July 13, 2008
Siberian Husky ; Abandoned Dog; Funchal; Madeira; Portugal
VICTORIA - A Rescued Husky from the Streets of Funchal, Portugal
This beautiful female Siberian Husky was abandoned in our neighborhood. She had been following us from a distance every time we took our Boxer dog Aishah out for her walk. After nearly three weeks the Husky could walk no further and started collapsing. When my wife and I examined her, it was clear that she was dying from starvation and that she had been run over by a car. She had bruises, but fortunately no broken bones. Her back paws were worn down to the bare flesh.
Madeira (Portugal) has a very poor reputation for animal rights. Although the Portuguese legislation is improving because of recent pressure by the EEC, the population is still very backward. Sixty percent are functionally illiterate. This makes it almost impossible to communicate to the people the spirit and the letter of any new law. The European Electronic Tag Directive is being easily circumvented by owners who brutally remove the tags so they can abandon their dogs with impunity. Some humans can sadly be very cruel to their animals: buying them, then later disposing of them as though they were just objects. Cruelty to dogs is at its worst during holiday periods. With their holiday already booked, the dog owner then realizes that they don't have anyone to look after their dog while they are away, so they abandon it. This is a common occurrence on Madeira.
The local government does nothing to change this brutal scenario. There have been a few initiatives by some brave, caring individuals. However, a lot more must be done to significantly change the trend in animal abandonment. These include public awareness campaigns, adoption clubs, dog-sitting associations, provision of basic veterinarian care for the abandoned dogs and so on.
PLEASE REMEMBER: A DOG IS PART OF YOUR FAMILY FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFE!
This dog suffers from a juvenile hip-dysplasia which needs to be operated on. This is a very rare condition amongst Huskies, being more prevalent amongst larger breeds. Dysplasia is an hereditary predisposition to hip malformation. In fact it is a complex (called polygenic or multigenic) disease caused by many contributory factors. The condition is a lack of stability of the femur head within its socket, the acetabulum, part of the hip joint. This can occur for a number of reasons: the socket could be deformed, the muscles may not be providing the proper support, or it could be a combination of these and other factors. In time the hip becomes deformed with arthritis, or degenerative joint disease as it is now called.
Genetically affected animals may be born perfectly healthy and may have a long life without this condition ever manifesting itself. When it does occur, it can vary in severity depending upon the animal. Because of the malformation of the hip, the joint undergoes very rapid degeneration which may lead to dog's hindleg becoming disabled.
If she doesn't have an operation, the prognosis for Victoria is for her limp and her pain to become progressively worse and for the muscles to atrophy. When the pain becomes too much for her, the only humane option will be to put her to sleep.
But There is a Solution: To Have a Total-Arthroplasty!
This is a very costly operation, about 2,000 euros. The operation consists of removing the neck and head of the femur and implanting a joint prosthesis.
This case of Victoria must have a happy ending, because having seen her suffering, we couldn't not have compassion on her. We are determined to have this dog operated on. She has already suffered enough in her young life.
She needs our HELP! Please, join us!!!
Both my wife (Graça M P Costa) and I are Marine Scientists temporarily living in Madeira. We are trying to do our very best to help these abandoned animals, but we need help and compassion from others.
If you find are able to help with ANY amount of money, please make your donation and become Victoria's Virtual Foster Owner. Any sum is welcome, from one unit of currency to whatever you feel is appropriate.
If you make a donation, please send an e-mail (at melo.moreira@yahoo.co.uk) reminding me of your gesture, with your name and address. My wife and I are planning to make a video documenting this case to send to all the donors with a postcard from Madeira. We can be contacted by phone: +351-919590035
If you can donate by clicking the appropriate link below (PAYPAL):
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=emmj%40clix%2ept&item_name=Viictoria%20Pool%20for%20Help&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=USD&lc=PT&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF&charset=UTF%2d8
You can alternately make a payment by bank transfer:
IBAN: PT50000702430078943000957
Bank: BANCO ESPIRITO SANTO
NOME: EGBERTO MELO MOREIRA JUNIOR
BRANCH: SUCURSAL SÉ - FUNCHAL
MANY THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS ALL THROUGH
Duration : 0:5:32
Filed under Siberian Huskies by admin
Comments on Siberian Husky ; Abandoned Dog; Funchal; Madeira; Portugal »
She is beautiful. …
She is beautiful. You are good people for rescuing her.
