Patrick's
Memorial Fund

Below is the story of Patrick and how he touched allof us.
In his honor the Patrick Memorial Fund has been opened.

Patrick Memorial Fund: A special way you can Honor Your Pet
If you would like to join other friends and honor your pet/s on their birthday, adoption anniversary, or "just because we love you," by giving a tax-deductible donation to Willing Hearts. Send your check, payable to Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue, your pet's name and the special occasion you want to honor, to: WHDR, PO Box 11, Royersford, PA 19468. Future editions of the newsletter will list the honored pets and their special occasions. Willing Hearts will use the money in this fund for special needs as we continue our outreach to the dogs that come into our care.

 

Had a message on my machine today 3/17/2004 from a gal in Greenwood. Called her back and she starts telling me about her neighbor who has a dal and has been evicted - is moving out and leaving the dal there. It gets worse. Seems this dal (a male named Spot) is so emaciated that every bone is sticking out on his body - she said she thinks he couldn't weigh more than 20 lbs. and is having trouble standing. She has been feeding him for the past couple of days, plus giving him water and also gave him some wormer. She has two dogs and cannot take him, She said the guy says he has been feeding Spot and can't understand why he is so skinny. How many times have we heard that one? She has never seen any food there - or water. She said the guy brought Spot with him when he moved in about 4 years ago. He said that he had no place to take him, and he just might take him to the spca and say he found him so they wouldn't charge him with anything. If he did that the spca would probably put him down immediately because of his condition.

She said Spot is outside on a Huge chain and has always been kept outside. She doesn't think he has ever been to a vet. I don't know if we can do any more for him than give him peace, but I sure think he deserves some chance at a happy life. The only thing that could be done in that instance is take him directly to my vet, as he needs medical care as soon as possible. I am thinking he probably has heartworms and Lymes, and his chances at this point are slim. But they might be worse on Friday. Susie says she has never seen any aggression from him - and as sick as he is he still gives kisses.

Hey everyone - the Greenwood dal is now in Dave's loving care 3/18/2004 - he is getting him to his vet right now. This boy is very very bad - I wanted to get him to my vet yesterday so that he didn't have to spend one more day at the shelter, but that didn't work out. But he needs to be hospitalized. He is beyond emaciated, and has been chewing on his tail and it looks really bad. We have taken Irene's suggestion and his name is now Patrick! Thanks Irene - we think it suits him.

The "owner" turned himself in yesterday and pled guilty, so he has already been charged and sentenced. He kept insisting that he fed him - sure he did - but I am sure that Jerry from the spca told him that if he pleaded not guity and it went to trial he would be looking at jail time, plus he is moving to MD - and he would not be allowed to leave the state until after the trial. He received an $800 fine, one year's probation and of course the old "can't own an animal for 5 years" Should be never! He does have HW's and probably Lymes. However the shelter did say it was a mild case.

This boy is super sweet!!! The ACO who picked him up did not put him in the back of the truck - he put him up front with him, and Patrick rode with his head on the ACO's lap the whole trip. I have a pic of the ACO with him - his name is Steve. As you can imagine he is super attached to him and asked for lots of pictures. I had put loads of comforters in the back of the Jeep for him so he would be super comfortable. But - once I got in the Jeep he crawled up and laid on the console with his head in my lap. He has to be touching you all the time - he is so starved for affection. So I pulled over - took all the boxes I had in the passenger seat and put them in the back. Put a comforter in the passenger seat and laid him on top of it. He did stay there but stretched across the console so I could pet him the entire trip.

Patrick is 5 years old and not a large dal - but a very handsome one.

Update 3/18/2004- The vet saw Patrick and didn't think he needed to be hospitalized. He has a very bad case of whipworms (treated him with strongid) and is anemic. He is HW poss and has Lymes. The vet thinks he'll come around with water and food given on a regular basis. Dave is cooking him chicken and rice with an immodium chaser. The vet said he'll see him again in a week or two. Wants him to gain 10 lbs before he worms him for any other parasites and does any more treatments.

Update 3/23/2004- Patrick is doing real good and gets along well with my other dogs. He is house trained and a real mush, loves attention!!

3-30-2004 - Patrick had a minor set back. He has kennel cough, most likely from his brief shelter stay. He lost his appetite and was eating very little. The vet changed his antibiotics and he's eating again and doing well. He has gained three pounds. He continues to be a sweetie, getting along with everyone he meets. He's sleeping in Dave's bed and loving life.

4/2/2004
Hello everyone,

I was just preparing an update for you when Dave called me this morning. We have some sad news. Patrick died last night.

He was doing so well and was scheduled to see the vet this afternoon for a check up. Dave, his foster dad was feeding small, frequent meals and his appetite was picking up again. Patrick was gaining weight. He had his last treatment for hookworms/parasites a few days ago. He was still battling kennel cough but responding to the change in antibiotics and doing well. We were waiting for him to gain strength and recover from his malnutrition so we could start heartworm treatments in a few weeks.

We are all in tears. Dave is devastated. He tried so hard to help Patrick survive. He gave him a safe warm place to stay, a comfortable bed to lay on, good food and lots of love. Dave did a wonderful job with him and gave him the best. Patrick was blessed to have fallen into such great hands.

I do not understand how people can be so heartless and cruel to animals. I am grateful, and thank God, for creating loving, kind people like you all. Thank you for your prayers and donations to help Patrick. Your support made a difference in his life and made our job so much easier.

Patrick was one of the kindest, most gentle souls we've met. We'd like to keep his memory alive and if it's ok with you we would like to use the remainder of your donations to help another dog in need, possibly another heartworm positive dog.

Attached is a picture taken yesterday of Patrick on Dave's bed.

Oh, how I wish my news was better.

Thank you again for your kindness and generosity.

Warm regards,

Robbie

Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue, Inc

From Dave, Patrick's foster dad:

I want to thank everyone who sponsored Patrick and everyone that has prayed for him. Patrick was the sweetest dog I ever had in my home and I had some sweet ones. Patrick wanted to be by me so much that he would look for me while I was sleeping He found my room and laid next to the bed too week to jump up but by the third day he was up on the bed and under the covers.He never stopped wagging his tail . He knew he was going to be taken care of . Thank you all again. There wasnt a dry eye in the vets office .He touched a lot of people.


Special Thanks to his Sponsors:
Scott Sunderland
Candice Toll and Brent Aaron
Sara Eckert
Deana Flak
Kimberly Potts
Dawn Printz
Courtney Davis
Patrick and Linda Jones - Ravin Dalmatians
Chris Harriman - GSD rescue of New England
Tammy at Dogs Deserve Better,Inc
Andria Olson-Rosco
Victoria Shockey
Traci Seltz
Ed Hunter and Janet Shibata
Susan Granville
Dr Nikki Krasas Castle
Sheila Mason
Udo and Cornelia Heckenbach
Timothy and Elizabeth Furey
Virginia Sappington
Lana Harding
Carol Bardo & Misty
Lev Volynsky and Rozaliya Volynskaya in memory of Boscoe
Lisa Perkins in memory of Coco and jax