Tiny ‘underdog’ finds his forever home

HAPPY ever afters are all in a day’s work for animal activists of a locally -based non-profit organisation, Project Dog. But when a compassionate couple brought a severely neglected puppy to founding member, Quicha Morgado, last year, many did not think that he would survive.

The pup, rescued from a church parking lot in Phoenix, was extremely weak and had only a few patches of fur. The tiny scab and parasite-riddled canine suffered from one of the worst cases of demodectic mange that Morgado had ever seen.

Schmeagle, as he had been nicknamed, also suffered from tick bite fever and was severely emaciated, weighing little more than four kilograms. “He did not have enough strength to lift himself up. It was extremely sad. You could see that he was starving, sick and feeling awful, but despite his ills you could also see that he had a great temperament as his tail just kept wagging,” she said.

At first glance the veterinarian that treated Schmeagle did not think his fur would ever grow back as the follicles had been so badly damaged by parasites. But after six weekly injections, regular dipping and some good nutrition, his fur slowly began to grow back. Now the dog is unrecognisable from his frail former self.

The most heart breaking part of the rescue for Morgado was witnessing Schmeagle’s lack of knowledge regarding affection. She explained that he remained suspicious of people and affection for a very long time. “He allowed people to touch him but he would freeze up, and seemed unsure and confused about any form of affection. It took him a while to understand what love and affection was,” she said.

However, the pup’s spell of bad luck changed when his story was shared on Facebook and tugged at the heartstrings of Durban North resident, Sue-Anne Jones. She immediately contacted Morgado and requested to adopt little Schmeagle. “When I read about him on Facebook it destroyed me. I knew there and then that I had to adopt him. He has since turned into the perfect dog, considering his beginnings,” said Jones.

The now spoiled pup, who was renamed Finley, gets to sleep on the bed with his new owner and even has a friend, Edith, who is slowly teaching him the way of life in his forever home. “Shortly after adopting Finley I contacted Morgado and requested to adopt a friend for him. Edith had been a perfect match and they have become thick as thieves. He looks to her as a mentor and she has even taught him how to play,” explained Jones.

Project Dog deals with dozens of cases of abused and neglected canines on a monthly basis. Once rehabilitated, the volunteers strive to find the four-legged companions forever homes. If you are interested in giving one of these rescued canines a forever home or would like to donate toward the cause, contact Quicha Morgado on 083 272 7201 or email quichamorgado@gmail.com.