It was a very drab and rainy Monday, which had followed a very drab and rainy weekend filled with many disappointing sports outcomes, and we were on our way to take an Anatomy exam. Still, we were filled with hope and excitement, because we were picking up our new puppy afterwards.
It had only been six days since Devin had informed us about the dying puppy he rescued. Three days later, Anita [another friend/student/rescuer] posted a picture of the recovering pup at the vet clinic and asked if anyone was interested in adopting him.
Igor and I had both considered adopting the dog, yet had held off on committing to it. But nobody else stepped forward to take him [hardly anyone lives off campus and would be able to], and we realized that we might be his only chance. We were drawn to his story, each of us empathizing with his plight for different reasons. We agreed to adopt him.
That Monday, we could not finish our exams fast enough. [Don't worry, we still got perfect scores.] Afterward, we immediately set off for the vet clinic, along with Devin and Anita.
I have a very vivid image of my first sight of the puppy. He very nervously approached the waiting room of the clinic, but withdrew at the sight of so many people. He was the thinnest, sickest, saddest-looking dog I had ever seen.
We were sent home with antibiotics to treat his tick fever and told to return in two weeks so they could assess his health. We must get him healthy enough to receive treatment for his heartworm and possibly surgery for his orthopedic difficulties -- which means we must fatten him up immediately. [We are definitely up for that challenge.]
The puppy was terrified to leave the clinic, terrified of the people around him, terrified of everything, but Igor picked him up and carried him into the car. Halfway through the ride back home, the dog's heart stopped racing, and he began licking Igor's face nonstop.
At first, the puppy was simply more terrified. He sat in the middle of the floor, dejected, not knowing what to do. He was even uninterested in the food, treats, and rawhides we offered.
But when we brought out the canned food, he inhaled it, and both his and our spirits were lifted.
We followed this with a bath, which he did not particularly enjoy, and which was not entirely successful at removing the stray dog smell.
