| |
If you have ever considered buying a puppy from a pet store, you need to read Sherman's Story. Sherman's story is just one example of the countless stories of puppies from pet stores who are unhealthy due to illness, injury, or genetics due to poor care, genetically compromised parents, and/or unhealthy breeding conditions from birth. Pet store puppies typically come from puppy mills or sub-par breeders as no reputable, responsible breeder would ever sell their puppies to a puppy broker or pet store. |
*WARNING* |
The content you
are about to read may be sensitive to some viewers. It is recommended
that younger readers, please, skip this page. This story details
heartbreaking content, and includes explicit photos of the
work done to save Sherman's life.
|
|
| |
| |
|
Sherman the miracle pet store puppy I adopted and how we saved his life... |
I lost Sherman on April 20, 2000, he was 13 years old. |
| |
|
Sherman was rescued from "PETLAND", a national
pet store chain, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He was neglected
by the store employees and owners, with the exception of one very
unique and caring employee. He was a special order for their client.
I worked for the vet that took care of the pet
shops puppies at the time. When puppies come in sick, they are
normally not treated, but put in a isolation room and sent back,
dead or alive, to the broker for a refund or replacement. Needless
to say, he was not scheduled to be seen by us. The vets are
only brought healthy/sellable puppies, nothing that will cost any of
the pet shop's profits. |
|
| |
| Sherman was put in isolation room, where he was left to either recover
on his own, or die, but an employee felt sorry for him. She decided to
administer SubQ fluids to maintain his fluid levels. Then his health
started to snowball, and the girl brought him in against the Petland
owner's wishes. Sherman came in with Parvo virus. He was so sick and
weak. He weighed 2.2 pounds at 9 weeks old. The average weight for this
type of dog would have been 12 to 17 pounds at 9 weeks. |
| |
We could not help but notice a huge lump covering his
whole upper torso. We sedated him, and started to shave this area. It
literally came off in my hands...
He looked like he had been skinned alive. He was debrided (See photo at right), which is the cleaning of the dead areas. We then put him
on IV antibiotics, fluids, and saline bandages.
He had a faragastomy tube put into his stomach, so he could be fed
through the tube. I made up a protein liquid diet, and fed him small
feedings about 8 times a day.
Sherman was in bandages for 4 months, that were changed every 6 hours. This was to remove
gangrenous tissue, and start scar tissue to form. He was paralyzed from
the use of ALL of his limbs. Sherman was basically a vegetable during
this time. |
|
| |
|
Sherman waits calmly during one of many bandage changes. He was a trooper. |
|
|
I did physical therapy on Sherman for about 30 days
before seeing results. He could only hold up his head for seconds. Many
times I wanted to call it quits, but his will to go on, made me give my
heart to him. I had no life for a total of 9 months. He
went to work with me, he slept on my stomach in a chair and I wouldn't
leave him till my husband, Rob, came home to watch him.
I owe a
personal "thank you", to my darling husband, for his
understanding during this time. I had many hospitals donate bandages,
saline wraps, and protein diets. I would, also, like to take the
opportunity to say a special "THANK YOU" to those people and
places who were so generous, and cared enough to help me provide a
second chance at a life for this little one. I would like to
specifically mention Dr. Hilton Becker...a prominent plastic surgeon in
Boca Raton, Florida, along with Dr. Joe Guirato, in Palm Beach Gardens,
PGA Animal Clinic, my boss. Without them, Sherman's story would have
ended cold, lonely, and without ever knowing that humans are
capable of love. |
|
|
Dr. Becker heard of Sherman, and did many surgeries along with my boss...skin
stretching, grafts, implants...to get him to actually grow his hide
back. He underwent 14 operations by
Dr's. Joseph Giurato & Hilton Becker THUS giving "Sherman" a chance to live a normal life.
Petland actually tried to get him back. I went to
their store, and stood outside with Sherman in my arms, explaining
to everyone who would listen about pet shops and the horrors.
Petland signed, and gave me all paperwork, only to shut me up.
He was
adopted into our family, where he lived a happy life, playing with
the other dogs, and getting all kinds of love & attention. He was
the joy of my life. He even would say "mamma". After 13 years of a
wonderful life, sadly, Sherman passed away. He will be missed by all
of his friends, family, and his playmates. See you at the bridge my
friend. |
|
/div> |
|
|
