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Tito was given a second chance

July 12, 2007, 12:0AM MT

By Michael G Rodrigue

TITO

TITO

There are images that, although we try to forget them, we can't seem to erase them from our minds. I can't seem to forget the image of that Galgo who, on a very rainy day out in the country, was laying there perfectly still (more than likely he was stunned by the incomprehensible situation in which he found himself). He had one leg up in the air, with a dirty rag and a stick around it -- someone's rushed and without expertise attempt to make a tourniquet, that would have made your hair stand on end.

Whoever abandoned him did so near the shelter, so that we would find him, and they did so without the least bit of shame or remorse. We rushed him urgently to the veterinarian, where his situation was assessed and the possible outcomes were discussed.

First possibility: the tourniquet could be old, which would mean there had not been enough blood circulating in the leg and gangreen may have begun to set in, and therefore the leg would need to be amputated. The second possibility: that the tourniquet had been recently made and that the inflamation would respond to antibiotics. Fortunately, the latter of the two possibilities turned out to be the case. The dog's leg would be saved.

Next it had to be decided by what means and what manner would it be saved. First a few days would need to pass. It was necessary for the inflamation to go down in order to be able tell if the tendons and ligaments were torn. There were, in fact, broken bones -- the tibia and fibula. Good luck once again! The muscle mass, including tendons and ligaments were all in good condition, and we could operate.

He came through the intervention very well, and in good spirits, and he always seemed to be a very grateful dog. He also came through the surgery very well, with a good sized plate and eight to ten screws. As days went by he began to gain strength and trust. He's the only dog I know who, after all the pain he went through -- understanding that it was for his own good -- would walk into the veterinary clinic wagging his tail and greeting his "torturers".

At home (we fostered him for a while until he had recovered and was able to travel to his new forever family) he was very well behaved, and discovered what it is to be shown affection. When he would finish eating, and it was time to put on his elizabethan collar, so that he would not touch his wound, he would roll over onto his back, put his front paws over his face, and purr like a cat trying to convince me not to put the collar on him.

We named him TITO, like the emperor. And there are thoughts, that although they become clouded with time, fight to remain lucid and in tact. I can't help but wondering what might have happened if this dog had not been found right at that time. Possiblilities that could have taken place were: first, that gangreen would have set into the leg, and then the dog could have stayed there alone until the infection poisoned his system and he would have died. By luck, this will never happen to him.

Today TITO lives happily in Belgium with his forever family, and I shall never forget him.

Author: Mada Sanguino
Translated by: Michael G Rodrigue

RECAL Association for canine protection in Almendralejo
(Badajoz) Spain

TITO

Hay imágenes que, aunque el tiempo se empeñe en llevárselas consigo, no podemos alejarlas de nuestra mente. No consigo olvidar la estampa de aquel galgo que, en un día lluvioso, en medio del campo, permanecía totalmente quieto, (probablemente atónito ante la incomprensible situación que se le había planteado), con una pata en vilo y en cuya parte inferior, con un trapo sucio y un palo, alguien le había practicado, con prisa y sin pericia, un torniquete que ponía los pelos de punta.

Quien lo abandonó lo hizo cerca de la perrera, para que nosotras lo encontráramos, sin un atisbo de vergüenza. Con urgencia, el perro fue conducido al veterinario, allí se valoró su situación y surgieron las posibles circunstancias que podrían darse.

Primera circunstancia: el torniquete podría ser antiguo, con lo cual, no habría habido suficiente circulación sanguínea en la pata y ésta se podría haber necropsado, entonces habría que amputarla. Segunda circunstancia: que el torniquete hubiese sido hecho recientemente y que la inflamación de la pata respondiera ante los antiinflamatorios. La circunstancia que se dio, afortunadamente, fue la segunda. El perro conservaría su pata.

Ahora lo que había que determinar era de qué modo y manera la iba a conservar. Antes de poder resolver esta duda, hubieron de pasar unos días. Fue necesario bajar los límites de la inflamación para observar correctamente si estaban dañados tendones y ligamentos, ya que rotura de huesos sí que había: tibia y peroné. De nuevo, la suerte de cara, la masa muscular, incluidos tendones y ligamentos, en buen estado, podíamos operar.

De la intervención salió bien, animado incluso, ya que siempre ha sido un perro muy agradecido. De la operación también salió con una placa de tamaño considerable y entre ocho y diez tornillos. Con los días ha ido cogiendo fuerzas y confianza. Es el único perro que he conocido que, después de todo el daño que se le ha hecho, -por su bien, entiéndase-, entra a la clínica veterinaria contento, moviendo el rabo y saludando a “sus torturadores”.

En casa, (lo tuvimos en acogida temporal hasta que se recuperó y pudo marcharse con su familia de adopción definitiva) se comportó de forma melosa, descubriendo las caricias. Cuando terminaba de comer y debía de colocarle el collar isabelino para que no se tocara heridas y cicatrices, se ponía panza arriba, en su manta, con las patas delanteras plegadas sobre su cabeza, ronroneando como un gato, intentando convencerme para que no se lo pusiera.

Le llamamos TITO, como el emperador. Y es que hay pensamientos que, aunque el tiempo se obstine en tornarlos confusos, pelean por permanecer lúcidos e intactos. No logro dejar de pensar en qué hubiera pasado de no encontrar a este perro a tiempo. Posibles circunstancias que podrían darse. Primera y única: la pierna se hubiera gangrenado y, una de dos, se le cae sola o la infección se extiende y el perro muere envenenado. Por suerte, esta circunstancia nunca se dará.

Hoy, TITO vive feliz en Bélgica y yo nunca lo olvidaré.

Autora: Mada Sanguino
Traductor: Michael G Rodrigue

RECAL Asociación pro-refugio canino de Alemdralejo
(Badajoz) España

recal@telefonica.net

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