Dumpster puppy gets quite lucky
July 27. 2006
For Ann Singley, an otherwise routine morning switched gears when she happened upon a new canine friend in sore need of rescue.
When the longtime resident took her two dogs for a morning walk on Sunday, July 16, she noticed a stench coming from a nearby large metal Dumpster near her southeast Gainesville home.
Curious, she peeked inside. A smelly, raggedy puppy stared back at her.
A rope tightly bound the puppy's neck and was partially embedded in the skin, causing its neck to swell. The end of the rope was tied to something in the trash bin. Six inches of filthy, coffee-colored water made it impossible for the animal to lie down.
To free the puppy, Singley, 57, used the edge of the metal Dumpster to slice the rope. She then carried the puppy home, cut the rope from her neck and gave her a bath.
The pup's body was hairless because of a severe case of mange. But even with no hair, a pungent odor and infected sores, the puppy won Singley's heart.
"At first I said it was the ugliest dog I've ever seen," Singley said. "But when I looked in the Dumpster I just saw her eyes. . . . I just didn't even have to think about (helping her)."
She is now nursing the dog, a female she appropriately named "Lucky," back to health.
Veterinarians at Alatash Animal Hospital estimated Lucky's age as nearly one year. But she is malnourished and small, Singley said, and still acts like a young puppy. And since she has no hair, Lucky's breed cannot yet be determined.
"In her face, she looks kind of like the dog from 'Lady and the Tramp,' " Singley said. "She's got ears like Tramp; they sort of stick up and curl forward. She's kind of wrinkled, too. Not like a Shar Pei, just oddly wrinkled."
For now, Singley is keeping Lucky, at least until she gets well. She isn't sure if she'll keep her after that or give her up for adoption. Singley has spent about $200 so far on Lucky's treatment for infections, worms and mange, and the puppy shows signs of improvement. Vets give her a 50/50 chance of a full recovery.
There are many pet-rescue organizations in the area, but Alachua County's Animal Services Division is the only shelter that accepts animals from the public. Other rescue organizations adopt animals from the division. Bekah Bly, a senior office staff member, said any owner wishing to relinquish a pet may do so at the shelter, 3400 NE 53rd Ave.
Animals are given a full examination, Bly said, and put up for adoption. There is no set adoption time limit before animals are euthanized, but animals brought to the shelter are given three business days before euthanasia is considered.
Adoption fees for cats and dogs depend on the animal's length of stay at the shelter and whether it has been spayed or neutered. They range from $31 to $100.
Linear Mode
