This Severely Abused Dog Was Rescued From The Streets Days Before Christmas: She Was Severely Underweight And Suffering From Infections
St. Petersburg, Florida. A little more than a week before Christmas, a little Pug mix was found abandoned in the streets of St. Petersburg.
A woman by the name of Stephanie Matuza rescued the little dog, whom she named Olivia after her neighbor alerted her to the terrible situation the little dog was in.
Olivia was severely underweight and suffering from several infections. The pads on her paws had also been rubbed raw.
“Ten days before Christmas Olivia was seen walking alone, abandoned,” Stephanie wrote on a GoFundMe page.
“She was nothing but bones with skin over them. A neighbor caught her and brought her to me asking “Can you help?” Olivia was placed in my arms, and we went straight to the emergency hospital.”
GoFundMe; pictured above is Olivia just after Stephanie rescued her
“She spent four days in the intensive care unit. She should have been close to 15 lbs. but was only 4.9 lbs. when she was released.”
“She had to be fed through a tube, due to the starvation she could not eat.”
Olivia remained in the hospital, where her vet bills came to total $6,126.20; far more than Stephanie could afford to pay for.
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Stephanie paid for Olivia’s medical bills on her credit card, knowing she wouldn’t be able to pay for it at all.
GoFundMe; pictured above is a recent photo of Olivia
“I am retired, living on a fixed income, but I can and will do everything I can to give this little girl a good life,” Stephanie explained.
“By helping me you will be helping Olivia get the aftercare she needs. She is young, her prognosis is excellent for a fantastic future, and after several months of aftercare, she will be whole again, well-adjusted, and living the life she deserves.”
Although Olivia hasn’t been with Stephanie for that long, she is already thriving. She’s gaining weight, playing, and working on learning how to potty train.
GoFundMe; pictured above Olivia wears a sweater
Olivia still has to deal with several more issues and meet her goal weight while she starts her aftercare treatment program, but Stephanie is hopeful that this poor little dog will continue to thrive.
If you would like to help Stephanie with Olivia’s medical bills, you can do that here.
More About:Animals
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