Abandoned Spray-Painted Dog Needs Our Help!

Kristyna Lujan is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Hope's Story

This sweet girl was dumped at a gas station on a busy road around 8 am on 7/23 WITH THE WORD “HOE” PAINTED ON HER BODY. She was also emaciated with a recent wound.

One of the employees was a vet in Nepal so we are always talking about animals. He immediately tried to help with food and water, but she was too terrified. The dog stayed at the gas station all day watching every car that pulled up…distressed, confused, dehydrated and thin. Many people tried to approach her, but the abuse she had endured had destroyed her ability to trust (while waiting for her abuser(s) to return). Throughout the day many kind people purchased food for her and tried to help but she remained apprehensive and would not let anyone near.

I stopped by around 7 pm and my friend at the gas station filled me in on the situation. I had just picked up some chicken for another sick dog, so eventually I was able to coax her with that. As soon as she got in my car she passed out and didn’t move for the next three hours as we waited at the emergency vet.

The immediate medical concern was the dog was very fatigued, malnourished, dehydrated and needed to be hospitalized ASAP. But it gets worse…

The dog was microchipped and this particular vet not only had the owner’s contact information but had seen her several times before for other traumatic incidents. She has several scars and her cloudy lungs show signs of trauma.

She is currently being held at the vet for the mandatory period for owner recovery but given the state she was in when she was dumped, this is being reported as animal abuse to the appropriate authorities…and unfortunately, that further complicates things. I have asked the vet to keep me as involved as possible with her placement if/when she is released to the city.

There is a long road ahead between her medical trauma and abuse case. While she is receiving sustainable care, we have not advanced with any further internal diagnostic tests, which she needs badly. The current care and boarding are already costly, but she is still in pain and weak and so we need additional resources to continue to understand the abuse and damage she has sustained. Thus far the $750 minimum has been paid, but in less than 24 hours $600 more has already been incurred. This is 7/24 visit:

Any help to get this innocent girl the medical care she needs would be greatly appreciated!

Update: I’m giving this girl a nickname for now, “Hope.” Hope has not eaten and has not had a bowel movement since she’s been in ICU. She is currently on fluids, anti-nausea, antibiotics, pain meds and medication to help her bowels. After speaking to the doctor tonight, we are moving forward with a feeding tube to make sure she gets the nutrients she needs.

There are a lot of factors in this situation so I will continue to give as much of an update as I can. I will be going to visit tomorrow and will share photos.

I can't express my gratitude for those who have donated because as of now there seems to be a long road ahead for Hope.

That said, I need to address some things…

I understand that people are concerned about not having more specific information about Hope's location at this point. I will share vet information once we are out of the owner-holding period and the city has processed the case. I ask that no one harass the people simply sharing the fundraiser.

Additionally, for those in other cities and states that aren’t aware, our local shelter has been closed for months due to canine influenza (and had to euthanize many). The city has asked anyone that picks up animals to hold them or find a rescue. OUR RESCUES ARE OVERWHELMED. I've only assumed financial responsibility for Hope at this point but have been in constant communication with the vet about everything. I have chosen to withhold certain information at this time for a few reasons. If instead, you would like to donate to a local rescue given our current situation, here are a few: