Rain

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Dalmatian Rescue - Beth and Preston - for getting Rain out of animal control and helping rescue this sweet girl. My daughter got to know Beth and the group in December when she adopted her dog, Maggie (Megan). Maggie is a delight and everyone in the family loves her dearly. My daughter decided she would like to help Beth's group out with rescue and that is how Rain came into our lives. It was a cold and windy day that we drove to the Utah border to pick up Rain - my daughter's first foster dog.

Thanks to Preston for his commitment to rescue and for meeting us halfway to deliver Rain safely. We were quite surprised by how she was, just a wisp of a girl. The only think obvious at first was that this poor girl had been underfed and under loved. The drive home was uneventful, but once we arrived - it was clear she was struggling to breathe. We rushed Rain to the emergency veterinarian where she was initially diagnosed with kennel cough. Home with meds, some food and a warm bed and family ready to love her, she soon fell asleep. The next day, we woke anticipation a more active young dog and were disappointed to find her condition deteriorating again. It was thought to take her back to the vet's, but she seemed to know how sick she was. Rain had pneumonia. She was malnourished and dehydrated to boot. Her little body just wasn't strong enough and everything seemed to be breaking down her health at once. She spent 30 long hours in oxygen and started on a series of new medications. the two weeks were long and tiring, trial and error with medications, treatments and visits to the veterinarian. The experience was also very rewarding for both my daughter and me. Given Rain's condition she needed 24 your care and as a retiree, I was there to provide it. Steam treatments, special foods to entice her appetite, numerous meds and therapies got her through the illness and created a strong bond for me with my patient. While I knew she was supposed to be with us temporarily, I could not image her not staying with us forever. With everyone's support I pursued my adoption of Rain. While I may be out of the foster side of things, it is a pure delight to have this dear little girl and be her forever family. It took more than a month to get her health back, but Rain is now healthy and happy. She loves to play with her big sister, Maggie - who she worships and follow's everywhere. Thank you again to everyone who helped rescue Rain!

Barbara
Meridian, ID

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