“Uma” The Mighty
Chihuahua Dog
Within a day of being dumped on an isolated county road, I found myself fighting
for my life. Didn’t my owner know
that 80% of dumped dogs die a horrific death and a large percentage of survivors
never receive quality care? “Yelp!
Yelp! Yelp!” became my battle cry as I was surrounded by three hungry coyotes. Little did I know that coyotes are
instinctive hunters that work as a team by attacking from the rear and flanks. I wasn’t only outnumbered but was
outsized because by breed is Chihuahua. My breed may be small but our
character is as mighty as the largest of breeds.
All I can remember during the attack, as any living creature, was that I
wanted to survive and demonstrated my last act of defiance by showing every
tooth and stood strong with grace from God and I survived the attack. But I did not escape injury. I weakened fast with the loss of
blood from near fatal puncture and lacerate wounds on my rear and flanks (a
classic coyote attack). After
spending days crawling through the grass and bush, a Good Samaritan found me and
provided me with food and water, but I was so weak. By the time I was found, my wounds
were infected and the smell of rotting flesh was prevalent. I was within hours of dying. At this point my near lifeless body
weighed less than eight pounds. I
fit and literally looked the definition of “skin and bones”. This Good Samaritan made a generous
donation toward my medical care and handed me off to a group called Paw Pals
where my precious life was given a second chance.
I received emergency veterinarian care with intravenous fluids, cleaning
and stitching my wounds, and antibiotics.
I was given the name “Uma”.
Perhaps my name can be an acronym for “Unsung Miracles of the Angels”. It seems the horrific deeds of man
are often overshadowed by the spirit of angels that God placed in so many other
men. I was blessed to live in a
caring community. The deeds of
the many people responsible for saving my life will go unsung because individual
recognition is not want they seek.
The people who touched me in their kind way are marching forward to overcome
correctable “unchecked” pet overpopulation by bringing awareness for the need of
a “proactive” county animal control program.
Perhaps an operating animal shelter supporting a county animal control
program would have given my owner a more humane choice. Please continue to support the
endeavors of Hill County Paw Pals…they saved my life and can save many more. Their public meetings are on the
first Thursday’s each month from 6:30-7:30pm
at 1500 South Abbott Avenue
in Hillsboro
(next to TXDOT or north of Hillsboro
High School on Hwy 81). For more information email
hcpawpals@yahoo.com; or call
254.580.0679.