On Monday evening, shelter staff from DeKalb County Animal Services in Georgia reached out to Rescue Dogs Rock NYC when a dog barely able to stand and in excruciating pain was found hunched over in a nearby parking lot.
Dubbed Sebastian, the emaciated, five-year-old pit bull mix had lost his will to live. Curled up in the back corner of his shelter kennel, he didn't want to drink, eat or move. The compassionate shelter personnel even tried to tempt him with bits of hot dogs and Chik-fil-A. If it was ever thought a dog just wanted to die, that seemed to have been Sebastian's wish. Stacey Silverstein, founder of the New York City rescue, which specializes in cruelty, abuse, neglect and the most urgent dogs who need immediate medical care refused to hear of it, and arranged immediate transportation to the organization's participating emergency veterinarian partner in Fayetteville.
On Tuesday afternoon, Sebastian arrived at the veterinary hospital and is now being treated with pain medication and several antibiotics. Veterinarians are not sure if he is hunched over from being kept in a too small kennel or if he is just too frightened to stand. Sebastian is deathly afraid of people, yet he shows not an ounce of aggression. At this time, his skin is fire red with infection, he has no coat, and the medical staff are trying to avoid any IV medication because his skin is so raw and painful.
Sebastian is in the best of care, and we will be following his progress. A Facebook link for this critically ill dog can be found here. Please be warned, some of the photos of Sebastian are extremely graphic, however they show what this innocent victim must overcome.