Is there a colder place than being alone in the freezing snow with only a thin jacket and a note saying you’ll never come back? This is how Raiya, a golden retriever, was left when she was discovered freezing in a dog park in Canada with her nose smeared with snow and her eyes clouded with confusion and sadness. Next to her was her medication for seizures, a pair of boots, and a note from her, now ex, owner saying they were moving overseas for good with their loved ones and would never return.
Raiya was noticed by another onlooker, who quickly contacted Pause4Change Rescue Foundation, who then posted her photos on Facebook. Notice the photo, where Raiya is standing in the cold, and that was the image that touched the hearts of many people who saw her, as many people expressed shock at her condition. How can someone just leave a beautiful girl like that awful, was the comment posted by one of the people on her photo.
The rescue team immediately took Raiya to the Southern Alberta Veterinary Emergency. Later, they handed her to Pause4Change. After the medical evaluation, it is approximated that she has a seizure disorder. Moreover, she could have hip dysplasia. According to veterinary surgeons, hip dysplasia can be a common issue in big breeds of dogs associated with golden retriever breeds. This condition comes about because of the flawed development of the hip socket. This condition brings about looseness, pain, and finally arthritis. In some situations, the dog may limp, refuse to jump, sway as it moves, but with minimal medical treatment. For some situations, they may undergo complete hip replacement as well as osteotomy of the Femoral Head. Currently, Raiya’s medical bill will amount to $2,000.
Psychological effects of abandonment exhibited by dogs can be severe. According to pet behavior analysts, dogs that have experienced abandonment tend to have anxiety, depression, and issues with trust acceptance, as seen in the case of Max, a dog who shook in the back of a car whenever the car moved because of psychological shock caused by abandonment along the road. Healing of such dogs, as in the case of Raiya, requires not only treatment but also emotional handling through planned activities and relaxation spaces for emotional health.
The impact of abandonment is not just felt by the family but also by the rescue community as a whole. There is already overflow at shelters, and these groups are totally dependent on charity in order to provide food, medical care, and rehabilitation services to the pets. The pets would be exposed to disastrous conditions of weather, injury, or death by being abandoned rather than being turned over to shelters. The issue of legal matters involving Raiya has been raised by Pause4Change, and it would be dealt with by the authorities.
But there are cases like Raiya’s which remind us of what is possible in a transformation. There are golden retrievers like hers who have begun as returns to shelters, only to become service dogs in the end giving relief and crisis aid to those in need. There is a lot that can be done with care and commitment, and dogs like Raiya are well able to turn their own lives around and make others happy in the process.
There is no end to what can be accomplished in training like decompression training and basic/service training in a case like Ruby’s. But for Raiya, the future also involves interaction with the medical and maybe even the orthopedic fields, as well as psychological healing. Raiya would also need a healthy diet and regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight and alleviate the pain she might be experiencing from her hip dysplasia and other conditions she may also have. She would require close monitoring and a regimen of medications to keep her seizure condition under constant control. However, she would also need loving companionship to facilitate the healing of trust in humans.
The manner by which the public has rallied to the plight of Raiya, with nearly 500 likes and comments filled with empathy, is indicative precisely that the idea that pets are considered to be members of the family instead of something that could just be abandoned is one that has been embraced by the majority. Members of rescue organizations urge those who feel that they cannot properly look after the pets within their household to seek the aid of rehoming organizations or animal shelters. “There are so many organizations out there to help, and less judgment would be passed,” as one caring individual so aptly put it. However, through time, effort, and love, the story of Raiya might just change from one of tragedy to one of resurrection and the fact that even when things are at the most dismal point, something better might just be found.
