Mother's Day, 2011
Here's the rest of Cookie's incredible story:
December,
2010
Cookie
was found tied inside an abandoned, burning home. She was lifeless and
presumed dead. The wonderful firemen took what they thought was Cookie's
body outside and discovered she was alive! Cookie was rushed to an emergency
vet for burns and smoke inhalation. DAWG heard about her and knew we had to help. Animal Control
officers drove her to DAWG's animal hospital, where she started treatment
immediately.
What looked like burns "here and there" -- especially on her head and inside
the ears -- changed. Cookie's skin started to peel off, and unbelievably she
lost most of her skin!
January 1, 2011
Cookie started the new year with her usual
sweet playfulness, but damaged skin now covered most of her body.
Cookie's wonderful veterinarian, Dr. Kim Beck, decided to look into
specialized burn treatments and discovered that South Paws in
Virginia offers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to accelerate
healing in burn victims. So she took Cookie to her first treatment
on January 4. Treatment will be daily until Cookie shows substantial
gains in her condition. Thanks to South Paws for pulling out the
stops for Cookie, and we hope to post pictures showing Cookie in far
better condition soon. These are pictures of Cookie's skin as she
embarked on her HBOT treatments:
Cookie didn't seem to notice, even
when she started wearing a body bandage and a t-shirt. She just
greeted everyone wagging her tail and giving kisses.
January 19, 2011
Cookie has been in HBOT treatments for several weeks now. What an
improvement in her skin!
Of course
the covered skin is not as healed. Cookie has become the staff favorite and
even has a favorite toy, Mr. Froggie!
February 10, 2011Cookie's back after a month of HBOT treatments at South Paws! All that's
left of her burned skin is a raw area on her back, roughly the size of a
hand. The rest of her burned skin is a healthy pink, with bits of fur
growing (not that she'll ever have a "fur coat").
Thank you to South Paws and Cookie's many friends there, who cried as they
said good-bye.
There's something special about Cookie...she touches everyone she meets!
Cookie getting a belly rub, a toy and treats before leaving
South Paws
Cookie visiting at the April 2 Beltsville Petco
adoption show.
No more bandages, just protection of her healing skin.
Note Cookie's custom-designed outfit, courtesy of her veterinarian!
June, 2011
As luck would have it, Cookie was noticed by a family that recently
lost their dog. The Mom and Dad are a nurse and fireman, neither put
off by injury and healing skin. They decided Cookie is for them! And
so Cookie will be going home around the 4th of July.
Special thanks to Cookie's incredible foster mom, Kathy, and her
family, for taking care of Cookie for many months, not only tending
her wounded skin, but letting her blossom into a normal dog. Who
knew Cookie would be an expert ball chaser!
We think Cookie will remember every one of her friends -- Dr. Beck
at College Park Animal Hospital, visiting volunteers, her friends at
South Paws, and especially her foster family. We thank everyone who
gave more than their time to Cookie. What was it about this little
brown dog that captured so many hearts? Cookie's spirit taught us
all a thing or two about life.
Bon voyage, Cookie! Our job is done.
We thank so many new friends as well as DAWG friends for the outpouring of
best wishes and donations for Cookie on her incredible journey. Truly, "a
journey is best measured in friends rather than miles!" |
