Corporal, a young border collie mix, was brought to the humane society on May 23 by a local resident who had found him as she was driving in the area and spotted something black and white along her route.
“He was nothing but skin and bones – no muscle, no fat,” said Beth Curtis, kennel supervisor. “He was like a skeleton.”
The dog weighed less than 15 pounds when he arrived at the shelter, located about 25 miles west of Grand Rapids, and could not stand or eat on his own, according to a statement from the shelter. Curtis said he likely had been on his own for some time.
Staff initially did not know if Corporal would survive overnight, but the dog has been improving and is gaining weight and control, Curtis said. Staff have come in to feed and take care of him around the clock.
“His eyes have cleared up, he’s getting much more alert, and he has gotten to the point where he can wiggle himself partially out of his carrier,” said the humane society’s executive director Lisa Lungaro in a statement.
So far, Corporal’s care has been funded by the humane society’s The Hope Fund, which helps to treat animals in need of extra care that otherwise would be euthanized, according to the shelter’s website.
As the fund’s reserves are lower than 2012 projections, the staff is in need of extra donations to fund the $2,000 worth of additional medical expenses ahead of Corporal before he will be in good health and able to be adopted. Curtis said a local family in the area has been selling dog magnets that look like Corporal to help raise funds.
Corporal is on a special foods diet, and once he is well enough, staff will take extra bloodwork and run X-rays to make sure he does not have any broken bones or other ailments.
“He’s moving, but we want to make sure nothing is broken,” Curtis said.
If he passes the test, he’ll likely be put into a foster home and then be up for adoption, she said.
Anyone who wishes to make a donation to the Harbor Humane Society’s Hope Fund can send donations to Hope Fund Harbor Humane Society, 14345 Bagley St., West Olive, MI 49460.
Donations also can be made online under the “Hope Fund” menu item at harborhumane.org. Money from the funds will benefit Corporal's care, as well as other animals in need of urgent medical attention.
“We’re all rallying around this fellow,” Lungaro said of Corporal.
(MLive - June 04, 2012)
