The Story of Mike

Mike” came to me on October 4, 2022. I had previously fostered another malnourished dog and had intended not to take on another, at least for a while. It was “The Ears”. I could see that Mike had lost hope. When things are really bad, hope is the last thing we all let go of. I wasn’t about to let him slip away.

I was told that he had been abandoned in Pomona, about an hour north of Placencia; that it was reported that he had been shot with a pellet gun and had had a broken femur. Due to a skin lesion on his flank, I suspected he may have been struck by a car. It was also reported that a good Samaritan had taken him in, but could not keep him because she had other dogs. It was said that he would probably die in 2 days if he were not rescued. So he came to me.

Mike presented as an older; 30-pound; extremely emaciated dog with practically no hair. His tail resembled a large rat tail. He had a twisted pelvis and abnormal stance, most likely due to his previous (untreated?) leg injury. His gait is still affected by that injury, as he tends to drag his right rear leg a bit.

When Mike came to me, he didn’t have a name. One of the things I noticed when my 3-year tenure started in Placencia was that there seemed to be an inordinate number of “Mikes” here. Problem solved. There’s now only one 4-legged Mike in Placencia!

As I got Mike settled in, I created a dossier for him that included health and behavioral updates. I concluded the dossier once we got to the point where I felt that he was as normal a dog as possible for his history.

He was on a number of meds provided by the Placencia Humane Society for worms, infection, vitamin deficiency and an eye issue. His emaciation required extreme care. I put him on a special, limited diet, as my prior research indicated that dogs’ starvation physiology is quite different from humans. The temptation to overfeed can be quite strong. Faced with all this, Mike made really good progress.

Aside from being weak and sick, Mike was unsure of his status when he came to me. I . kept him in an open, covered kennel on my veranda for a few days so he would feel safe. He was fed there as well. It didn’t take long for him to venture out. One evening, he stood in the doorway as if asking to be let in. I motioned to him and he came up and stood with his head between my knees so I could give him some love. That was a turning point for Mike and me. To this day, that is his safe place. I saw the first feeble tail wag and saw the ears come up.

Mike is currently doing well considering his history. He’s a handsome senior dog who’s safe, food secure and loved. He’s improved from a skeletal 30 pounds at his first vet visit to nearly 50 pounds at his most recent. The owner of the Pickled Parrot saw Mike with me a few weeks ago and asked about my “new dog”. When I told him it was Mike, he couldn’t believe it. I’ve learned a lot about Mike’s personality as well. He’s friendly toward other animals, but distrusts large dogs he doesn’t know. He’s been attacked while leashed 4 or 5 times, leading to my carrying a stout cane when we’re walking. I’ve been forced to deploy it a few times. Mike enjoys being petted and having his ears rubbed but does not enjoy being hugged. I’ve always let my dogs share my bed and he likes to sleep on it, but if I get on he gets off. He goes to his personal chair, equipped with his personal fan.

When I took Mike on as a foster, I knew it would be a challenge to find a permanent home for him. I would adopt him out if I encountered the right situation for him. Despite his history, Mike would stay outdoors all day if he could so a fenced in yard would be essential.

Fostering here for a single person with significant issues back in The States is a difficult responsibility, but Mike is my boy and I will do what’s best for him, even if it breaks my heart.