While we don't often take in owner surrenders, we felt that due to VooDoo's owner's health, we would make an exception and bring VooDoo into our care. Especially when we learned that she had been outside all winter! 

Upon picking VooDoo up, we couldn't help but notice the stench that radiated from her. We take in stinky dogs all the time, but driving with VooDoo, brought the bile to your throat, even with the windows down. 

Poor girl.. 

We took her straight into the groomer and VooDoo had her first bath in years. She shined like a new penny and was a trooper throughout the whole ordeal.

VooDoo had an appointment with the vet on the next business day, but before that could happen, she started to pass a mass amount of blood late at night. We got her in on a emergency call, and here we learned of her condition. 

For the first  5 years of her life, she was used for breeding, and by the looks of her, she put out several litters.  Once she turned 5, she was given away to a home with the agreement that there was no fee, but the new owner had to get her spayed, which they did. 

For a short time, VooDoo was finally a house dog and a member of the family. Unfortunately, when she started to smell very bad, she got put outside and was no longer allowed in the house. Sadly, no one thought to take her to the vet to find out why she had such a foul odor...

VooDoo suffers from Perianal Fistulas  which is a very painful genetic disease. VooDoo suffered in silence for almost a year, possibly longer.

In November of 2007, VooDoo's owner had a minor stroke, and she was no longer able to care for VooDoo. 

Thankfully, she went looking for help, and found our organization just recently.

VooDoo spent the weekend at the vet having biopsy's and blood work done.  Her anus looked like hamburger and was seeping feces and pus. Although heavily infected, luckily, her blood work came back great! This is wonderful news, as it means that VooDoo's condition may be manageable. 

At this point, only time will tell. VooDoo is in a major amount of pain, and we are doing our best to control that. 

So far, she is not able to pass stool on her own, and we are hitting that hard with medication to stimulate her bowel into working independently. 

Our hearts go out to this sweet and special girl. She certainly deserved better by everyone who had a role in her life. Sadly, no one took the time to care. 

It is obvious to us that VooDoo has never had a deep and close bond with a person. She doesn't know what to do with affection, and most times, cringes away. She is extremely head shy and while she will let you touch her, she mostly tolerates it until you go away. 

She is showing signs of wanting to bond though, and is questioning and learning every day. 

We'll give this gentle soul everything we've got to make her well again. After all she's been through, she deserves nothing less! 

Things have been touch and go for VooDoo and her medical condition since she came into our care. It seems that we are at the vet every other day for this poor girl. VooDoo has undergone a series of surgical enemas. The first one she had, she was so compacted that the vet said there was enough feces in her colon to compact FOUR large dogs. VooDoo was in a real amount of pain, and continues to struggle.

She has been started on a series of medical as well as a more holistic approach. We are hoping still to stimulate her colon. So far, we are making small progress.

The good news is that VooDoo's fistulas have almost completely gone into remission! We are so happy about that!! And we're pretty darn sure she is too!

As for her emotional well being; VooDoo is starting to come around. She is still extremely head shy and insecure, but every day, she is coming around more and more. She seeks me out, parks herself at the window when I go out and waits for me to return. When I get home, she is all happy and wiggly to see me, and will even come on her own now for attention. 

It's still a slow go. Much progress to be made, both medically and emotionally. But over all, it looks like we're getting there!
We sure hope we are able to make a difference for this very special girl.

No word or offers to help from VooDoo's breeder, and the sad part is, there are many of VooDoo's puppies out there that will have a very good chance of having this too...  

April 16th 2008

With heavy hearts and many tears, we are heart broken to report that VooDoo lost the fight today. 

There is only so much that the body can take. VooDoo's mind and spirit were willing, and she tried so vigorously to survive. She was happy, animated, looking for love and attention and very much starting to enjoy life again. It's just too sad for words that her body would not cooperate with what she wanted and what we all wanted. 

What a very special spirit she was. Gentle, easy, silly and loving. This is a real loss and a tragedy that could of been prevented if anyone in her life had bothered to notice and take care of her.  VooDoo suffered for years in silence and instead of getting treatment for her condition, she got thrown outside to live a life of solitude. No one noticing what a special gift they had right there under their noses. Her life was wasted... and that is a true crime.  She had much to give. 

We're sorry VooDoo, that we didn't know you sooner. Perhaps we could of made a difference.  Thank you for coming into our lives and touching our hearts. You will not be forgotten. 

Special thanks to all VooDoo's sponsors.

Thank you for trying so hard to help us help her. 

We are a registered non-profit Charity as of April 1st 2005