For those who do not remember, below is the first part of Miracle's story.  Below this are 2 very graphic photos of but some of his wounds after they had been cleaned up.  The first one is of his chest after it was closed, the second is of it before it was closed.  Remember, he was left to languish in the shelter over the weekend with this and other severe wounds!  Once again, it is suggested that those who can not stomach such things NOT view these.  They are only being presented now as a part of our Rags to Riches page.

Miracle's story

On Saturday, May 20, a local rescue group in Wichita, Kansas contacted Colonel Potter about a Cairn in the Wichita Animal Shelter in desperate need of medical attention. We only had sketchy details and weren't able to get back in touch with the local rescue group. After some investigation and several phone calls, we found him. We’ve named him Miracle, for his story truly is a “miracle.”

Miracle got away from his home on Friday, May 19, and was attacked by two pit bulls. The attack left Miracle with a hole 3 inches in diameter on the front of his left front leg which intersects with a hole 1-inch in diameter on the back of his left front leg. The report we received was that his owners opted not to seek medical attention and surrendered him to the shelter.

Like most animal shelters, the Wichita shelter does not have the financial means and staffing to provide medical care. Miracle sat in the shelter’s holding pen Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and part of Monday with these open, agonizing wounds, with the shelter staff doing the best they could. On Monday morning, May 22, the shelter vet, on a routine visit, saw Miracle. The "on staff" vet simply examines the newcomers every couple of days to determine who is healthy enough to stay for a few days and who should be put down. The vet said that if a rescue group didn't pull Miracle immediately and get him medical attention Miracle would have to be put down. Miracle had been in the shelter four days with visible large, open, intersecting wounds that were dirty and now maggot infested. No one knew if invisible internal injuries existed, or what lay under his matted coat.

Colonel Potter’s Intakes Team went to work immediately trying to find Miracle from the late post on Saturday evening. We had very few details on him and we had to query a few shelters to locate him. One Miracle was located, Valerie, VP of Intakes, contacted Lisa, a member of our Rescue Team that lives near the Wichita shelter. On Monday, Valerie arranged for Miracle’s release to Colonel Potter and for a local vet to be on standby as Lisa rushed to get Miracle out of the shelter and to the veterinarian.

Miracle’s initial exam had to be done under anesthesia to be able to fully evaluate his injuries without causing him any further pain. The veterinarian’s report estimated Miracle to be about 7 to 8 years old and pinpointed the 3-inch hole on the front of his left front leg and 1-inch hole on the back of his left front leg which were now covered by maggots from being left untreated and dirty. The vet asked if we wanted to continue on, or just stop now and put Miracle to sleep. The vet hadn't even had a chance to examine too much else of him or do any internal examination because of the dirt, filth, and maggots on him. Of course, we said, “continue,” because that is what we do, we rescue Cairns, sick or healthy, young, and old, we rescue Cairns! As with any Cairn we rescue, we are giving Miracle every chance to make a full recovery, get to a foster home, and eventually to a forever home that will love and care for him like he should have been.

Click to see the photos:  After the wound was closed       Before the wound was closed (do not look if the first one was too much for you).

Click here to donate to Col Potter so we can continue to save Cairns.

Before the wound was closed (very graphic)

Click here to donate to Col Potter so we can continue to save Cairns.