She didn’t matter.
She didn’t mean anything.
She was nothing more than a piece of trash, to whoever it was that owned this precious girl.
I only learned of this old lady minpin (miniature pinscher) a few days ago, through an email generated to many minpin loving people throughout the country. As soon as I saw her photo there was no doubt in my mind, I was going to do whatever it took to give her a chance. The first step was to get her out of the shelter. Since she was in the one I don’t normally work with a few strings had to be pulled. Thankfully, they were or she would have had to continue waiting her stray time. Another 4 days in the shelter would do her no good. She needed immediate veterinary care.
She scored a 1 on the body condition chart. No way to go any lower. All her fat reserves were gone and the muscles were also wasted away. It takes a long time for a body to starve. To think of the weeks and maybe months she’s been hungry makes me sick and angry. She wasn’t out on the streets starving. She was in someone’s home, watching as they ate, but there was never any for her. I’m sure she wondered what she had ever done wrong. What did she do to deserve this?
She had extreme dental disease. Worse than any puppymill dog I’ve ever seen. One would think maybe this is why she’s emaciated, she couldn’t eat because her teeth were so bad. Wrong. When food was put in front of her she ate it, with much appreciation, by the way. It doesn’t take a millionaire to feed a small dog. There’re even dog food pantry coalitions now that are helping those in financial trouble by giving them food. There is no excuse.
That hunk of brown you see above is tartar, plaque and infection. In other words, pain and discomfort. She had every right to lash out at all of us but she didn’t. She was calm and trusting. Anyone who met her was taken in by her grace and kindness.
She had heart damage, clearly from malnutrition. She was severely dehydrated so we could only give her subcutaneous fluids for immediate relief instead of having her on a full catheter set-up for hours of fluids. To do so would have put her into congestive heart failure. Heart meds were going to be imminent.
She had a large mass on her neck. This probably wasn’t causing much trouble but would’ve had to be checked for cancer. The plan had been to remove it at the same time we removed her rotten teeth. We were all still being very optimistic. We’ve certainly pulled many dogs from the brink of death, so it wasn’t beyond possibility.
That is until we saw the results of her x-rays.
The shelter staff had noted she was having trouble walking. We quickly realized the trouble was she couldn’t walk at all. The question was if it was trauma or something else. She had slight feeling and a few slow reflexes in her legs and feet but she was basically a limp dishrag. Could this simply be from weakness? Oh, how we prayed it was.
The x-rays showed lesions in her vertebrae. She’d become paralyzed immediately whenever it happened. Surgery could have been possible to repair her back had she not been starved. Even at her advanced age, it could have been possible. If only the people who were supposed to love her had taken her to the vet. Or, if they couldn’t afford the vet care, take her to a shelter where they could find the help she needed.
Instead they allowed her to lay, motionless in her own urine and feces. They allowed her to go hungry. When they couldn’t take it anymore they called the authorities and claimed they found this stray dog in their front yard. That’s where she was picked up, in the cold, laying paralyzed in the front yard. This beautiful soul was let down by those she loved most.
In the short time she graced me with her presence I told her how much I wished she had been ours. No harm would have ever come to her. As I drove her from the shelter to my veterinarian’s office, I held her head in my hand and tried my best to let her know she was a good girl. We would do all we could to help her. I can only guess at what she experienced before we met. I do know the day we adopted her she became Karen, she felt love and respect. She got a warm bath, ate some yummy food and made a deep impact on all who saw her.
We came to the harsh conclusion that the only thing we could give Karen was a loving death. I knew going into this situation that could be the end result. She’d only been ours for a mere 8 hours. It was so unfair and our hearts were broken once again. People knew this was going on and did nothing. Why? If you see an animal suffering you are obligated to help. That is what we must do. It’s our responsibility as humans. So, shame on the ones that let this girl down! You allowed her to think she was unloved and unwanted. You allowed her to be in pain and suffer indignity. You will get your payback in the end, for what goes around, does come back around.
Karen is now truly a precious angel. She no longer will know hunger or pain or the heartless cruelties of man. Many came together to pray for her and now we cry. We cry for her life. We cry for her death. My tears came hard and true for she deserved so much better. Her remains will be added to the rest of our beloved pets and she will be home with us always. My only peace comes from knowing she was welcomed at the Rainbow Bridge by Ramirez and the others who have gone before.
She mattered to us.
She meant something to us.
Wind to thy wings, Precious Angel Karen, wind to thy wings.
cassidyapril.com 
Amazing Story ! I will definitley be Thinking About Karen As I go To Sleep,and Many-Many Other Times As I Live On In This What Can be Cruel-Cruel World ! : (
She was beautiful! I am just sad she didn’t find you earlier!
this brought tears to my eyes,I love animals, and can’t begin to imagine what kind of people could let this happen, and just ignore her. Yes, I do believe that what goes around comes back around, and eventually some day they will meet thier maker, and have to answer for thier cruelity.
