MUSHY
So here it is again after a long time, let me tell you I have been trying to write but not able to, I was busy and also a bit lazy to write .This blog I would like to dedicate it to Spotie's bestest sister "Mushy " short for Mushtang .
This frail ,short, shaky, brown and black puppy was the last born of Lady (Spotie's mother this sweet dogie thinks lady is her name , will write more about her in my next blog ). She had the shaky puppy syndrome by birth. It is a neurological disorder . A pup suffering with shaky puppy syndrome, have tremors that begin shortly after birth, with symptoms beginning as early as 2 weeks of age. Excitement can make the trembling more violent and puppies tend to shake more while eating, with tremors subsiding while resting. Mentally, the puppies seem to appear fine (Source https://www.petmd.com/search).
She was milk and food deprived because all the other puppies wouldn't allow her to feed. She couldn't stand up without shaking or even move about . She couldn't balance her feet on the ground . Her hind legs would often fall down . Her head would shake to an extent that her feeds were deprived . She was our Favourite and We were hers . Mushy was always ready to bark at strangers . She was scared of other puppies because she could not move much , she would always lay on her side . When we gave food to the puppies all of them would eat hurriedly . By the time mushy reached the bowl all the food would be finished . She couldn't make it and would stay hungry . We started feeding her separately, we held her body and her head so she could eat without spilling . She started gaining her health back after we fed her hand held . She loved to eat milk with rice . Her favourite being egg and rice , she loved it and got very excited whenever we gave her egg and rice . The excitement for her favourite food was so much that she would shake to the extent where she couldn't control her head and most of the food would spill . We held her head firmly so she could eat her food . We gave her boneless chicken because she wasn't able to chew on bones as she shook uncontrollably .This little lady had so much of love for us that when ever we went out we had to give her a belly rub . She would bark her lungs out if we didn't .
Spotie loved to play with her sister. Amongst the litter, they were only two left for each other . Every evening when we took Spotie for a walk Mushy would wait for us to come out right next to our house sitting or sleeping . The moment our gate opened she would raise her head wag her tail . We couldn't move further until we gave her a belly rub , and pet her . She would wait for our return too , we would leave Spotie to play with her they would bite each other fight each other , Mushy would try and jump sitting . That was something she would do whenever she played with Spotie . Spotie's mother looked at them in amusement . These sisters were Best Friends . We made a small room for her right next to our house so she could stay there . She was very happy to stay in it and very possessive about . She would bark and get restless if anyone got into it. After dinner every night we would carry her to her house tuck her in the bed . She just loved it. Early mornings when we took Spotie for a walk we would see Mushy cutely peeping through her door lifting her head up from her bed looking at us shakily with sleepy eyes . She too was a canine distemper survivor . But had it very mild , and timely intervention of the vet saved her . All the siblings the whole litter were so well potty trained that they never peed or pooped in the middle of the road it was always in-between the grass on the sides . Mushy being so shaky would get up from her place move to a corner and pee or poop there . She had no control over her body but she would try hard to move .
One thought that made us worry always was that if ever Mushy would be attacked by any stray dog then how would she protect herself ? We were scared for her. Our nightmare turned into reality when one evening there was a power cut a total blackout with no street lights, a rabid dog attacked Mushy . She revolted but couldn't run from him . All the other dogs , her mum and sisters started to howl and tried to attack the dog but he was not ready to give up . We heard Mushy 's cries, my son ran out ,the rabid dog had Mushy 's face in his mouth trying to bite her, he tried to chase him but the dog didn't move an inch ,my son took a car mat lying there and smashed the ground very hard with it . The dog ran , all the other dogs chased him away . Mushy was bleeding from her mouth . The bite marks were not very deep but had carved a mark on her cheek . We called a vet and got her anti rabies vaccine immediately . She was very scared that she didn't allow us to touch her . She was trembling even more .
We had to cover her head with a cloth to get her anti rabies vaccine injected . She calmed down after an hour or so . After this incident many a times in the midnight if we heard any dogs cry or howl we would go out check on mushy if everything was fine . This incident made us think two things, firstly Mushy was totally dependent on us for food . She couldn't move around to eat . If we were out of town or for any other reason not around she would be starved . Secondly if any incident like the rabid dog would happen then how would she survive . We were worried for her , for her survival . For it is Survival of the fittest . The vet who vaccinated mushy told us about this neurological disorder she had which couldn't be cured . We only had the option of adopting her and giving her full time care or look for places where she would be taken care of full time .
Adopting a special needs puppy would mean full time care and many doctors visits . As we already had Spotie to take care of we decided to start looking for places where Mushy would be given 24 hrs care and protection .
We finally found this place called The Voice of Stray Dogs VOSD dog sanctuary (https://vosd.in/ ).
with her favourite hooman - Mr.Rakesh Shukla
A place where they take very good care of dogs . Mr.Rakesh Shukla takes care of this place . This sanctuary has more 800 dogs and other animals too . Personal care is given to dogs with disabilities. We were satisfied when we went through their website of how well they care and about the dogs that live here . At least she would be in a safe place . Where she would be cared for , provided with food ,shelter , her health would be taken care of. We made calls for her pick up . Initially she would be taken to a pet Hospital where all her checkups would be done and if there were chances of her getting back to normal they would treat her and when she was fine they would drop her back to the same place they picked her from . We were happy to hear .Finally on March 12 -2018 she was picked up by a care provider . After all the initial check up she was diagnosed , her health would never improve she needed support through out her life . It was heart breaking . She was taken into the VOSD dog sanctuary where she is taken care of very well . She lives there happily with many more dogs and has made friends with them . She is named as Dancing at VOSD . VOSD is doing a fantastic job by taking care of so many dogs . Some dogs who have health problems like Mushy and some who have been surrendered by their parents who couldn't take care of them or moved out of the country . VOSD is a Dog Heaven not a sanctuary . Dogs are taken care as humans here with much respect and love .
The happiness we feel when we see VOSD share a video or even a picture of Mushy is immense . We just cannot express the gratitude and respect we have to Mr.Rakesh Shukla for doing such fabulous work towards Dog welfare . Thank you Mr.Rakesh Shukla ! Thank you VOSD ! It is a year and a half already since Mushy was left us and went to her Furever Home.
She is always there in our heart .We miss her up to the present but we know she is happy and is under proper care . May God bless her and keep her safe !
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