A week ago I received an Email from the Long Island Bulldog Rescue about an 8 month old bully named Gordo. Gordo was surrendered by his owners to l.i.b.r. as a seemingly healthy puppy. One that would be placed in a nice home with relative ease. After a checkup from their vets they realized that sadly this was not the case. Gordo was diagnosed with pneumonia and brachycephalic syndrome (elongated soft palate, constricted nostrils, enlarged tonsils). Corrective surgery for the breathing condition is common, or so I'm told. I wish I could say that it ended there for Gordo but I can't. He had another condition known as tracheal hypoplasia. It's basically underdeveloped cartilage rings that expand the trachea. This means he was essentially breathing though a trachea the size of a small straw.
At the time I received this letter all the necessary surgeries had been performed on little Gordo. L.i.b.r. was asking for donations to cover Gordo's vet bills which at this point were over $10,000. I threw a few bucks on the hat. My girlfriend too.
I opted to receive daily updates on Gordo's condition (2 a day, morning and night). Over the weekend they announced that he was breathing much better since the tracheal procedure and eating which is a great sign for any puppy after having that much work done. He was still battling the pneumonia but his cough was very productive. Another good sign.
For 11 days Gordo was recovering with all the love an attention the hospital staff and L.i.b.r staff could give him.
Yesterday mornings update was a somber one. They said he seemed weak. His tired little face was pressed up against his cage. They asked us to pray for him.
I'm not much for praying myself and neither is my girlfriend but now I wish I was.
Gordo died late last night.
He had been taken by the pneumonia.
I've been kinda busted up about it all morning. I'm sad for sure but for a jerk like me that translates to anger. I'd like to get ahold of the bastards who surrendered him and even more so than that I'd like to get ahold of the human garbage who operated the puppy mill where he was born. He was only 8 months old when he died. A month older than my Luca.
I wonder if he ever felt loved in his whole short life and I'm grateful to the hospital and Long Island Bulldog Rescue for being there for him in the end.
Gordo died with no owners to speak of so I just felt like someone had to tell his story.
At the time I received this letter all the necessary surgeries had been performed on little Gordo. L.i.b.r. was asking for donations to cover Gordo's vet bills which at this point were over $10,000. I threw a few bucks on the hat. My girlfriend too.
I opted to receive daily updates on Gordo's condition (2 a day, morning and night). Over the weekend they announced that he was breathing much better since the tracheal procedure and eating which is a great sign for any puppy after having that much work done. He was still battling the pneumonia but his cough was very productive. Another good sign.
For 11 days Gordo was recovering with all the love an attention the hospital staff and L.i.b.r staff could give him.
Yesterday mornings update was a somber one. They said he seemed weak. His tired little face was pressed up against his cage. They asked us to pray for him.
I'm not much for praying myself and neither is my girlfriend but now I wish I was.
Gordo died late last night.
He had been taken by the pneumonia.
I've been kinda busted up about it all morning. I'm sad for sure but for a jerk like me that translates to anger. I'd like to get ahold of the bastards who surrendered him and even more so than that I'd like to get ahold of the human garbage who operated the puppy mill where he was born. He was only 8 months old when he died. A month older than my Luca.
I wonder if he ever felt loved in his whole short life and I'm grateful to the hospital and Long Island Bulldog Rescue for being there for him in the end.
Gordo died with no owners to speak of so I just felt like someone had to tell his story.
