WELCOME TO Val's Alentejo -I write about my region of Alentejo. My art ,painting, my cottages, Family life, my animals -Travels And my love for Roses- and rural country life.

Saturday 3 January 2015

My rescue dog Bonita.


  On a Monday afternoon drive out , about 7 years ago.    My sister and our family friend Peter had decided that we would take a drive to the Odivelas dam.  (I have posted about the dam).  Its about 40 min from my home.

Happily driving along, and talking about what we might have for our lunch that day.      My sister said to me..  "Val, slow down, there is a sheep in the road".  I slowed down to right where we thought the sheep was either dead or injured in the middle of the road.     We all got out of the car.    To our surprise, it was a dog very injured and half dead , lying there in the middle of the road.
My sister ran to get my wooly haired jacket.. she scooped the dog up.   We rushed back to the car.
I have never driven so fast .  Back to the village closest to mine, we just made it to my vet.  It was 5 min to 1pm.. closing time.

    Dra Ana..put her on the clinic table.   She was totally shocked when she saw the dog.  No more shocked than we were.    I asked her what she thought.  Would it be worth working on her or not.
This was the prognosis given by dra Ana.   She had shrapnel in her left eye.. it was clearly gone and she was blind.   She hardly had any teeth. she had been eating stones and things along the way. Her tail had been cut off. She was full of ticks and fleas.
She was dying.
Dra Ana, said, that she had been very badly treated. had been beaten and was then left to fend for herself.
As dra Ana has been and still is my vet..a jolly good one too.   I said to her.. "please ", please just try and give her another day.. do what you can".  Don't spare anything.
I left her there, the three of us returning home crying.
Never in all my years had I ever seen a dog in such a tragic state.
We all said a little prayer, and as you can imagine.  she was on our minds that whole day.

Dra Ana, phoned me the next morning at 9am.. to say, that she had made it through the night.. What did i want to do.   I told her to let her stay another night.    She stayed 5 days.  On the 5th day I went to collect her. My sister and Peter had returned home.

I had bought her a new bed, that I put at the side of my bed in my bedroom.   I did this, so that the other dogs could come slowly one by one to get to smell her and know her.  She stayed in my room moving slowly around for well over a year, I took her out three times a day.  She ate very little.   I gently moved her together with the other pets at the end of that year .  It was a very long process.

I had to pick her up to take her outside to do her jobbies.. It was hard to do this, as she cringed at any sort of contact.

The recovery began.
When dra Ana was examining her, and putting the drip in.. she checked for a chip.  She has a chip.
Unfortunately your dog, has to be registered with the municipality that you live in.  So we were unable to find the owners.. Of course , i would never have given her back.. but a good telling off and more I would have done.


She only started to bark after 2 years.  She adapted well to her new family and them to her.

Her name is BONITA.. Pretty.  Thats  what i called her and always do." you pretty girl."

Very camera shy.   Now going blind in her right eye.   The family and the vet call her my miracle dog.
She went missing once for 2 days.  Came back full of brambles.. she had lost her way.
One of my son's dogs attacked her and ripped her open. (animals know when there is a weak one amongst them)..
She has fallen in the pool.
And she had an infection in her earlobe.. now the ear is just hanging.. no pain.

Bonita.. is a pure bred -thoroughbred  - Portuguese Podengo.   A National breed.

An ancient multi-sensory hound ,noted for its sight and senses.
Good guard dogs..and excellent companions.  Just as Bonita is to me.

She still has some years to go.. but not too many.  We think she was about  about 5 when we found her.

The Podengo's belong to the breed of Hounds.   They hunt in packs.

Even today.. my heart gets full of emotion when i talk to her.  I wonder who could have done such awful things to such a loving creature.
She has given me hours of pleasure and loves to run out with her brothers and sisters.

Miracles do happen.

Thanking all my close blogging friends for leaving such wonderful kind New Year comments..

Its back to normal here at "Quintinha dos Rosas"..

Happy weekend.      Val

there are 3 catagories.. Small, Medium, and Large.    Long haired and smooth coated.
A breed unto themselves.. No interbreeding.
Great companions and guard dogs.. and can live up to 15 to 16 years.


30 comments:

  1. What a lucky dog for you to have gone down that road at that time, what a nice ending to a horrible beginning.

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    1. Thank you Sunnybrook.
      yes, I think our dear lord had that plan in mind for me..
      she is very happy now

      Delete
  2. How wonderful you rescued her and gave her a chance for a different life. yes, how can anyone be so cruel! My daughter has rescued two dogs that showed up at her door half dead. God bless you for He made the animals too!

