Lucky Clover Rescue
Donation protected
Meet Clover
I discovered Clover lying on the sidewalk next to a bathroom door at a roadside OXXO (mini-mart). He was extremely emaciated, yet even though he was obviously starving he refused the food and water I set down for him. He wasn't fearful or aggressive and had the sweetest face. I cooed at him for a bit while some local workers watched me like I was crazy for trying. Within a few minutes he staggered to his feet and went into the ladies room to lie down. I didn't know what else to do. I had never actually come face-to-face with a dog so in need of help. I went home an emotional wreck and thought about him all night long.
The next day I contacted Las Rescatistas, one of the animal assistance programs in our little Mexican town, to see if they could advise me on how to help Clover. I knew they didn't have financial resources, but they had loads of experience and useful contacts. They were wonderful! By 11:30 we had a plan: my friend Susan and I were going to feed the dog over the weekend and then on Monday take him to Dr. Josefina Ramirez in Guaymas who had agreed to look at him. We even got a foster mom lined up to take him Monday night.
When we arrived back at the OXXO with food and water we realized that there was no way we could leave him. He was just too weak and skinny and we feared he wouldn't make it through the weekend. Dr. Ramirez said that she would look at him if we could get him to her before 2:00 PM when she closed for the weekend. Susan and I had never done a rescue before and we had visions of dog bites leading to rabies shots. We hadn't worn long sleeves or brought gloves. Luckily a man sitting outside the restrooms offered to put the dog in my car where I already had a dog blanket laid out. Clover didn't resist at all and once he was in the car laid right down except for the few times he managed to lift his head to let us pet him.
Dr. Ramirez was very kind. She took him right back to an exam room where she looked him over, all the while making mewing sounds of distress. Susan and I felt as though she hadn't ever seen a dog in this stage of malnutrition. She rinsed his eyes, gave him a little water with a syringe and said she would put him on an IV. We were told we could come back at 3:30, well after closing time. At 2:30 we got a call from the vet telling us that she was going to keep Clover overnight. She was worried about him and felt he needed constant care and more fluids. We were so relieved that he was getting help. One way or another, he was not going to suffer any longer.
The next morning, Sunday, the vet called to say that she'd been able to give him some medication, but didn't want to take any blood yet. I picked up Susan and we drove to see him. Dr. Ramirez didn't seem too hopeful when we first arrived. He hadn't eaten and wouldn't drink anything, except when she used a syringe. After a few minutes of gently squirting water into his mouth she began to use her fingers to scoop moist food into his mouth. He was responding! He lifted up his head and looked at us with his sweet, brown eyes. We only stayed for about 15 minutes during which he held his head up the entire time and stood up twice. The vet seemed genuinely surprised at his efforts and her prediction went from dismal to "I think he has a chance." She is going to keep him for at least four days on an IV and he gets a bath tomorrow! He's going to feel like a new dog.
We are trying to raise funds to pay for Clover's vet bills and any medical needs he'll have after he's released from Dr. Ramirez's care. If we go above and beyond the cost we will donate all funds to Las Rescatistas so they can continue to help save local dogs in distress.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and care!
Kim and Susan
I discovered Clover lying on the sidewalk next to a bathroom door at a roadside OXXO (mini-mart). He was extremely emaciated, yet even though he was obviously starving he refused the food and water I set down for him. He wasn't fearful or aggressive and had the sweetest face. I cooed at him for a bit while some local workers watched me like I was crazy for trying. Within a few minutes he staggered to his feet and went into the ladies room to lie down. I didn't know what else to do. I had never actually come face-to-face with a dog so in need of help. I went home an emotional wreck and thought about him all night long.
The next day I contacted Las Rescatistas, one of the animal assistance programs in our little Mexican town, to see if they could advise me on how to help Clover. I knew they didn't have financial resources, but they had loads of experience and useful contacts. They were wonderful! By 11:30 we had a plan: my friend Susan and I were going to feed the dog over the weekend and then on Monday take him to Dr. Josefina Ramirez in Guaymas who had agreed to look at him. We even got a foster mom lined up to take him Monday night.
When we arrived back at the OXXO with food and water we realized that there was no way we could leave him. He was just too weak and skinny and we feared he wouldn't make it through the weekend. Dr. Ramirez said that she would look at him if we could get him to her before 2:00 PM when she closed for the weekend. Susan and I had never done a rescue before and we had visions of dog bites leading to rabies shots. We hadn't worn long sleeves or brought gloves. Luckily a man sitting outside the restrooms offered to put the dog in my car where I already had a dog blanket laid out. Clover didn't resist at all and once he was in the car laid right down except for the few times he managed to lift his head to let us pet him.
Dr. Ramirez was very kind. She took him right back to an exam room where she looked him over, all the while making mewing sounds of distress. Susan and I felt as though she hadn't ever seen a dog in this stage of malnutrition. She rinsed his eyes, gave him a little water with a syringe and said she would put him on an IV. We were told we could come back at 3:30, well after closing time. At 2:30 we got a call from the vet telling us that she was going to keep Clover overnight. She was worried about him and felt he needed constant care and more fluids. We were so relieved that he was getting help. One way or another, he was not going to suffer any longer.
The next morning, Sunday, the vet called to say that she'd been able to give him some medication, but didn't want to take any blood yet. I picked up Susan and we drove to see him. Dr. Ramirez didn't seem too hopeful when we first arrived. He hadn't eaten and wouldn't drink anything, except when she used a syringe. After a few minutes of gently squirting water into his mouth she began to use her fingers to scoop moist food into his mouth. He was responding! He lifted up his head and looked at us with his sweet, brown eyes. We only stayed for about 15 minutes during which he held his head up the entire time and stood up twice. The vet seemed genuinely surprised at his efforts and her prediction went from dismal to "I think he has a chance." She is going to keep him for at least four days on an IV and he gets a bath tomorrow! He's going to feel like a new dog.
We are trying to raise funds to pay for Clover's vet bills and any medical needs he'll have after he's released from Dr. Ramirez's care. If we go above and beyond the cost we will donate all funds to Las Rescatistas so they can continue to help save local dogs in distress.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and care!
Kim and Susan
Organizer
Kim Lambertus Main
Organizer