Everything Under The Sun: The Last Dog

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Last Dog

Charlie sniffing around in Highbridge Park

Charlie was now an old dog, thought to be about 10 years old. He was part of a pack of dogs that made their home in Highbridge Park, in the Washington Heights section of NYC, all removed, except for him. He sort of knew Denise Lauffer, who lived in the area and who usually left food out for him.

Just this week, though, temperatures were supposed to dip down to below zero, which would be rough on an old mutt, like Charlie. Many of his human friends weren't sure he would survive. Some of them were trying to raise money on the internet to pay for vet services for the old boy, while other human friends gave him blankets, set up a shelter, placed hand warmers around him; all would be gone the next day, removed by park security.

One of the neighbors, Yuliya Avezbajiyeva, who also provided food for the dog, said, "There are different people, different nationalities, different backgrounds, and this one dog united them all." Tina Ilmet shared, "People have this connection to animals; they see this animal in distress and they just want to help."

However, with the frigid temperatures developing, Denise decided she had to ramp up her efforts for Charlie. She built a makeshift shelter, so she could spend time with him and gain his trust. According to her, "He needs to associate me...[with] food and companionship and heat and warmth. [Charlie] had coats and blankets and [he was] sleeping on pillows and hand warmers and hot water bottles. You name it, he had it."

For two nights, Denise remained with Charlie, snuggling with him and feeding him hot meals. Then, finally, a group of neighbors was able to get him into a van and to the vets at ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER, where he was treated. He spent his first night ever indoors, but then Yuliya, with whom he was staying, noticed he wasn't eating or moving very much. So, he was taken to BLUE PEARL ANIMAL HOSPITAL this time, suffering from the effects of age and perhaps Lyme disease. With the care he has been getting, Charlie is beginning to improve. Online fundraising provided $10,000 for his veterinary care and he will probably go home with one of his concerned human friends. But more importantly, he'll still have the affection of members of the community who stepped up at a critical point in his life and gave him the help he needed to survive.