Hello …
Hello Crossfadeshadow! Thank you for your visit. Yes, I checked your movie. Very Nice! I even added it to our Victoria's Blog! Please check it on (victoria-the-husky * blogspot * com) (substitute * for dot ) I had to write this way because I thin it is not allowed to post URL here…
aww
i feel sorry … 
i feel sorry for dogs 
its mean what people do to them 
watch my new video for abandoned dogs 
aww
Please visit the …
Please visit the address:
victoria-the-husky . blogspot . com (please remove spaces). There you will find a lot more about Victoria, Huskies in general and Animal Rights.
See you there!
EMMJ
Well, that is a …
Well, that is a good question, perhaps because people are completely unaware of breed specific requirements. Unfortunately this is not only directed to dog breeds. Children are often overlooked here. The schools externally are beautiful and benefited from a huge investment from the European Social Fund, but due to lack of investment on formal human training the percentage of school evasion is around 40% before students are 16 years old!
It is a beautiful …
It is a beautiful island but the social fabric is very weak, the civic notion is still an unforeseeable endeavour (with the same politician in power over more than three decades, a unique case for Europe!). Huskies are indeed the very tip of this Atlantic inselberg…
How did a HUSKY end …
How did a HUSKY end up on Madeira!? O___o?????
Why would anyone …
Why would anyone abandon a husky?They're soooo beautiful!!!
i have a husky and …
i have a husky and she was abandond and abused but she is the best dog in the world! (luk at mi vids i hav a vid of her
i have a husky and …
i have a husky and she was abandoned so i know wat u mean by loyal but she is very loving to,
i have a husky and …
i have a husky and she was abandoned so i know wat u mean by loyal but she is very loving to,
My sister adopted …
My sister adopted one from a animal shelter. The shelter was going to put it to sleep because the original owner hated it because it killed his cat. People like that are idiots.
huskies are some of …
huskies are some of the most loyal, loving dogs on the planet. they are so anxious to please and they are very gentile. It disgusts me that there are people on this planet who they would waste this on. Nice job.
Even if it were …
Even if it were possible to have a lawsuit against such citizens, it is not easy to find this people as they normally abandon the animals far way from their homes. Also there have been cases where the electronic tags (which became enforced in the EU), are brutally removed from the animals before they are abandoned, so as to render impossible the tracking of their owners.
Unfortunately, the …
Unfortunately, the law in Portugal is very condescending to animal owners. Animals are considered as assets, property, subject to treatment at the discretion of their owners. Moreover, animals are "protected" but from the point of view of human sanitary health.
You have a big …
You have a big heart. Thank you for rescuing her.
Are there no legal …
Are there no legal repercussions available to you to take action against the original owners?
A new approach must …
A new approach must be taken to both raise awareness and facilitate adoptions (free consultations for animals that are adopted from SPAD, treatment vouchers in exchange of pet food bought directly from SPAD, etc…)
This is the only way to help the animals and revitalise the institution…
Yesterday I went to …
Yesterday I went to SPAD and during the short period of time (15 minutes) I was there in front of the reception desk the telephone rang 5 times from people who wanted abandoned dogs removed from their door steps. SPAD has more than 300 animals in cages, the situation is absolutely terrible and the institution is in collapse administratively.
sigh… sad but …
sigh… sad but true
People then realise …
People then realise they have no one to leave their animals with and they are not prepared to give up their holiday for their pets… This is why I am of the opinion domestic animals must not be chosen as a surprise gift to anyone. They must be a personal choice instead. For they imply a lot of responsibility and dedication. Love to all.
Unfortunately, …
Unfortunately, animals are treated as material objects by many people. I regret that more often than not domestic animals are subject to abandon, especially when the holiday season approaches.
Hello Everyone! I …
Hello Everyone! I am so pleased to receive so many comments and also a few donations to help Victoria. The last donation was by my son's Piano Tuner, Georghy (20 euros!!!!) It is a long way to go before we can reach the 2000 euro bill for the
total-arthroplasty. Many thanks to all of you who care and who really make a HUGE differece in this world. Thanks to my father who paid for Victoria's maintenance and X-ray detailed examination (150 euros).
Thanks to my wife …
Thanks to my wife Graça who allowed one more dog in our house. Thanks to my son who is being so gentle and lovely helping Victoria and encouraging me in this important endeavour to see her through this daring period!
Love to all,
Egberto
PS: Oh! By the way, …
PS: Oh! By the way, the reason I am closing her mouth in the movie is because of the antibiotics she had to take on daily basis due to the infection in her paws. She is now recovered from that condition.