God Bless you for getting into the shelter and getting Precious Angel Karen out. I am so happy that I received and forwarded it on to the Min Pin Rescue was able to find it’s way to you. I followed her story from day one and this little Angel will always hold a special place in my heart. I cried for three days then heard someone had picked her up and adopted her. Then got the news that she went to the Rainbow Bridge and tears started flowing again. Then had the pleasure to talk to you on the phone and we cried together. Precious Angel Karen touched many hearts and she does not even know how many she touched. And how much she was and is by many. Even though her own owners could not show that love to her many strangers did. We will get her story out to many because her story needs to be heard so this abuse will stop. Thank you again for doing what you did for her and thank you for writing her story. God Bless You. We love you little girl and you will never be forgotten I promise you that.
Thank you for giving Karen love in her last moments. You gave her more in those last hours than her keepers gave her her whole life. She touch your hearts and ours and left pawprints on the heart. God Bless you. We know Betty, and heard about this little angel, we prayed for her. She is now free to run at the Rainbow Bridge with our other angels. Run free Precious Angel Karen. ❤
thank you katherine and scottie for giving this beautiful girl 8 hours of well deserved love and having the courage to let her leave so she would not be in anymore pain.
Kathleen and Scottie – your hearts are bigger than the universe. Thank you for giving Karen a chance, and showing her love. I am sorry you hurt, and I am so glad she no longer does.
OMG, she does look like Ramirez. Wow!
As I said before Kathleen, thank God she knew love before she passed. She was sent to you for a reason, maybe because an angel knew she had enough in this life, and needed to have a peaceful transition. Maybe Ramirez guided you to her because he knew this little girl needed you and Scottie.
You guys did good, as always. To think of how many animals die all alone at animal control, or alone in their owner’s backyards…..never having known anything in this life other than abuse and neglect. At least Karen knew love, if only for a fraction of the time she was on this earth. If only every animal could have at least “that.”
I’m so proud to have you and Scottie as my friends. You guys are a constant inspiration to me. But the truly lucky ones are the animals who have been fortunate enough to have crossed paths with you both.
Kathleen and Scottie —
I was so happy when I started reading about another lucky dog that you managed to move heaven and earth to rescue. The tears came, though, when I read how hopeless Karen’s situation really was. I was so saddened and sickened by her condition in your photos. I am so glad that Karen felt the loving touch of your hands during her final hours. She was blessed to finally get some love and
dignity from the two people with the biggest hearts that I know. God bless you both and may Karen rest in peace.
Thank you for saving this little girl, if only for alittle while. I too got this email on her and wanted to go see her but knew I just couldn’t. I lost my 2 min pins (Jan 09 and Dec 09) and just couldn’t take anymore heart break. I am thrilled she got to feel some love, if even for alittle while.
To those that don’t know the Rainbow Bridge poem, here it is..It is a heart wrencher and has given me peace with the passing of my 2 babies recently…
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
This made me bawl my eyes out! I am so sorry for you and the little angel that was treated in such a way. At least she was love in those last hours and that will remain with her always. Bless you and those who try to save these angels.
[…] 25, 2010 by Kathleen & Cassidy Sometimes, as seen in the case of Karen the minpin, this is true. But not so for the girls you’re about to meet. If you’re a fan of John […]
I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for giving Karen the love she deserved all along.
Our beloved dog Billy (a dalmation if you’d like a mental picture) died in December 2009 in his sleep, most likely of heart failure. He was almost 15 years old. He had spinal stenosis and was unable to walk at the end of his life. We spent months carrying his 75 pounds up and down the stairs at our apartment building to take him outside. We fed him in bed. We fed him people food when he didn’t want his own food. We held him up so he could drink his water. We cuddled him and loved him the same as always. This is what people should do for the animals who trust us. I know it’s what you would have done for Karen.
The ultimate shame on the people she was with before you who I have no forgiveness for because there is just no reason to let an animal suffer.
Thank you for everything you did for this lovely little girl.
I am deeply saddened that this happened to her. Crying my eyes out.
I can’t imagine why anyone would be so cruel. Just breaks my heart.
And like many others have already said, i am so grateful that you were there to show her love, kindness, empathy and compassion when she needed it most. I hope she is in some happy place…
Much love and hugs
Carrie
This brought me to tears. Can’t imagine what this lil cutie went threw. Sorry to hear she didn’t make it. But she is in that special place where there is only love given. That makes it just a little better. But, for the person or persons who did this may you rot in hell. My animals are just like my kidz, I can’t imagine being with out my animals. I lost a couple of pups and I do have their remains with us. They are often thought about. We were bless with another wonderful dog. Can’t imagine not feeding her. Well, I am happy that Karen is at peace and feel fro her cause she lived that life. God bless her and thank you for making her last hours filled with love cause she needed to know she was special. Plz don’t let animals suffer be their voice.
I would look into a criminal suite, find the people who had her and take them to the highest court. Some one would know if the people who called her in were the owners!!
So wrong in every way!!!
RIP sweet Karen! You are loved by many of those who could not hold ouorr touch you, but know you hold and touch our hearts! 🌈