Norman and Red: looking for love after a lifetime of neglect
Some of you may remember hearing about Norman, the four-year-old Great Pyrenees whose ______________ (select your own adjective here) owner abandoned him on a farm when she moved to the city. Eighteen months later, she decided maybe she might see if someone wanted him and also, as an afterthought, his friend Red, a five-year-old lab mix had to go, too. For the entirety of their lives with this owner, these dogs got no vet care. Their owner is not hurting for cash and her yippy little dog had all the care you can imagine, but as she told us, she “could not care less about these dogs” and she “wanted them gone.” I will confess I was nearly speechless and I asked her to clarify why exactly she left them after she moved away. She informed me she had someone feeding them, but they weren’t her problem. After some choice words with her, Norman and Red came to us.
I met Norman and Red on a Friday afternoon in a parking lot. On arrival, Norman was a little shy and blinking in the bright sunlight, but he was very happy to see people. Sadly, he was limping very badly and his feet were splayed out oddly as the result of seriously ingrown and infected toe nails:
This is what Norman's feet looked like on arrival.
Overall, Norman, was in rough shape, but sweet and ready to be loved. Of course, he was covered with ticks, fleas and a million parasites as he had zero vet care in his entire four years of life.
Smiling even though his life was pretty sucky before
His friend Red was in better condition on first blush, but he needed significant dental work, too, as his lack of care resulted in major damage to his teeth.
Of course, neither Norman nor Red were neutered and they hadn’t had a shot in their life and certainly nothing like Frontline or Heartgard. As a result, both dogs now have to undergo heartworm treatment.
Guess you can see why he got the very original name "Red".
Despite having been left to fend for themselves for 18 months, and who knows how little attention they got before that, these boys are absolutely wonderful dogs. They are sweet, friendly with everyone and everything, and they are rapidly learning that not everyone sucks. They love toys, treats, petting, napping in air conditioning and being called “good boys”.
What they need now is a foster home where they can recover, be smothered with love and get perfectly healthy. These dogs have had the crappiest four years ever and we want to make it up to them. If you can foster one or both of these boys, please email elizabeth@bigfluffydogs.com. They are in Connecticut and they are wonderful, sweet dogs. Please spread the word. We want the very best for these boys.
And for the former owner of these dogs, if you are reading this, I seriously hope you pray for forgiveness for what you have done. These dogs needed you and you abandoned them. Eventually, you reap what you sow. I can’t say you don’t have it coming.
