SIDNEY


*~UPDATE~*
It is official! Sidney has been adopted by his
rescuer and best buddy, Kevin. This is what
we definitely call a "happy ending"!
Check it out!

On a cold November night, I was forlornly standing by the side of the highway five miles north of Glendive MT, hoping someone would notice that I was severely starved, cold and very, very ill. I had no idea where I was and with each passing car, my will to survive slowly began to fade. It felt like I had been on my own for a very, very long time. Imagine my excitement when a truck stopped and a very kind man gently loaded me into his vehicle and told me that he would find me help and make me better! After a long ride and, unfortunately, me getting sick a few times in his truck, we got to his house. I tried so hard to wag my tail and show him my appreciation but I had no appetite and just wanted to sleep. This nice man (whose name is Kevin) was so concerned he took me to a vet clinic who had me for a 24 hour period but their results were inconclusive. Not sure where to turn and his concern for my well being escalating, Kevin called the folks at the Rimrock Humane Society to find out if they would be willing to help me. The RHS and Kevin agreed that I needed to see an emergency vet pronto so Kevin's kind father drove me to Shiloh Veterinary Clinic in Billings and while I was in transit, the RHS made all of the arrangements for my care so that the super people at the "hospital" were waiting for me when I arrived. All eyes immediately puddled up and hearts broke in two when the folks at the vet clinic first witnessed my skeletal frame and large brown eyes full of pain. As they gently placed me on the scale, it registered 37 lbs. After blood work and x-rays, it was discovered that I had a large stone lodged in my small intestine. The vet explained to the nice lady at the RHS that an emergency surgery was needed ASAP called an Intestinal Anastomosis. Translated this means they would cut open my intestine to remove the rock and then stitch it back together. "Whatever it takes" was what the RHS told the vet so I was whisked into surgery and by this time, I was so miserable, any form of relief would be welcomed! The rock (pictured above), was removed but that section of my bowel had died and needed to be removed and then my intestines needed to be "resectioned". This was a much more extensive surgery and the risk of becoming "septic" was very high - the next 24 hours was very, very crucial. When I awoke, I sadly felt no better. Everyone was trying so hard to make me comfortable and I tried giving them gentle wags of my tail to show my appreciation but I couldn't keep anything down and my tummy still hurt. The vet and the RHS were now talking almost hourly about what should happen next. It was decided to wait overnight to see if I would turn a corner but that next morning, I was still the same. The lady from the humane society decided she wanted to meet me and talk with the vet in person. She came to my cage and spoke to me softly, opening the door to cradle my head and I tried so hard to convey to her through my liquid brown eyes what I was truly feeling in my heart . . . I WANT TO LIVE! After viewing an ultrasound, the humane society lady and veterinarian decided to open me up a second time to find out why my bowels were not "working". During that second surgery, it was discovered that my intestines further down from my "resection" had telescoped and kinked so they were blocked AGAIN! The vet skillfully fixed my intestine, flushed them and sewed me up stating that I was either going to be a different dog by morning or else there wasn't much else they could do for me. Everyone at the vet clinic and the RHS spent a restless night praying that I would pull through. Guess I had won a lot of hearts over the past few days! To everyone's joy and surprise, I greeted them with hearty barks and exuberant tail wags the next morning! My veterinarian couldn't wait to call the RHS and share the good news - there were smiles and tears all around. I was thrilled because I felt super and, boy, was I ever hungry! I thought I liked that vet until she said that I couldn't have much to eat the next couple of days because of my surgery. GRRR! So after a few more days of convalescing at the vet's office I have been pronounced "cured" and am currently being fostered by the very kind man who rescued me! It has been two and half weeks since my surgery and life couldn't be better! I have put on 12 pounds and now tip the scales at 49 lbs. I am getting my muscle back along with my energy! That's right . . . my foster Dad says that I am now acting exactly like a young yellow lab dog! "Throw my ball, throw my ball, throw my ball!" I need to gain a few more pounds and then will be ready for adoption. Oh yeah, Kevin would love to keep me but I have a real affinity for children and he feels I would be happiest with little ones to share my home but I am such a happy go lucky guy, I would fit in any where! As long as you have FOOD! My friends at the Rimrock Humane Society call me "The Labrador Who Could" because I remind them of a story about a train engine who never gave up - they say my story is inspirational and that I have taught so many people the meaning of the word HOPE. Truly, I want to thank my foster Dad for being so kind and picking me up off the road when everyone else just drove past me. He has now given me a warm home to stay in and tons of love until I find my forever family. Slurpy kisses to Dr. Bertino and all of my friends at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital. I know I would not be here if it weren't for your expertise and care. And to my buddies at the Rimrock Humane Society; thank you deeply for believing in me and giving me that second chance to recover. Because of the RHS and all of their caring donors (like you), they can assist animals in need like me and give us all a second chance! Your Furever Friend, Sidney Please help us with not only Sidney's medical bills but assist us in continuing our mission to help the needy animals of this region! THANK YOU!