Heavy days, heavy heart. All I can say, is that these are testing times. This is the second time now, that we have experienced this phenomenon known as Sirocco, which is when sand from the Sahara blows over and carpets us in reddish/yellow dust. The effect is quite apocalyptic. End of times, it feels and looks like and it is quite fitting.
I woke up to that sight this morning, thick yellow clouds hanging heavy in the sky. Outside every was coated in yellow , including the washing I had hanging on my clothesline. I grapped the ladder, to check on the solar panels and sure enough they were completed coated once again.
I was about to get the hose, when I heard someone call my name. The man who is looking after the animals in the neighboring land, was looking for Rusty the puppy. ( The puppy that was rescued from horrible conditions, only to be returned) The man assumed he had made his way over to where I lives, but but neither I or my girls had seen him, so we joined him in his search.
I looked around the land I lived on, but he was not there. Then me and my girls walked out onto the road to look. As we circulated the neighboring land, I heard my name called out again. The man had found Rusty and was walking towards me, with him in his arms.
I last saw Rusty two days previously, he was so excited to see me, he leapt into my arms and licked me all over. This time he just lay there, his spark gone, barely able to raise his head. I took him in my arms and my heart broke all over again. It was obvious that he was very sick.
I held him close and as I walked to the neighbors land he began to vomit. I brought him straight to the young men who were meant to looking after him and told them that Rusty was seriously ill and that I was taking him to the vet. At this point poor Rusty began vomiting again. They looked and me and nodded.
The older man, who had come looking for me, told me that he had slept yesterday for most of the day. It made me so angry to know that he had been suffering and they did nothing. I rushed back home and spoke with J who owns the land, after explaining what had happened, he agreed to take me, Rusty and my girls to the vet.
He drifted off on the journey there and I kept checking to see if he was breathing. When we got there, the vet said that he was severely dehydrated. After some tests, they told me that he has Pavovirus , a very serious illness., which can be fatal. The virus really attacks the intestines and prevents the dog from absorbing nutrients.
After more examinations I was told that he had a 50/50 chance of survival. They put him on a drip and told me, that they needed to keep him in the hospital overnight for observation, where he will be given medication and probiotics.
It was so hard to leave him, in the end I took off one of my tops and put it in the cage with him, so that he could at least have my scent. I have since received a phone call from the Vet, to say that he is stable. He has stopped vomiting and if he makes it through the night, they will see if he can keep down some food.
I will know more tomorrow, for now, I keep on sending him love and healing and hope that after all of this, he can return home with me, which hopefully will be his forever home.
