For days, a street dog sat on the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, waiting for a Good Samaritan to notice her and help her. Hundreds of people saw her and passed her by, but no one offered to rescue her. Meanwhile, a massive infection and flesh-eating bacteria consumed the majority of her face.
Her days of suffering came to an end Marisa Russo and Griselda Herrera rescued her and took her to El Campito Refugio. They knew Ñata (pushed in snout) – as they call her, needed immediate medical assistance.
The canine was taken to the rescue center and a plan to save her life was set in place.
El Campito Refugio is a register, no-kill, animal rescue organizations that houses 750 dogs. More than 120 of its four-legged residents are handicap pets that use wheel carts to roam around the property, 50 other dogs are blind, more than 250 are senior dogs, and many dogs are terminally ill. The rescue group depends on its more than 102 organizers and 250 volunteers to offer love and care to each of its animal residents. Thanks to their successful adoption program, the center is able to welcome more than 100 animals in need each month.
Veterinarians are treating Ñata with strong antibiotics to fight the infection. They clean her wounds and change her bandages daily, and they are waiting for the canine to regain some of her strength in order to place her under anesthesia. At that point a biopsy of the area will be done to determine if dog is suffering from a tumor or something else.
The bacteria destroyed most of the dog’s facial muscles but fortunately it did not invade her eyes. Ñata’s is able to see well with both eyes.
Vet specialists say the dog is in doing well, has started eating soft food on her own, and does seem to be in too much pain. They are taking it one day at a time and hope she will recover from her injuries.
“Euthanizing her is not an option,” posted El Campito Refugio on its Facebook page. “We will do everything we can to save her and show her that her life is worth living.”
Many community members have been moved by her story and are coming forward to help the best way they. Rescuers continue to ask the public to keep Ñata in their prayers.
If you would like to help Ñata with a monetory donation, you can donate directly on their website. You can do so via Paypal, debit or credit card.
