‘Miracle’ dog makes comeback
Abigail plays with her monkey toy at the Humane Society of Greene County.
The doggie walker made for Abigail by a fan to help her stand
WAYNESBURG – Three months ago, a passerby in the remote area of Pisgah Ridge Road in Franklin Township came across two Pekingese dogs without tags. One was perfectly healthy. The other, lying on its side, could only move its tail. They were taken to the Greene County Humane Society shelter in Waynesburg. The healthy one, dubbed Avery, was quickly adopted. The other, still at the shelter, has become known as Abigail the miracle dog.
When she arrived Jan. 12, Abigail was thin and weak but showed no signs of abuse, according to shelter director Jane Gapen. She was missing one eye, but the area was stitched shut in what appeared to have been a professional procedure. Dr. Jennifer Behm examined Abigail. She determined the dog was paralyzed but could only speculate on the cause.
“Dr. Behm said she saw one shred of hope, that she was constantly wagging her tail,” said Gapen. “She thought it could be coonhound disease or maybe tick paralysis, but we had no history on her.”
Holding on to that lone shred, humane society volunteers and staff began to do what they could to rehabilitate Abigail. It was unchartered territory for them.
“She has such a great disposition. We knew that even if she could never walk again, she would be a great little dog,” said volunteer Amy Best.
Rolled towels were placed at Abigail’s sides to try to get her legs beneath her. This went on for the first month. Feeding her was like feeding a baby, Gapen said. In fact, as volunteers began to share Abigail’s story, someone who “fell in love with her” brought in a playpen for her to sleep in.
“Every day we would see a tiny bit of improvement. She had this teeny tiny bark you could barely hear,” Gapen said.
Eventually, another member of Abigail’s growing fan base built her a doggie walker in the hopes it would help her to move. The contraption consisted of a wooden frame on wheels with a Terrible Towel for her stomach to rest on. Holes were cut in the towel for her legs to go through, allowing her to stand with its assistance.
“We felt like, if nothing else, maybe she could breathe better in it,” Gapen said. “At least she was upright. Then, a lady who breeds toy dogs started to come in and exercise her hind legs with her hands two or three times a week.”
Six weeks ago, Abigail began to put some weight on her hind legs. Then, on April 2, they noticed she was starting to go up on her front legs.
“She took a tiny step, and we were all crying. She gets stronger all of the time,” Gapen said, as Abigail, walking like a young foal, crossed the floor. “We didn’t give up on her. She has an adoptive family when she’s well enough to go.”
It is stories like Abigail’s that Gapen hopes will inspire pet lovers to consider doing what they can to support the efforts of the shelter.
“We are accepting donations for our yard sale on July 6 at the fairgrounds. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” said board member Craig Wise. The annual calendar sale is ongoing. The cost is $30 per calendar with a chance to win cash from the Daily Number on the Pennsylvania Lottery.
In addition to yard sale items, the shelter is in need of donations of dog and cat toys, training pads, baby cat food, nonclumping clay cat litter, milk replacer and foster homes for cats and kittens. With kitten season about to hit, milk replacer and baby cat food would be especially helpful and are available at pet stores, Gapen said. Comforters, sleeping bags, and lawn furniture cushions are also welcomed as they can be washed and reused, unlike most traditional pet beds, she added.
Shelter hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information, visit the website at www.greenepet.org or the shelter’s Facebook page, Humane Society of Greene County.