Something Fierce

I began creating this blog while holding up a nebulizer to Milo’s face as she coughed and coughed. Milo, a 7 year old mixed breed dog, is the latest addition to our home. We pulled her from the city’s animal control shelter for five dollars. The moment I saw her it was obvious that she was very sick. We wandered through kennel after kennel until we spotted her nestled on the cement floor, with only a thin bed sheet for comfort. She was coughing and had the most exhausted, sad eyes. I knew that we couldn’t leave her there because she wouldn’t survive. 

We brought her home and listened to her cough all night long. I knew this was more than CIRDC (kennel cough). Once I brought her to my office for chest X-rays, it confirmed the worst case of pneumonia I had ever seen. It was shocking that she was alive and breathing at all. That night, I sat with her and cried. I was worried she might not make it. My heart broke for this girl who was left in the shelter and was moments away from dying there alone. I told Milo that I would do everything I could to get her through this and I asked her to fight with me. 

One undeniable truth about every sick animal I adopt is their unparalleled will to live. Once these animals find a home with love, they become something fierce. They fight their bodies to stay and that’s exactly what Milo did. She fought and after a long road, she is now pneumonia and cancer free! Follow along to hear more about that journey in future posts.