Friends of Penny, in their unrelenting commitment to save any Min Pin in need has encountered many obstacles throughout their missions, nevertheless has shown the united power to knock them down. One of Friend of Penny's most valiant efforts centered on Shay, a seven-year-old Min Pin who was extremely ill and locked in a garage by her owner. As friends of Penny is headquartered in North Carolina , the fact that Shay was in Missouri made this a mission require great effort and unwavering dedication.
Owned by a woman in Missouri , Shay had become ill over the last year. Shay could not stand; she would need to lean her body against a wall to remain upright. She lost her appetite. Her owner took her to a vet and was told to give the dog antibiotics. This did little good. Shay became worse; she had a glazed look and completely lost the use of her hind legs. Finally, the owner took her to another veterinarian, but decided against running tests, as she stated she could not afford to find out what was causing her ailment. It is not understood why the owner did not simply surrender Shay to a rescue or shelter.
Shay symptoms were extremely distressing. This little Min Pin was unable to move her hind legs. She could not walk, she moved around by pulling herself along by her front legs. As Shay was thrown into a bitterly cold garage for at least the last six months, she sorrowfully did not have far to go. Her owner, claiming to be “busy”, did not wish to deal with Shay's illness and kept Shay there, with absolutely no human contact. This dog lost her ability to control her bladder and bowels, and was forced to live among her feces and urine for months. Unable to escape, unable to cry for help, unable to do anything but lay in desolation as her spirit was most undoubtedly sobbing for someone to save her.
The woman who left Shay to suffer alone did eventually attempt to contact a local rescue. Being told in detail of Shay's condition, their blatant answer was, “The reason for our group is to re-home dogs, not to take over owner's responsibility”.
When learning of Shay's story, Friends of Penny volunteer immediately contacted the owner. With only an email address to send the woman a letter, The rescue team eagerly awaited a response. Finally receiving an answer, phone numbers were exchanged and the mission continued. Friends of Penny became Shay's legal owners, as they had Shay's previous owner immediately fax an “Owner Give-Up” form to release Shay to their custody.
Friends of Penny instantly found a caring veterinarian for Shay, at the Raytown-Gregory Animal Hospital . Tests were run without delay. Had Shay's previous owner surrendered the Min Pin to a rescue or shelter within the entire year that the dog was suffering, the prognosis most undoubtedly would have differed.
It was determined that Shay was completely paralyzed from the waist down. This paralysis caused this Min Pin to have no control over her bladder or bowels. She was diagnosed as having severe periodontal disease; so extensive that she would need to have every tooth extracted from her mouth. Shay was never spayed, and it was in question if she was also suffering from a uterine infection. In addition, Shay appeared to have been suffering with Conjunctivitis, as her eyes were incased with thick scabs. Medical records state that Shay had an overwhelming odor or urine radiating from her tiny body.
With absolutely no regard to money, Friends of Penny worked with the veterinarian to think of any possible way to treat Shay. Asking if a dog wheelchair could be implemented to aid in Shay's paralysis, it was determined that because of no bladder or bowel control, this would work. Hoping an operation may be able to find out the cause of the paralysis and perhaps repair it, it was determined that Shay was not healthy enough to undergo any type of surgery. With the only option of leaving this Min Pin paralyzed, Shay still needed to have all of her teeth removed and undergoing that procedure would have been life-threatening and agonizing.
With deep sorrow and respect for Shay, with all the love that Friends of Penny has in their hearts, Shay was allowed to pass over. Her caring vet gave Shay the best brand of dog food she had available and allowed Shay to lay in the warmth and comfort of the clinic in her final moments, enjoying a meal with caring and kind souls surrounding her.
When she was done eating, with compassion prayer from every member of Friends of Penny circling around her, in the arms of the loving veterinarian, Shay crossed over onto the Rainbow Bridge . Needless to say, all members of Friends of Penny agree that their feelings toward Shay's previous owner are unanimous.