendship with the family cat and loves to be wherever his humans are. His favourite pastimes now include running and chasing balls, but the concept of fetch is something he害羞草研究所檚 still working on.
Hank is quick to make friends with other people and always has a smile on his face.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 doing excellent,害羞草研究所� Maslin said. 害羞草研究所淗e loves animals, everyone and anyone. He definitely loves to run and be outside.害羞草研究所�
Hank enjoys walks in Harrison Hot Springs and has earned notoriety throughout the community.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 famous,害羞草研究所� Maslin said. 害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 walk him without someone recognizing him.害羞草研究所�
In MacPherson害羞草研究所檚 mind, quick action and a caring community saved Hank害羞草研究所檚 life.
害羞草研究所淚t further solidified for me that if you act in an emergent situation, things will come through,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 did not know what I was going to do or how to cover his vet bills. I learned that people really do care and have the ability to give however they can give.害羞草研究所�
MacPherson also wanted to encourage the public to not ignore stray animals.
害羞草研究所淭hese precious souls, they matter,害羞草研究所� MacPherson said. 害羞草研究所淚f we have it in our capacity to help in any way, it害羞草研究所檚 very rewarding. I害羞草研究所檇 do it all again, in a heartbeat.害羞草研究所�
adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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