Nurse Paca K9

On a hot summer day in 2011, in the fine city of Greenville, SC stood a part store in the industrious area of Poinsett Hwy. This part store was like many other part stores in the fact that it had parts, people selling  parts and people buying parts. What was different about this part store was the manager, a huge man standing well over six feet tall and commanding every inch of his space. This manager, the employees would soon learn had a big soft spot for dogs. For when the most homely looking hairless dog came strolling by the store this man showed his true nature and took her into his heart right then and there. He, in all his great wisdom - was clueless as to just how bad she was, all he could see is that she needed help.

The call was made to me, I was this man's girlfriend at the time - I knew what it would take - I called Animal Control, I called them three times that day and had a couple of other people calling too. By the time I was through with my chores for the day and no one had came to collect this dog I knew it would be up to me to aid out this dog, even though I was no way ready to take on such a challenge as her.

The manager and his crew had started calling the dog Paco, for some inside joke towards either an employee or a customer - not exactly sure but when I realized they were using Spanish I questioned the 'O' at the end for a female and that is how she became Paca and the name has stuck (like Chuck).

Paca's first real meal in a very long time was biscuits and gravy from a fast food restaurant - well that's not a real meal - but it was to her and cemented her affection for the tall man with a big heart. Her second real meal was compliments of me when I came to address her needs and take her home. Seen the pictures, heard the description, I pretty much knew what I was up against - and it wasn't pretty. She ate her first helping of food from me, before I gave her a bath with medicated shampoo and treated some of her worse sores.

Without knowing how she would be around cats, other dogs, etc. protective measures were in place, she was only allowed in the house on her leash and no free time, she went almost immediately to a kennel or crate to allow her to meet everyone and everyone to meet her in a protective environment for all.

She was taken from an area known for illegal dog fighting and given her condition I suspected she was used as a bait dog for such activities. The vet agreed. We also felt that she had been pregnant maybe up to the day she came into our lives, but aborted her puppies when her body just couldn't handle anymore.

The poor girl had just about every parasite known to attack a dog, it took 2 years of ivermectrin, antibiotics, steroids, pain killers, and misc. other meds to get her a 100% clean bill of health, but it happened, she made it, she does this dance - we call it the bug free dance, she gets all happy. She was so weak with so many ailments that the vets said she couldn't handle the normal 'short kill' on heartworms, we had no choice but to drag it out over the long haul - the alternative wasn't acceptable.

Her body healed long before all of her emotional wounds healed, as a matter of fact I don't know that some of them will ever be completely healed, she has been through that much. She is happy right now, well as happy as she can be - she wants her forever family, she wants a bed\kennel\crate that doesn't get moved around, this ole gal loves security.

When her foster dad had knee surgery we were worried about her being in the way, or causing an accident, couldn't of been more wrong on that one. She was the most gentle and slow moving creature you ever seen, she sensed more so than understanding our words that she had to be careful and that could be read in her eyes.

Every animal that has been sick or ailing in some way she is there for them. The other day I was watching a video on YouTube of a Bulldog puppy speaking to his person. Paca got out of the bed in the other room and came in to where the sound was and she was excited, she loves babies.

Paca is healed, Paca is very well behaved and knows all the basic 'commands' most people teach their dogs. One of the most amazing spirits I have ever witnessed in an animal and she deserves to have the stability and family that Guardians have, because she is one. Looking for her forever family - she is ready.