The dog didn’t give up looking for a chance to get help
Members at a remote elephant camp in Botswana were used to seeing their injured elephants, but that day they were shocked when a small dog was dragging himself towards them.
The dog named Poppy must have felt these people could help her and get the medical treatment she needed.
Suzanne Vogel told The Dodo: “Poppy crawled – literally, because her hind legs were completely immobile – into our research camp. “She can’t walk, but is full of love and is looking for help.”
The team took Poppy under their wing, surprised that she had come this far to reach them and had survived the journey.
“The camp is located in a remote area, there are many elephants, in addition to lions, hyenas and other predators,” Vogel said. “Poppy somehow got to us, emaciated and drenched in rainwater.”
The rain was better than the scorching, arid heat, as the camp was located just north of the Kalahari Desert. The researchers followed Poppy for several days, and as soon as he could, Graham McCulloch drove on time to get her to the vet.
Veterinarians determined that the injured girl was a puppy about 7 months old, possibly stepped on by a person or large animal.
She needed corrective surgery, so team member Amanda Strontza set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds.
“[The vet] said there was a very small chance she could make it through the surgery or recover from it,” explains Stronza. “But she has a lot of life inside of her, and I know we need to honor her will to live and the hard fight she fought to find us and survive.”
So the vets agreed to give her anti-inflammatory medication, and along with some proper food and water, Poppy was cured.
She can even put some weight on her atrophied hind legs. Every day she shows lifeguards how special she is.
“Her eyes drew us in immediately,” says Stronz. “They are huge, full of desire and sparkling with life. She bursts with the sweetest spirit, and we can clearly see that, despite her desperate condition.”
Poppy will stay with the team – her temporary family – for the next month at least until they can decide which course to take from there – surgery, a more permanent home, etc.
Many people have expressed interest in adopting the little girl.
“She already has so many people around the world who love her from afar and are checking her progress daily and looking forward to seeing a happy outcome, namely being accepted into a family. loving family. dear,” said Stronz.
“She will regain her ability to walk, or she will have wheels to help her around. I think she has a bright future! “
