A trip to the vet the next morning revealed that he suffered from heartworm disease and had hip dysplasia in his right hip. Oddly enough, the left one was not affected. We named him Rebel, and began planning the road to his recovery.
Rebel couldn't be immediately treated for heartworms; he needed to gain some weight first, and be treated for an infection that had come about from his previous owners allowing flies to literally eat away at the tips of his ears. So he was put on a special diet to build up his malnourished body, and an antibiotic to clear the infection. A month later he was healthy enough to withstand the treatment, and he came through with flying colors! The flies left permanent damage to his ears, but the infection cleared up nicely. We opted against cosmetic surgery to repair them. He'd already been through so much, we couldn't see the point in putting him through more when his quality of life wouldn't be affected by leaving them as they were.
Six months after he came to live with us, Rebel weighed a healthy 124 pounds. He became an integral part of our family; fiercely protective of us, his home and our children. He remained a cherished member of our family for the next 7 years.
The second week of August, he became ill. We took him to the animal hospital, where he remained for the next week. Rebel received the best care available, but on August 18, 2004, he lost his battle. We had him cremated, brought him home and buried him in his yard, where he belongs. He wasn't just a pet, he was a member of our family. A beloved member. He touched our lives in a way no other animal ever has or ever will.
So on August 24, 2004, Mid-South Shepherd Rescue was born.
Mid-South Shepherd Rescue was founded and is operated in memory of Rebel. May he always look down on us and know he will never be forgotten.