Dumaguete Animal Sanctuary

Every Life Matters

RIP

Tesha

Tesha

When we rescued Elsie, we had no idea that she was pregnant as she was so very thin. Then she shocked us all by suddenly going into labour. Only one puppy survived: Tesha.

Sadly Elsie had no milk to feed her puppy and was in no state to care for her as she recovered from a surgery. That’s why we kept Tesha in an incubator at the shelter.
She did really well for such a long time, eating a lot and putting on weight. But as she never got the essential colostrum from her mothers milk that builds up immunity, we knew she would be vulnerable to disease.
Even so, we were starting to get hopeful that maybe Tesha would pull through. So when she suddenly stopped eating and became lethargic, we were sick with worry. We tested her for a range of diseases and she tested positive for Giardiasis. It’s common at shelters and most dogs don’t suffer greatly. But in old dogs and puppies it can be fatal.
We did everything in our power to help Tesha survive, but sadly she died the following day.
We’re devastated that we couldn’t save little Tesha. We had been caring for her for more than a month, handfeeding her every few hours, so to lose her at this stage really hits hard.
Run free sweet Tesha. You were so very loved in your short time on Earth.

Steel

Steel

Steel RIP

Steel RIP

We are currently only rescuing the most critical of cases due to very few donations coming in because of PayPal account issues, and Distemper still at the Sanctuary. However, we just cannot leave dogs dying slow painful deaths. On 4 August 2023 we had a report of a dog that seemed to be the victim of a hit and run. He was also very emaciated, and we named him Steel.

Steel RIP

Steel RIP

We ran a battery of tests on Steel and discovered he was in kidney failure, as he was vomiting and pooping blood. Sometimes the situation resolves itself in around 3 days, so we continued to care for him hoping for the best. We had him on oxygen, IV and medications and hooked up to the vital signs monitor with a vet assistant monitoring him 24/7, with virtual support from Isabela Vets.

Steel RIP

Steel RIP

A recovery sadly was not to be. He died in the early hours of this morning with our Vet Assistant Angel at his side. We knew it was a long shot but at least we tried and he didn't die alone. The fact that people all around the world showed care and compassion towards him and sent well wishes, is so comforting. He didn't die unknown and without a name, like many here do.
We gave him a funeral service to honour his life because he mattered. Run free Steel, we are so sorry we couldn't save you.

Jessa

Jessa

We have some very painful news to share. Yesterday, 1 August 2023, we had to put Jessa to sleep. Anyone who has had to make this decision knows how utterly difficult it is to make.
We rescued Jessa from the pound in December 2023, just hours before she was scheduled for Euthanasia.

Jessa

Jessa

She was pregnant at the time, though we didn't know this, and give birth the night we brought her into the Sanctuary.  She was very mistrustful at first but slowly over time, integrated fully with the shelter dogs and became very friendly towards staff.  Her two puppies, Bryce and Bettina survived and went on to good homes.

Jessa

Jessa

In June this year, Jessa contracted distemper and slowly over the course of the month, became weaker and lost the use of all her legs. She was just able to move her head.  We did massage therapy every day, we put her in a wheelchair that at least supported her body. We gave every medication possible and we continued to hope that she would regain mobility.
But over the last week, the light went out of her eyes and after consultation with the vets. We knew that it was time to let her go.

Jessa RIP

Jessa RIP

Its difficult to know when to let go. We don't want to put to sleep to alleviate our own suffering but we also don't want to keep her alive because the pain of putting her to sleep is too hard to bear.
She passed with the utmost of love surrounding her.
Thank you to our staff who have to tolerate this kind of situation - who spend hours and hours caring for these souls and then have to be able to let them go.
Thank you to her sponsor Nancy for loving her from afar.
Run free Jessa - you can read more of her time with us on her profile page here.

Hero

Hero

Hero RIP

Hero RIP

Hero was a hit and run rescue on 22 July 2023.  He was an old dog, maybe 10-12 years old, and initially we thought his medical problems were caused by the vehicle accident, but Animal Wellness vets showed severe malnutrition and moderate anemia, possible chronic infection in the body (suspected blood parasitism based on the increased TP, globulin and monocytosis), as well as a previously healed fracture on the right hindlimb which was causing him to limp.  Neurological signs like wobbling, droopy eyes and imbalance initially pointed to the potential for a head injury

Hero RIP

Hero RIP

Sadly, things got progressively worse for Hero, and we began to suspect a case of Rabies which can only be diagnosed after death as brain tissue is sent to the lab for confirmation.  We have had a lot of cases over the years and we have never been wrong.
Hero was biting everything that he could get at. He tore up his IV and the mat he was given to sleep on and was attacking the cage bars.
Rabies causes rapid deterioration within a day or two after it reaches the brain and its a very painful death.
There is no cure, it's 100 percent fatal for animals and humans.
We couldn't even comfort him. All we could do was help him pass painlessly.

Thank you for everyone who donated for him. We used the excess funds for the next new rescue.
Please get your pets vaccinated. It's pretty much 100 percent effective against the virus.
Run free Hero. We are sorry you had to suffer this way.

Skippy

Skippy

Skippy being treated

Skippy being treated

Skippy was rescued because he had multiple TVT tumours. For those of you who don't know about TVT - its a sexually transmitted cancer that can manifest throughout the body. Though it looks horrendous, it is highly treatable with chemo therapy.
The problem is that the chemo leaves a dog very vulnerable to other diseases as the immune system is compromised.
Skippy's tumors had shrunk considerably and he was eating well until the day before he died.
We can't know exactly why he died, it could have been due to any number of viruses or bacteria that invaded his immune system, or it could have been due to toxin overload as the tumors dissolved.
All we know is that Skippy didn't die on the streets alone, he spent the last 7 weeks of his life well fed, loved, comfortable and safe.
And for that we are grateful.
Ashley said goodbye to him when we gave him a little goodbye service.
Run free skippy.  He passed away on 13 July 2023.

Skippy RIP

Skippy RIP