This year’s Moolah For Mutts welcomed canine honorary guests, including Bongo, a pomeranian mix, who was featured in the night’s video presentation that accompanied Sherri’s touching speech to the guests. It didn’t take long for the audience to fall in love with this beautiful dog, and one lucky couple was so taken by his story that they adopted him that night.
But Bongo’s success story started months before he was adopted the night of Moolah For Mutts. Read Bongo’s touching story as told by his foster dad, Joe, whose love and TLC brought this senior mutt from near death to full of life:
I received a call one afternoon from a volunteer at the Martinez shelter. She wanted to tell me about a senior Pomeranian mix that ran out of time and was about to be euthanized. He was a stray with no known history or even a name. She said he was alert, friendly but very skinny and wanted to know if Muttville can help. I told her yes, I will foster him and later that day he was transported to my home.
Out of the car came this bedraggled little dog with bald patches where fur once was, a truly sad looking sight. As the dog was placed in my arms I was shocked at how emaciated this dog was, I could literally feel every single bone in his body. He was just skin and bones. In his present condition he could not be that far from dying. I’m not sure if it was just because he was weak or that he knew he was safe but he sighed and immediately rested his head against my chest. I knew this dog needed help desperately and it would take some time but he had an amazing will to survive. He walked around outside to explore but was so weak that even walking off a curb caused his weak little legs to collapse beneath him. He appeared to be embarrassed by his lack of mobility and struggled to get up, what a brave little guy he is. He was so pathetic looking that he needed a name that was happy and he became Bongo.
That night Bongo ate and seemed to have a strong appetite which made me wonder why he was so thin, was he wandering around without food for months, could it be that simple? I quickly found out why, he had a very acute case of diarrhea. The poor dog lost all nutrients immediately. We had to find out why and quickly. The vet did numerous tests and after several exhaustive tests that showed nothing we finally found out that he had irritable bowel syndrome for which steroids were prescribed. After 2 weeks the diarrhea finally ended and I have to say I have never been so happy over a bowel movement!
Through all the other tests the only thing we could find was a heart murmur and dental disease. Unfortunately with the murmur we could not address the teeth but the immediate goal was to put some much needed weight on Bongo.
Over the next few months Bongo flourished. He started going on long walks with us and our other dogs and even started going up stairs. I still remember the day when he started chiming in with the other dogs when they were barking at the mailman. Normally the barking annoys me but with Bongo I smiled from ear to ear and said “you go little man” He seemed so proud that he chased the man away and from that day on became the little man of the house, a role he takes seriously.
Bongo has blossomed into an amazing dog. He seems to know that he was given a second chance and loves every minute of it. He goes on long walks, up to 2 miles and trots the whole time with his tail wagging. He still loves to eat and most certainly has had a hard past of searching for food because he is constantly looking. He has put on several pounds and his bald patches even filled in. When we go walking everyone thinks he is a puppy but I say no, he is a survivor.
Without Muttville, Bongo would not be here today. No one would have taken a dog in such need and spent the time and money to give him a chance. Many would have thought it would have been more humane to let him go but I can tell you without doubt this dog wanted to live and just needed a chance.
He got that chance thanks to Muttville and I’m honored to have been his caretaker over the last several months and look forward to the day when he gets his forever home with someone who will give him all the love he so deserves.
Thank you Joe for sharing his amazing story, and we can’t wait to share the rest of his success as he begins a new chapter of his life.
7/26/11
Are you the proud parent of a Muttville dog? Send us your story! Include three of your favorite photos and send it to success_stories@muttville.org with the subject line 'Success Story'.
