I have just come back from a week in the UK to see my Mum. During that time Francis from Calabria contacted me to say they have removed Dino from the canile as he was so distressed there. This is what she writes:
stomach went down, but he had developed a bad skin problem and we just could not
leave him in there. After a lot of
asking around – begging - we found somebody who let us tie him to a tree 'in
campagna' near their hunting dogs (who are all kept in cages, a different
story). This spot is near the village, so we decided it was better than the
pound – oh how relative it all is down here. So we took poor Dino out of the
pound. We bought him a nice new collar and we have been feeding him
loads and taking him for long walks twice a day. Even though he is tied up for
most of the day, he has been enjoying our visits immensely. In the five days
that he has been out of the pound, he has picked up the 'come' command, and
'sit', and learnt how to walk on a leash and ride in the car! He truly is
a great dog.
told us all the dogs are microchipped and vaccinated when they go in, but this
is not true (no doubt that's what they report and then collect the money from
the government.) It is such a racket and meanwhile, the dogs are festering and
suffering.
The canile vet dismissed Dino's skin problem as nothing serious, but we
wanted a second opinion. So, this afternoon, we took Dino to a female vet who
met through a friend, for a check-up and to ask her some questions about his
skin and his general health. She took one look at him and said that because of
his weight loss and skin problems, as well as swollen lymph nodes, she suspected
leishmaniosis. She tested him for it there and then, and I am absolutely
heart-broken to report that he tested positive for leishmaniosis. It's rampant
down here, but I was hoping and praying he wouldn't have it. She said the stress
of the canile probably brought out his symptoms, and he more than likely
contracted it some months ago, probably before we even found him."
Francis has written to me again saying she and her husband are only there for around another six weeks and have decided to do as much as they can for Dino while they can, but that they may have to make the heart rending decision to have him put to sleep rather than suffer once they have gone. They are also trying to find out how serious the leishmaniosis is and if it is treatable long term. They are also looking into raising money to pay for him to go to UK or USA.
IS THERE REALLY NO-ONE WHO CAN HELP?