LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A local animal rescue group is raising funds for an ill and injured dog it took in last month.
January 2013 has been full of activity at the Orphan Dog Ranch, the rescue operated by Lake County Animal Services.
The private nonprofit organization travels over Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for dogs.
In late January, they took an owner surrender dog, Gizmo, who was advertised on Facebook by a panicked family member begging for help as he was very ill and there was no money to take him to the vet.
By the time they were allowed to take possession of the dog, he was close to dying.
They treated Gizmo immediately for hypoglycemia and dehydration, since he was having seizures, and he made it through the night.
The next day, they got him in to the vet, where they found he has pyoderma, a severe skin infection that often means something more severe is affecting the dog; two holes in his head that look like he was grabbed by a dog or coyote; a badly bruised groin, possibly from being kicked by human; a torn ligament in a hind leg that is so painful he won’t put the leg down; and multiple infections that they are still hoping will not be resistant to antibiotics.
Donations for Gizmo can be made at http://lakecounty.chipin.com/saving-gizmo . The goal is $2,250.
Follow Gizmo’s progress at http://orphandog.org/saving-gizmo-2/ .
The group said it appreciates community support for its efforts and for Gizmo.
Moon & Stars Botanicals at 6030 E. Highway 20 in Lucerne is holding a fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. Proceeds will go toward Gizmo's care and the care of Molly, an abandoned and badly abused dog found in Clearlake.
Anyone who wishes to donate products to sale is welcome to participate; anyone who attends will be able to purchase or donate. Contact Kat at 707-217-6854 for more information about how to donate.
Wine County Village, an Internet company that sells wine accessories, also is doing an ongoing event at https://www.facebook.com/events/335243256580648/ in which 25 percent of all sales go to Gizmo's care.
Lake County Animal Services also continues to take donations through its Web site, http://LakeCountyAnimalServices.org , for all of the animals it seeks to help.
They are on track to meet their goal of homing five dogs a week – with more than 20 adoptions and three foster to adopt placements – but in addition to Gizmo have had a month of medical emergencies.
They have treated nine dogs for canine parvovirus, that hard-to-kill virus that is almost everywhere in the environment and is often fatal to puppies. Two of the nine infected dogs were 7-week-old puppies that were sick enough to have to be placed immediately under veterinary care.
Their story unfolded in a private Facebook group and is documented in the Orphan Dog blog, http://orphandog.org/an-hour-full-of-miracles/ .
When tests for parvovirus are positive, vet bills can add up to thousands of dollars quickly, very scary in a rescue group both for the dogs and for the budget.
Every donation of time, money and energy is gratefully accepted on behalf of all of the dogs that they serve.