Journey To Rehabilitation

"Journey has been a Christmas miracle. She has met every obstacle she has had to overcome with grace and good temperament. She's a very loving dog who has brought so many people together in the spirit of giving." Gwendilin Boers, Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation

Despite the dreadful ordeal this dog has been through she has retained her good nature. That in and of itself is a small miracle. She was obviously, from her condition when brought in by a Good Samaritan who had seen her wandering and in distress on highway 401, horrendously treated.

Weighing 74 pounds where Great Danes of her size should be between 110 and 115 pounds, she was suffering gravely from malnutrition. She had a broken tail, was suffering from frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration and roundworms. She had sections missing from her ear tips, open bite wounds on her body, and obviously desperate for help.

When she was found on Highway 401 near Brockville, the December winter weather was dreadful, with freezing rain conditions. With no shelter, a short-haired dog meant to be cared for humanely, wandering about on her own, the situation represented an extreme condition of neglect and worse, deliberate maltreatment.

"We were shocked by her condition. We see some terrible things in rescue, but she's one of the worst cases I have seen in my 16 years of running the rescue", explained Ms. Boers. Because of her grave condition, Journey has been an expensive dog to care for, to bring her back to a condition of health, where she will be able to be put up for adoption by someone prepared to give her the life she deserves.

Veterinarian bills have been extensive, but veterinarian care has been absolutely essential to lead Journey back to a condition of good health. The community has responded to contribute to a bill that is expected to come up to $8,000 in total to pay for the surgery she has underdone, and additional surgeries in the near future.

Donations can be forwarded through the Kanata Animal Hospital, where Ms. Boers works part-time.

One owner of two Great Danes has decided to raise funds on her own, to contribute to Journey's rehabilitation costs. Anne Gray-Henschel has so far baked 20,000 dog biscuits which she has sold for $3 a dozen, raising up to now $5,600 to donate to this beautiful dog's future. Considerably relieving Gwendilin Boers of Birch Haven Rescue of a costly rescue attempt.

Anyone else interested in forwarding contributions can do so through gwen@birchhaven.org, where PayPal can be used in the transaction.