By Sloane Quealy-Miner

CALL TO ACTION!  If you can spare a few dollars to help with Terry, the neglected rottweiler’s medical expenses please donate securely at this PayPal link. You don’t even need to create a PayPal account to donate and even a few dollars will help get him his shots and neutering so we can move forward with finding him a forever home. Any amount you can spare will be greatly appreciated.

Terry on prong collar and chain

Terry’s story: If I were not always on the lookout for animals in need I might not have noticed him because he wasn’t moving much.  After watching from across the street for a few minutes I approached the yard to further investigate. I realized that the reason I wasn’t able to see the dog clearly was because he was curled up in a ditch he had dug in the dirt to escape the blazing sun. When the dog realized I was staring at him through the metal fence he quickly jumped up only to be jerked back by the four foot chain and pronged collar he was wearing. He had no food and a small amount of dirty water that he couldn’t reach.

My husband Matt and two friends accompanied me when I returned with food and water and supplies. We repeatedly knocked on the door of the house but no one answered so I hollered up to the open windows for someone to come outside and talk to us about the dog. Eventually a teenage boy came out and told us the dog was his.

Terry’s ear where flies were eating

I asked the boy why the dog was being treated like this. I explained to him this was severe neglect and that it could not go on. He told me that the dog lived outside as there were babies in the house now and that they had nothing else to tie the dog in the yard with except the prong collar and 4foot chain that tightened around his emaciated body every time he made the slightest movement. While the boy declined our offer to take the dog he accepted our offer to help the dog so we immediately went to work.

Terry’s new bed

When we first want in the back to meet Terry he was frightened and scared but soon he realized we were there to help him. When Terry stood up he was unsteady on his feet as he walked towards the fresh food and water we brought for him. It appeared to me that his legs were weak and muscles under developed due to not being able to move around properly. After he ate we moved him to a clean part of the yard and set up a crate that he could use as a dog house.

 By this point the mother of the boy had joined us outside. I explained again that we were here to help the dog and she too agreed to accept our help. At our direction the boy began removing the prong collar and chain from around Terry’s neck. I watched him intently and the instant Terry realized he was free of the painful metal collar and short chain his entire body relaxed. His mood changed and he awkwardly jumped around a bit. It was so moving I welled up in tears. We put a cotton martingale collar on Terry and put him on a 20 foot lead so he could move around freely.

Terry greets us every visit like this!

We set up a feeding station outside of the crate we set up as a dog house. I told the boy and his mom that Matt and I would be back every day to see Terry and that we would be providing proper food for him. As we were walking out Matt asked the boy to give him the prong collar. He explained that we were taking it with us so we could safely dispose of it where it would never hurt anyone again.

Matt and I go to see Terry a few times everyday now. We give him plenty of food, water and love.  Thanks to the medicine we brought Terry he no longer is plagued by fleas and the once opened wounds on his ears that were infested with flies are healing. Over the past week I have noticed a light develop in Terry’s eyes that was not there when I first met him. With every visit  I notice something new that Terry does that reassures me he is getting better.  Slowly he is begining to act like a dog. Needless to say we have developed quite a bond with Terry and love him very much. This past weekend Terry played an enthusiastic game of ball with us and he loved every minute of it.

Terry plays ball!

In the early mornings when I arrive to see Terry he is still snuggled in his crate. By the time I get to him he has seen me and he pops out to give me an affectionate hello. After I rub him and wipe his face I walk him for a bit. Then we return to the yard and I feed him.  I explain to Terry that it is now time for me to go but that Matt will be by in the afternoon to visit with him and then I will be back again at night to sit with him and rub him. Terry is quite the snuggler and loves head and neck rubs.

It gets harder and harder each day for me to walk away from Terry and leave him there.  Anything that you can donate to help cover his medical expenses is greatly appreciated. 

Fortunately the “owners” have realized that they need to let Terry go. If you are interested in fostering or adopting Terry and are in the NYC area me please email me at  bslnews2011@gmail.com

Precious Terry

Terry LOVES to play ball!

Loving Terry