Imagine stumbling upon a dog left abandoned in a small kennel on a freezing day. This was the reality for Prima, who had been deserted by her owners during the winter months. The poor girl was severely malnourished and resorted to eating anything she could find, putting her life at grave risk.
When she was discovered, Prima was perilously close to death. Her state was far worse than initially presumed, and without immediate medical attention, her chances of survival were slim.
Found In Horrible Shape
During a routine walk in a local park, Jannel and Robby, two volunteers from Houston, Texas, discovered Prima. They spotted her lying in one of the “houses” set up by Corridor Rescue for stray animals to seek refuge from the cold. As Jannel approached, it was clear that something was terribly wrong; Prima’s stomach appeared distended, and she struggled to move.
The volunteers quickly observed how emaciated she was, with her spine visible and a swollen abdomen likely caused by advanced heartworm disease. They offered her food and water, which she reluctantly accepted.
“This girl was starved to the point that when she was dumped she ate anything she came across and continued to eat,” Corridor Rescue remarked in a Facebook post.
Knowing Prima was unlikely to survive alone, they promptly contacted Corridor Rescue, who accepted her into their care. “I was shocked at what I saw when she stepped out. She was emaciated with a very large stomach. I immediately started making phone calls knowing she needed rescue right away,” Janell shared on Facebook.
After a tense wait, they managed to coax Prima out and into their vehicle. During the drive to the rescue, she surrendered completely. Despite her fear and trembling, it was as if she instinctively recognized that her rescuers meant her no harm.
Beating The Odds
At the veterinary clinic, Prima was diagnosed with end-stage heartworms that had migrated to her pulmonary artery, making surgical removal nearly impossible. At that moment, she was deemed a hospice patient, and the rescue’s mission shifted to providing her with a safe and loving environment in a foster home.
According to her rescuers, Prima had endured a lifetime of negligence and mistreatment. Her past experiences resulted in severe trauma, complicating her adjustment to a new, caring environment.
After a thorough evaluation, the veterinary team concluded that the best course of action was a rapid heartworm treatment consisting of several injections over a span of months. This became her last chance at life. The rescue team committed to giving her that chance, ensuring she had fluids, food every couple of hours, and antibiotics to support her during this critical time.
Throughout her treatment, Prima began showing signs of improvement—remarkably her health stabilized, and her swollen abdomen subsided. Defying expectations, she gradually overcame the heartworm infestation.
“She wasn’t going to let anything from her past stand in her way of a happily ever after. This little miracle refused to be held down by the word hospice any longer,” highlighted the rescue in a Facebook post.
Following her intensive treatment, Prima began reclaiming her identity and enjoyable experiences in her foster home. She evolved to interact with other dogs, appreciating each moment as a second chance at life after all she had endured.
Miraculous Ending
In just a few months, Prima transformed into a loving, playful companion who embraced her new life wholeheartedly. She became well-known for her affectionate nature and her love for snuggling with her foster siblings, proving her resilience and ability to thrive after such a tumultuous past.
Having once been classified as a hospice patient, Prima is now thriving in an incredible new home filled with love and adventures. Her new family has embraced her wholeheartedly, and she greets each day as a fresh opportunity.
Thanks to the selfless efforts of those who refused to give up on her, Prima has an exciting new chapter ahead!
