A puppy who was rescued in the most distressing of circumstances has found comfort and safety, thanks to the efforts of one little girl with a big voice.
Nani was one of three puppies found huddled close together in a cardboard box by police in Drost Park, Maryville, Illinois on Wednesday, May 21. By the time they made it to Metro East Humane Society (MEHS) in Edwardsville a little later that day it was clear the pups were in a bad way.
“They were shaking out of both pain and fear, and they smelled like yeast,” Mady O’Reilly, Development Manager at MEHS, told Newsweek. “They were all suffering from a severe case of demodex mange that was left for too long without treatment, which then turned into an infection.”
The three puppies were given the names Nani, Lilo and Stitch, in honor of the Disney movie, Lilo & Stitch. Why they were abandoned in such distressing circumstances is unclear, but O’Reilly is keen not to pass judgement.
“It’s easy to imagine and say the worst about whoever left these pups, but the bigger picture is that on a national level there are more animals than homes, vet care is expensive, and too many people are overwhelmed without support,” she said.
MEHS immediate focus has been on ensuring Nani, Lilo and Stitch get the care they need. Finding foster homes for each of the three puppies was the first step to that.
“They have all landed in separate foster homes where they get medicated baths every 3-4 days with some additional oral antibiotics and pain medication to keep them comfortable as they heal,” she said.
All three dogs will have check-ups with the MEHS veterinary team and, in time, their coats will heal. At that point they can begin to think about adoption. For now though, the focus is on healing, which is something the MEHS foster carers play a key role in.
O’Reilly said: “Our vet staff is amazing, but there are SO many pets to care for and keeping a consistent medicated bath schedule is much more attainable in a foster home. Not to mention how much more comfort fosters are able to give than a shelter kennel.”
Studies have shown the impact this one-on-one care can have on a shelter dog. In 2018, a study in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science concluded that just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting was enough to boost the wellbeing of a shelter dog.
Footage captured by Nani’s new foster carer, Nev Fisher, has further highlighted the important role family settings like hers can play in helping shelter dogs.
Fisher’s two children, Aspen, 8, and Chase, 10, have always taken an active role in caring for the foster animals that come into their home.
O’Reilly said: “Before Nani even went to foster with the Fishers, I got a text from Nev who said her son Chase, after seeing a picture of Nani, had said ‘those puppy’s eyes are like sparkling brown diamonds desperate to be fostered.’”
It was clear Nani was headed to the right home to help her recuperate but if any further proof was needed, it came in a moment captured by Fisher, showing her daughter Aspen serenading Nani, from just outside her crate. “Don’t cry,” Aspen sings in the video. “You’ll feel better in no time.”
O’Reilly couldn’t help but get emotional watching the footage. A clip of Aspen singing, shared on the @metroeasthumanesociety’s TikTok page at the end of May, amassed more than 1,000 views alone.
“I was fighting back tears,” she said. It was one thing for her to be singing to her, but the lyrics? There’s so much to be said about the healing connection of pets and people, and that moment just about says it all.”
While there’s a long road ahead before Nani can begin to imagine a forever home of her own, it’s clear she’s in the best possible place to help her get there and so much of that is down to Fisher, Aspen, Chase and everyone at MEHS.
“It really just is so inspiring to see the next generation of animal advocates jumping in and just understanding exactly how important their role is in making the world a safer place for pets like Nani,” O’Reilly said. “It makes doing the hard work we do on a daily basis feel less isolating to know we’re not alone in this and that more help is not just coming – it’s here.”
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