Rémy, a four-year-old Staffordshire Terrier mix, was discovered tied to a post outside the Greenville Humane Society in South Carolina. Based on security footage, the dog was left there around late night/early morning hours October 17-18.
Staff members who came to care for more than 200 animals at the shelter found the little girl with a heartbreaking letter.
“I’m sorry for leaving Remy here like this,” it read in part. “She has illnesses that I don’t believe are curable. She needs to be put down as soon as possible.”
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Down but not out
Greenville Humane Society They are a no-kill shelter, which means they don’t eat livestock unless it’s medically necessary. Remy has received a thorough veterinary check-up, and while she certainly has some issues, her condition isn’t necessarily life-threatening.
In addition to an itchy skin allergy, Remy also has a sixth-degree heart sound. In dogs, purring is rated on a scale of one to six, with six being “noisiest” and most severe.
Heart murmurs affect an estimated 60% of dogs over 5 years of age. Although they cannot be cured, they can be managed with appropriate treatment. An echocardiogram was performed to determine whether Remy would need surgery or lifelong medication.
“Dogs can live a happy and comfortable life with sixth-degree heart murmurs, but it can reduce their lifespan. It’s different for each patient,” Rachel Delport, CEO of the Greenville Humane Society, told. Newsweek.
Symptoms of a grade 6 heart murmur include a dry cough, lack of energy, gasping for breath, poor appetite, and even collapse. So it’s understandable that Remy’s former family might think she’s suffering from a terminal illness.
According to a Facebook comment from GHS, Remy had an echocardiogram at the Upstate Veterinarians in Greenville on Friday, October 23. The shelter will post updates on her prognosis over the next few days. next.
Move forward
As the staff await Remy’s heart treatment plan, they will give her special food and medicine to treat her itchy skin. Delport reports that she is “settling up well” to a temporary life.
“She has received much love from our staff, many walks and afternoon walks, and plenty of time to rest in her cozy bed.”
While Delport sympathizes with Remy’s former family, she is concerned about more and more pets being abandoned at GHS. Over the past two weeks, more than a dozen animals have been left outside the shelter.
Of the 200 dogs and cats in their care, Remy and 95 others reside in Healing Place, the only shelter in the southeast that specializes in caring for sick and injured homeless animals.
“We have had more sick and injured animals lately than we can afford,” Delport explains. “We want Remy and every animal in our care to have a happy and prosperous life. It takes time, money, resources and a lot of love, but we will never give it up. We want every animal to leave our facility better than how they got in.”
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Fortunately, the community gathered around Remy, donating to her Veterinary bills and inquires about adoptions. If you’d like to join Remy’s support group and help other needy pets at the Healing Place, consider donating to GHS Hope Foundation.
And be sure to follow Remy’s story as it unfolds Facebook.
Featured images via Facebook / Greenville Humane Society
