For the past two years, an Airedale had been spotted running loose in the mountains of Colorado. No one knew if she had gotten loose from some campers, or how exactly she came to be there, but it was a normal sight for local residents of the rural area to see her running loose.
A few months ago, it was noticed that the dog was no longer being seen. Everyone assumed that it had met up with a coyote or mountain lion. The wild is survival of the fittest, right? Well, you have no idea just how true that is.
Jeff & Deb, a couple used to seeing this Airedale in the area, were driving home one day when they saw what they described as a mass of fur pulling itself across the road. Since they were pulling a trailer, they couldn't stop immediately. They went home, switched vehicles and went back. Nothing. They couldn't find this animal that was obviously in distress. It had looked somewhat like the Airedale they were used to seeing running loose.
They began keeping their eyes peeled when they traveled around, just in case. Of course the odds were against finding it alive anymore, but they continued to watch. Heading to work one day, Deb saw a bundle of fur next to the road, under some bushes. She stopped her vehicle and moved cautiously toward this creature. It was the stray Airedale, soaked with urine, caked with feces and, since cold weather has already set in, had a quarter-inch thick coating of ice covering her fur.
Something awful had happened; she could not get up, her back legs hung useless and when Deb approached, the fearful Airedale tried to scoot away. After a period of gentle talk & slow approach, she let Deb gently pick her up and load her into the vehicle.
The Elk Park Animal Hospital in Pagosa Springs.
Left is Vet Tech Misty, who called Dr. Gretchen (right),
to save Goldie when she was brought in.
Deb took the dog to the animal hospital and asked them to help. It was a Saturday and the hospital was normally closed that day, but a vet technician was inside, answered the knock and immediately called a vet who came right in to care for this emergency. Dr. Gretchen & Misty shaved part of the dog, mostly her back side, cleaning her up the best they could without making her anxious, being as gentle as possible.
28 September: Goldie after her first bath and partial clipping.
Goldie with harness and EYES!
You can well imagine how frightened this poor dog was. They gave her as much love as possible as they worked with her, to begin her emotional healing.
Note Goldie's paralyzed rear legs
They soon saw the terrible condition her mouth was in, with virtually all teeth broken, missing, or worn to nubs. She also had sores in her mouth, and we simply don't know the cause of these. Within a short time the vet's staff had discovered Airedale Rescue through ATRA's website, and made the initial contact.
CONTINUE WITH THE SAGA OF
GOLDIE OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAINS HERE
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