The plight of Patricia is a gut-wrenching tale in search of a happy ending. It’s a true-life story wrapped around episodes of heartless neglect, noble deeds, legal actions and survival against all odds.
Patricia is the under-sized pitbull mix that was rescued four weeks ago from a vacant lot in San Antonio Tlayacapan, where she had been chained up without access to adequate food, water and shelter for about six months. Proceeding on a report from neighbors who noticed that the dog had collapsed, officials from Chapala’s ecology department and local animal protection activists intervened to take custody of the pooch and arrange for emergency veterinary treatment.
The rescue was carried out as lakeside was taking a battering from the outer rings of Hurricane Patricia – hence the name given to a remarkable critter that inexplicably weathered a stormy history.
Since then the pup has been under the tender loving care of Chapala vet Mayra Ibarra Mendoza. After initial examination, the prognosis was poor. She was suffering from severe hypothermia, anemia, dehydration and chronic starvation. She was literally a bag of bones, weighing in at just seven kilos, about one-third of what is considered normal for her frame. Ghost-white gums were among the symptoms of imminent death.
A prominent Guadalajara vet consulted on the case recommended euthanasia. Determined to save her life, Ibarra ignored this advice, zealously nursing the scrawny dog with an intensive regimen of rehydration solutions, natural pro-biotics, mineral supplements and appropriate meds.
The animal’s digestive system was so out of whack that at first she was unable to assimilate regular dog food, which provoked constant bouts of diarrhea. Now on the mend, she eagerly gobbles down hefty portions of kibble that have helped build new flesh and bring her weight up to 12 kilos. Her coat is gradually gaining a healthier glow. Bright eyes and energetic tail wagging are clear signs that her body and spirit are well on the way to recovery.
The bond of trust and mutual affection that has grown between the vet and her patient is equally apparent. Ibarra has her own nickname for the dog: Mili, short for milagros, in reference to the seemingly miraculous comeback she has helped foster.
Meanwhile, local authorities and animal rights crusaders have not been idle. With guidance from the city hall legal department and Operación Amor activist Myra Ortiz Tejeda, last week municipal ecology chief Rafael Aguilar Dueñez lodged a criminal complaint against the dog’s owner for violations of the state’s animal protection code. Officials at the Ministerio Público (district attorney’s office) report that the case is now under investigation, with a forensic finding on the dog’s physical conditions in the works.
If the case proceeds to prosecution and conviction, the responsible party will be subject to a nominal economic sanction and up to 80 days of obligatory community service. The penalties would be more severe if the dog had been physically abused or died from mistreatment.
However, Ortiz believes that the aggravation of being put through the wringer of the legal system will serve as a certain form of punishment and a deterrent to others who do not properly care for their domestic animals. Likewise, the formal denouncement will stand as a test case for the prosecution of animal abuse. Above all, she is optimistic that the local government will remain committed to the pursuit of animal welfare.
Today, Mili-Patricia is ready to be placed in a permanent home with caring human companions. Ibarra observes that she has a gentle temperament and gets along well with other canines and people encountered in her current environment. Her only personality quirk is a tendency to fiercely protect her feed bowl, an understandable characteristic considering her lengthy fight for survival.
Anyone who might be interested in adopting this remarkable canine survivor of misfortune is encouraged to contact Ibarra at 333-195-4877 (cell) or visit her clinic at Zaragoza 441, located about a half-block south of the Electricty Commssion (CFE) customer service office.