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    1. I was blessed to rescue her from her awful life Sylvia..
      Its nice to hear that your daughter rescued two dogs as well.

      Delete
  3. Such a beautiful post to read this morning, Val. Your Bonita - Pretty Girl indeed - is truly a miracle. No accident that you were put in her path.
    Happy New Year to you and every creature at your lovely place.

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    1. Thank you so much for you kind comment Pondside.. nice to see you.
      No it was no accident. God's plan was for me to be there that day.
      Happy new year to you too.

      Delete
  4. oh, sweet, sweet bonita. what a cruelty done to her and such love from you ever since. bless you.

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    1. Thanks Tex.. yes, sweet bonita.. she is well loved ..
      I just came back from shopping.. and there she was waiting with her family wagging her tiny little stub of a tail..

      Delete
  5. Dear Val - Such a sad story but thankfully because of you and your vet it has a fairytale ending. I cannot understand how anyone could be so cruel to any animal, and especially one like Bonita who has such a strong appeal. She is indeed your little miracle.

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    1. It is a sad story Rosemary. I just cannot understand how people can do this.

      Bonita is happy now. She shows me that, I feel it when i pet and love her.

      Delete
  6. Poor poor, Bonita. And what a special soul you are Val to rescue her and love her the way you did. I believe that dogs rescue us as well and give us all the love they have. Nel lost her dog recently and she was so upset. But the time they spent together was precious for her and the dog she adored. Loved your story, Val, and it was coming straight from your heart I can tell from your words and thoughts.

    Happy New Year, sweet friend.

    love,
    ~Sheri

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    1. Thank you Sheri..
      So sorry for Nel.. our pets are like our children.
      such a kind post Sheri..
      xx

      Delete
  7. Poor little Bonita, Val. I had no idea of her circumstances. But she is so lucky to have found you and you are lucky to have come along when you did. She is no longer to be considered "poor" as she now has a loving home and is well cared for. Which is what she wanted all along!..Thank you, Judy

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    1. I dont really write much about Bonita.. she is a special dog..
      she goes where she wants within the boundries of the farm..
      always the same way.
      She is happy and very loving.
      Thanks Judy

      Delete
  8. Bonita looks so pretty, a lovely name and how lucky for her that you cared so much and have shown her that not all humans are the same. Sarah x

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    1. Thank you Sarah..
      I know that she is happy
      They are my dear companions.

      Delete
  9. Bonita found life and love in you, Val! I too wonder how anyone could and would be so mean to an animal....:)JP

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    1. Thank you JP.
      Bonita is in her forever home..and very happy.

      Delete
  10. What a blessing you have been to Bonita. I don't understand how anyone can be so cruel to an animal. So glad you found her!

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    1. Thank you Jan.
      I was blessed with such a wonderful faithful Bonita..
      she is very happy

      Delete
  11. Hello Val

    Well done and thank you for your kindness and giving a home to Bonita.
    She is a lovable dog and no doubt thinks the world of you.

    Happy New Year
    Helenxx

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    1. Dear Helen.. lovely to see you.
      Bonita is indeed a very special dog.
      she does love me.. i am blessed Thank you Helen.

      Delete
  12. Dear Val, Not many people would have gone to so much trouble (and expense) as you did to save Bonita. You are an angel. Dogs are such amazing companions. They deserve to be loved for they return love in a thousand ways.

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    1. Thank you Gina..
      You have animals,and know the expense.. but they are our four legged children !!! I spared nothing to get Bonita on her feet again.
      They do indeed deserved to be loved.. she loves me too.

      Delete
  13. What a lovely dog and such a fortunate one to have been found by someone as kind and devoted to animals as you, Val. The cruelty in the world is sometimes unbelievable, yet thankfully there are many, many people who do so much to work against it. I hope you have a number of happy years to come with your Bonita.

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    1. Thank you dear Perpetua.. I think that our lord, sent me that way on that day.
      I cannot understand how people can be so cruel..
      She is outside now with her brothers ,enjoying some sun

      Delete
  14. Ah that's a lovely story Val. You just can't imagine people treating a dog so badly can you but her Guardian Angel came to the rescue and you both give each other such joy. P x

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    1. Thanks Patricia.
      No.. just cannot imagine.. there are such cruel people in this world.. towards animals and people.
      I love her to bits and she loves me.. she is happy.

      Delete
  15. I nearly cried reading your lovely story, Val. How absolutely wonderful that you found Bonita, and that she found you. Meant to be! I love that she has found a loving and peaceful home with you all. Happy New Year!! xxx

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    1. So sweet Patricia.. Bonita is very special..
      Our lord meant it to be that day.
      she is happy.
      All the best for the New Year. xxx

      Delete

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