Severely Neglected Dogs Rescued From Farm

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A nonprofit fundraiser supporting

Wright-Way Rescue
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All of them were suffering from parasites, mange, and severe malnutrution

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raised by 91 people

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The vultures were circling over the dead puppy in the field. It was too late for rescuers to help him, but not his surviving littermate, Pepe. 

Pepe was found on a farm outside of El Paso, Arkansas on the second day of a coordinated, local rescue effort. He, like the other dozen dogs there, was suffering from malnutrition, parasites, mange, and secondary skin infections. 

This severe neglect was noticed by someone passing by the farm. They took a picture of one of the farm dogs and posted it to Facebook, begging for someone to come help. That help came in the form of an independent rescuer who drove out to the farm and talked with the farmer about letting her take the dogs into rescue. He had no interest in the fate of the dogs, and simply told her, “I don’t care. I don’t touch those dogs.” So, she located Ethan, the dog whose picture had been posted to Facebook, and brought him back to her home. Then she began making phone calls to see who could help her save more of the dogs. 

One of Wright-Way’s Rescue Partners was able to help with housing for two more of the dogs, Millie Mae and Angel. Millie Mae was so frightened when she was brought to the rescue facility that she was shaking and drooling. Her skin was cracked and covered in scabs, and her toenails were so long and deformed that she couldn’t walk on her paws correctly. 

Angel had to be wrapped in a towel and gently carried to the rescue van. Her skin was bleeding in several places, and she was panting significantly and was quite weak. Angel was too frightened to allow the rescuers to test her skin, but Millie Mae’s tests revealed an incredibly high level of the parasitic mites that cause demodectic mange. 

These mites are present in the hair follicles of all dogs, even healthy ones. A strong  immune system keeps the mites in check. When a dog suffers poor health, they become susceptible to this kind of mange. It is not contagious to humans or other animals.

Ethan, Millie Mae, and Angel all arrived at Wright-Way’s Admissions Center on the same transport. The girls were sent right away to a loving foster home near our Morton Grove Adoption Center, but Ethan was so terrified that staff waited a few days before beginning his medical intake. He would not leave his kennel, and caregivers had to clean around him. He was scared, but not aggressive. Any attempt to leash him, however, caused him to thrash wildly. It took weeks for staff to gain enough trust to coax him from his familiar crate into a new one

Shortly after this triumph, he was able to go to a short-term foster home where he is beginning to come out of his shell. 

Pepe, the one surviving puppy, and his momma were originally taken to another rescuer. The momma dog was in a great deal of pain, and when it was discovered that her case of mange was so bad that virtually all her sebaceous glands had formed cysts, the rescuer made the decision to euthanize her for humane reasons. As the weeks went on, she realized that Pepe was not responding well to treatment. With his medical needs beyond her financial scope, she contacted our Rescue Partner for help getting Pepe to Wright-Way.

All four are now in caring foster homes and doing better. Pepe is slowly regrowing his coat. Angel is finally strong enough that she doesn’t fall over when other dogs bump into her during playgroup. Millie Mae doesn't try to hide under shelves or in closets anymore. Ethan no longer panics when a leash is clipped to his collar. These positive gains are cause for rejoicing, but all four of these survivors still have long roads ahead of them, and it is uncertain whether Ethan and Millie Mae will ever fully regain whatever coats they once had. 

Like so many rescue stories, this one begins with someone noticing what’s going on around them and doing something to help. Even if it’s just a Facebook post.

Thanks to your support, we know that so much more is possible for Pepe, Angel, Ethan, Millie Mae and other animals like them. Please consider making a donation today. Every small gift saves lives.


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