Based on the information obtained in a telephone call with Ms. Kim, these precious babies were found by the local Animal Control officer as strays, with injuries that clearly indicated they had been attacked by another dog or perhaps multiple dogs. They both have severe injuries from the attacks, and also bear the scars from what could be prior dog attacks, as well as prior beatings. Their body condition was so bad, they could not have strayed far, because they were far too sick and weak to travel.
Zeus is the worst of the two, with infected and festering wounds on his face and body. When found, he had ants crawling all over him and inside of the massive wound on his face. Poor little Athena was at first terrified of any sudden movements of a human hand; a definite indication that she has been beaten and abused by humans at some point, perhaps numerous times.
As if the injuries were not bad enough, they are both emaciated, with their bodies appearing to be nothing more than skin draped over bones. They were starved for who knows how long, which has made them terribly weak. Zeus had surviving by eating dirt and rocks to fill that burning emptiness in his belly from the hunger. As with most dogs neglected in the southern states, they are heartworm positive and will require treatment for that at some point.
Athena's body shows signs that she has recently gave birth to a litter of puppies, but there were no puppies near the area where she and Zeus were found. One can only wonder what might have happened to those tiny babies, considering the amount of cruelty and neglect Zeus and Athena have been endured.
Clearly, these innocent dogs have suffered for probably their entire lives, and it was only a stroke of good luck that they were found before they both died. The networking between Animal Control and A Shelter Friend is amazing, as evidenced by the information provided by Ms. Kim. Thanks to this relationship, the euthanasia rate in that area has been reduced over the last five years from a 98% kill rate to only around 10% now. More areas should develop this kind of relationship between the shelters and the rescue groups, since more innocent lives could be saved.
Since Zeus and Athena were found as strays, there is no one to charge with his heinous act of cruelty and neglect. However, if the perpetrators can be found, appropriate charges will definitely be filed against them. Surely someone out there will recognize these two dogs, and perhaps have information about who harmed them and allowed them to be neglected so badly. Please network this story through your contacts in social media, and do what you always do so well, which is help get justice for abused animals.
The cost of the medical care for both of these precious dogs is going to be very high. A Shelter Friend is a registered 501c charitable organization, so any donations made to them to help with the medical care for Zeus and Athena is completely tax deductible. You can make donations to them here, or at the contact information at the end of the article.
If you prefer to donate directly to the veterinary hospital caring for Zeus and Athena, you can do so at the following contact information:
Elizabethtown Veterinary Hospital
4629 US Highway 701 South
Clarkton, NC 28433
(910) 862-3000
Please keep in mind that any donations made directly to the veterinary hospital are not tax deductible.
Once strong enough, Zeus and Athena will need to move on to a qualified Doberman rescue organization who can help find them a loving forever home. If you know of a Doberman rescue who could take them, please contact Ms. Kim at A Shelter Friend. They will coordinate transportation anywhere; even overseas. They have worked with rescue groups around the globe to help animals in need, so distance is not a problem if a rescue has room for these two precious babies.
They are totally devoted to each other, so hopefully they will be able to go to a rescue together, and then to a loving forever home as a pair. But if not, at least they are safe now from harm, and are on the road to an albeit long, but promising recovery.
The pictures of these innocent victims of abuse are hard to look at, but keep in mind that we humans only have to look at the pictures; these helpless dogs had to endure this horror.
Keep getting stronger Zeus and Athena, and know that your future from here on out will be filled with only love and devotion.
Donation links:
Click here to access the website for donations to A Shelter Friend.
Click here for the website for donations to the Elizabethtown Veterinary Hospital. (Be sure to specify the donation is for Zeus and Athena.)
Related link:
Click here for the A Shelter Friend Facebook page.
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Thank you so much for reading and sharing the animals' stories. When advocates join together, we can all truly make a positive difference for the lives of animals everywhere. Thank you for your heart for animals.
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