When Annie McHound arrived at Stray Rescue of St. Louis she was covered in hundreds of fleas. And what her rescuers thought was motor oil on her fur turned out to be dried blood from all the bug bites!
The dog had wandered into someone’s backyard looking for help, and the Missouri Animal Shelter was called. Thank goodness, because Annie was in her last days. Not only was she anemic, but she was also very thirsty due to the high summer temperatures hitting the city of St. Louis.
She was also very skinny and weak. When she returned to the Stray Rescue shelter, she could barely stand.
Her hands were soon covered in dried, rust-colored blood, but Annie calmly let them rub it while she drank water.
They used a medicated soap to kill all the fleas and make them fall off.
But the fleas had already taken their toll on her. Her gums were pale and she was so anemic that they had to give her an emergency blood transfusion.
But just one day after her medical treatment, Annie is much better. “She is already feeling much better, free from this insane heat, free from being host to blood-sucking pests, free from loneliness, free from thirst, and free from worry,” Stray Rescue of St. Louis wrote.
Her gums are pink and looking healthier already and she is being pampered in every way. Her rescuers said, “The poor thing must think she died and went to heaven.”
Annie is also up and walking after her transfusion. “Look who came back from her emergency transfusion! Annie McHound is walking and everything!”
It’s heartwarming to see Annie doing much better after just a few days with her rescuers. But she’s not completely out of the woods yet. To help Stray Rescue care for Annie and other adorable dogs like her, visit their website to make a donation.