Isa is a sweet girl that holds a soft spot in my heart. We were notified about a white Boxer that was in really bad shape by a woman that we helped get her dog spayed. She said the dog was very skinny and looked sick. The next time we were on outreach we headed over to see what was going on with this dog. As we drove down the alley we saw one of the saddest sights we have seen so far on outreach. There looking at us behind a chain link fence was this very sad face attached to a skeleton of a dog. She looked at us like 'please help me!' We drove around to the front to see if the owner was home and find out what was happening with this dog. The woman would not talk to us and told us the dog was fine, then slammed the door in our face. We immediately called KCMO animal control and called in the address and situation. About two hours later we received a call from one of the officers saying they had impounded the dog due to cruelty and neglect.
When an animal is impounded on these charges, there is a five day hold on the animal before it can be pulled by a rescue group. This poor white skeleton had to wait five long days at the shelter before we could go and get her. We had no idea what she was like or what kind of health issues she had. After day five I finally got to go to the KCMO shelter and get this poor girl. They said she had gained some weight since she had been there, but she was so emaciated, you couldn't tell. I took her to our vet at Raytown-Gregory Animal Health Center to have her checked out. Thankfully this girl was heartworm negative! She had a mass on her chest that would need to be removed when she was in better health. She also appeared to have had many, many litters. The vet could find no reason for this girl to be so skinny than simply not being fed. Well, we changed that! This girl went into foster care with a volunteer and was eating up to 8 cups a day! We named her Isa, which means icing in another language for her beautiful white fur. At first Isa was aggressive towards other dogs, but quickly warmed up to the other dogs in her foster home. Within two weeks she looked like a totally different dog.
In a month's time Isa packed on 20 pounds! She was finally healthy enough to have her mass on her chest removed and be spayed at the same time. Dr. Chirpich at Raytown-Gregory Animal Health Center did a wonderful job on her surgery and Isa made it through with flying colors despite her old age. After Isa recovered from surgery, we decided it was time to start looking for a forever home for her. Within a couple weeks of listing Isa, the perfect family came along. They had another Boxer and loved the breed. They drove all the way from Jefferson City just to meet her. I think it was love at first sight! They spent some time with her, but I think the decision was made the moment Laci saw her. Isa went home with them that day and never looked back on her horrible, starved life. She is now constantly surrounded by love and spoiled rotten.
Sometimes our volunteers get so depressed from doing outreach every week and just want to quit. But it's stories like this that keep our fire fueled and keep us going. If we hadn't been there to save Isa, who knows what would have happened to her. We saved her from starving to death and now she is part of a very loving family. Thank you so much to the Greer family for taking this old lady into your home and giving her everything she deserves!
