Life can sometimes be difficult when you are a puppy. You may struggle with many difficulties, but sometimes you get the help you need to move on and do well in life.
Three rescue puppies recently had to overcome such an issue when they came in with swimmer puppy syndrome. Pibble’s Plantation dog rescue rescued them, and they needed help.
According to The Dodo, Gabriel was the first of the three puppies who came to the dog rescue. He was purchased when he was only four weeks old and was supposed to be raised to be aggressive.
His former owner brought Gabriel to the dog rescue and told them that he would take the dog back if they could “fix him and make him meaner.” Obviously, he didn’t get Gabriel back again.
Two other puppies were also brought in from the same litter. They were all born from a backyard breeder that didn’t care for the puppies properly. Those two dogs, Samiel and Uriel, had the same deformity as Gabriel.
Swimmer puppy syndrome is a type of deformity that sometimes affects puppies when they are newborns. Their legs would be splayed off to the sides, keeping them from walking or standing properly. With the proper care, they can do well.
Two of the rescuers working with Pibbles discovered that the dogs were from the same breeder. Gabriel seemed to be more frightened than the others, and if they handled him, he would scream.
Those two volunteers, Heather and Kat Marchant, wanted to do what they could to help the puppies. They were having difficulty eating and drinking and couldn’t stand comfortably. They would work with them every day.
They tried their best to make the rehabilitation enjoyable, and when the pups were 12 weeks old, they were standing by themselves. As you can imagine, Heather and Kat were very proud of that accomplishment.
Gabriel suffered from swimmer puppy syndrome more than the others. As a result, he had to have one of his legs amputated and learned to walk again.
As The Dodo shared, his rescuers were concerned that they would have a difficult time, but the day after surgery, he was up. They said he was determined to walk, and the pain was gone.
They experienced setbacks in their life, but they were able to get to the point where they could go to forever homes. Uriel was placed with friends of Heather and Kat. Samiel needed extra assistance, so she stayed with them.
Gabriel was placed with another couple who were just right for him. He runs around and enjoys swimming in his new pool.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
