A touching story has emerged of a community coming together in East Grand Rapids, as they rallied behind a dog that was found collapsed in the middle of a busy road.
Emily Bond tells how, one morning in June, her husband, while walking his dog, discovered the dog lying in the road. Bond described the condition of the dog, now named Hope, as traumatic.
Bond took to the Hope for Hope – An Abandoned Dog in Grand Rapids Facebook page to share his rescue story. She wrote: “This morning, my husband and some neighbors discovered this hungry, emaciated dog who had come out of the woods and collapsed in the morning traffic on Lakeside. She was too exhausted to cross the street. Concerned passersby stopped the traffic. They kept her safe until they were finally able to Guide her to the sidewalk.
The kind-hearted individuals gave Hope some water, which she eagerly drank in large gulps. She was so exhausted that she lowered her face into the bowl of water and couldn’t muster the energy to raise her head again.
The authorities were alerted and police officers and animal rescue teams arrived at the scene. But given the low state of hopes when their forecasts arrived, their survival was not high.
Bond stated: “The police were contacted and the animals were rescued. Their response was not very optimistic for the dog.”
“Then Rachel, the neighbor who seemed like a guardian angel, intervened and expressed her determination to save the dog at any cost. She decided to take her to Cascade Animal Hospital. With this decision, Rachel assumed responsibility and expenses for the dog,” which she named “Hope.” “We found hope at Cascade Animal Hospital where they gave us reason to believe she might recover.”
The veterinary hospital suspects that Hope, a Pit Bull Terrier believed to be 7 years old, had been used in breeding times by an irresponsible breeder before being abandoned. Tests revealed that Hope was suffering from skin infections and had swallowed rocks (a behavior among hungry dogs). Veterinarians perform tests to look for any potential health problems.
Rachel also offered to “take this dog into her care or responsibly work with an organization to find a home for Hope” as stated in Bonds’ update on the Hopes’ Facebook page.
Realizing that Rachel would not have the money to cover all of Hope’s medical expenses, Bond created a GoFundMe campaign and successfully raised money for Hope’s treatment.
Hope faced moments during her week in the hospital; But her condition gradually improved over time.
That night, she was transferred to an animal emergency hospital, where she could receive treatment overnight and be under constant monitoring.
Days later, Hope showed stability to be allowed to return home with Rachel’s family. Her caretakers expressed their happiness, saying that she will have a place to sleep inside on a bed and enjoy boundless love and will never face hunger again.
When we discovered hope, we were not sure whether this positive outcome would become a reality or not. Honestly, things looked bleak at first. However, we were determined to give this girl the fighting chance and fight that she did. Although she still has progress to make regarding her health today, she was full of joy and affection for her companions (she is truly the sweetest girl).
