Notorious Chunky B

As many of you know, Jason and I volunteer and foster dogs for Furbaby Rescue. FBR is a small rescue dedicated to rescuing, fostering and placing small breed dogs. Jason and I tend to care for the Chihuahua's that come into the organization. We have 4 Chi and I adore the breed overall. Last week we got a call from Laura Clark, she is the executive director for the Whatcom Humane Society. A morbidly obese Chihuahua came into the shelter, surrendered by his owner. Now, we are not talking chubby here.... we all agree he should weigh 5 to 6 lbs, but he weighs 12 lbs. He needs to loose more than half his body weight. He would be over 450 lbs if he were a man... He is so fat he has a triple chin. His liver enzymes were so high the shelter could not justify putting him up for adoption, as he would need extreme care to not only get the weight off but to take care of all his medical needs. His teeth were abscessed, and he had several large fistulas (oral abscesses leading up to his sinus') He had so much infection in his sinus that he could not pass air thru his nose. His tongue had blue tinge to it, due to the perpetual lack of oxygen. The shelter staff clearly adored this dog, they are such wonderful people but are limited in their resources and do the best they can. They called FBR, and we took him in.

Even though he must of felt horrible, he settled right into my clan. He happily slept in his crate, he used our doggie door after watching Percy use it. Never an accident in the house. He accepts my dogs and happily meets new people. He is a true joy.

He has now had 9 teeth pulled, his oral abscesses are healing and he is beginning to be able to breathe thru his nose again. He has lost a full pound. Our daily walks take us to Cornwall Park, my dogs leading the way, with Chunky B close behind. We bring a special doggie stroller for when he is too tired to walk back.

As I write this, he sits on my lap... grunting and snoring so loudly I have to set him down and go to the other room to answer the phone.

In a few weeks his mouth and sinus' will be healed, in a few months he will be a normal weight.

Neglect put this wonderful dog close to deaths door. Had WHS not seen his potential, seen thru the fat, the infection, the high risk medical issues or had he ended up at another shelter that was not full of the caring and loving people like those fill the Whatcom Humane Society, he may not be here today.

Thank you WHS. Thank you for all that you do. Knowing that all animals deserve people like you, and we are a far better community by having you in it.

Chunky B send his love... and grunts