What a difference a few months make
Below is a new letter from Diane McDermott, who adoped Red, a partially paralyzed dog who spent two months last winter recuperating at Celebration Station, Best Friends' temporary triage center in New Orleans.
Red, a friendly rescued Pit Bull who doesn't know he's disabled, was a favorite among rescue volunteers, who played ball with him, took him on walks in his wheelchair-like cart, and sat with him while he napped. Here’s Diane's letter:
“Red is doing really, really well. He’s happy. He now shares his chewies and food and water. I’ve told him and showed him that his bowl will never be empty, so I think he's more secure.
“He’s gained weight and he’s a lot stronger. He runs faster and pulls me on our walks!
"Every day when we wake up I give him flaxseed oil, glucosomine with MSM, two capsules of probiotics, a multi-vitamin and calcium tablets. His coat is almost all back. It’s getting shinier and thicker. I bathe him in that hydrocortizone shampoo and the mange is gone. He's been making it out to the patio himself first thing in the morning for a bathroom break, so that's been really good.
“He loves his belly and upper chest rubs. He smiles from ear to ear. I’ll get a picture of him when he’s smiling. He gives me hundreds of kisses. And he’s very verbal when he wants attention. He plays with his toys -- he must have 30 or more -- and likes to throw them in the air.
“On his walks around the lake he wants to catch the ducks, but I don’t let him!
“I sold my house in Boynton Beach and am moving with Red to north Florida, more inland, and away from hurricane weather. It won’t be for two or three months. When he looks out the front window of our new home, he will see nothing but country and a forest. Our house will be on 5.89 acres. I’m having concrete put all around it so Red can run in his cart. And I’m putting in tile throughout the house -- no carpet -- so it’s easy for him to get around. I have friends up there with dogs he can play with.
“Red brings joy into my life. I can’t imagine life without him.
“Love to everyone and Best Friends,
Diane”
Pictured, Top, Diane with Red at a man-made lake behind their house in Boynton Beach, Florida, and, center, Red at home.
Story by Cathy Scott. Photos by Clay Myers.-------
NOTE: To read more about Red's new life and eight other of your favorite animals (Goldie, BayBay, Buddy, Himie, Sadie, Marina, Petey and Rex) look for the September/October edition of
Best Friends magazine in your mailbox no later than mid September. Or become a subscriber by going to:
http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/magazine/