Siberian Husky ; Abandoned Dog; Funchal; Madeira; Portugal

VICTORIA - A Rescued Husky from the Streets of Funchal, Portugal

This beautiful female Siberian Husky was abandoned in our neighborhood. She had been following us from a distance every time we took our Boxer dog Aishah out for her walk. After nearly three weeks the Husky could walk no further and started collapsing. When my wife and I examined her, it was clear that she was dying from starvation and that she had been run over by a car. She had bruises, but fortunately no broken bones. Her back paws were worn down to the bare flesh.

Madeira (Portugal) has a very poor reputation for animal rights. Although the Portuguese legislation is improving because of recent pressure by the EEC, the population is still very backward. Sixty percent are functionally illiterate. This makes it almost impossible to communicate to the people the spirit and the letter of any new law. The European Electronic Tag Directive is being easily circumvented by owners who brutally remove the tags so they can abandon their dogs with impunity. Some humans can sadly be very cruel to their animals: buying them, then later disposing of them as though they were just objects. Cruelty to dogs is at its worst during holiday periods. With their holiday already booked, the dog owner then realizes that they don't have anyone to look after their dog while they are away, so they abandon it. This is a common occurrence on Madeira.

The local government does nothing to change this brutal scenario. There have been a few initiatives by some brave, caring individuals. However, a lot more must be done to significantly change the trend in animal abandonment. These include public awareness campaigns, adoption clubs, dog-sitting associations, provision of basic veterinarian care for the abandoned dogs and so on.

PLEASE REMEMBER: A DOG IS PART OF YOUR FAMILY FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFE!

This dog suffers from a juvenile hip-dysplasia which needs to be operated on. This is a very rare condition amongst Huskies, being more prevalent amongst larger breeds. Dysplasia is an hereditary predisposition to hip malformation. In fact it is a complex (called polygenic or multigenic) disease caused by many contributory factors. The condition is a lack of stability of the femur head within its socket, the acetabulum, part of the hip joint. This can occur for a number of reasons: the socket could be deformed, the muscles may not be providing the proper support, or it could be a combination of these and other factors. In time the hip becomes deformed with arthritis, or degenerative joint disease as it is now called.

Genetically affected animals may be born perfectly healthy and may have a long life without this condition ever manifesting itself. When it does occur, it can vary in severity depending upon the animal. Because of the malformation of the hip, the joint undergoes very rapid degeneration which may lead to dog's hindleg becoming disabled.

If she doesn't have an operation, the prognosis for Victoria is for her limp and her pain to become progressively worse and for the muscles to atrophy. When the pain becomes too much for her, the only humane option will be to put her to sleep.

But There is a Solution: To Have a Total-Arthroplasty!

This is a very costly operation, about 2,000 euros. The operation consists of removing the neck and head of the femur and implanting a joint prosthesis.

This case of Victoria must have a happy ending, because having seen her suffering, we couldn't not have compassion on her. We are determined to have this dog operated on. She has already suffered enough in her young life.

She needs our HELP! Please, join us!!!

Both my wife (Graça M P Costa) and I are Marine Scientists temporarily living in Madeira. We are trying to do our very best to help these abandoned animals, but we need help and compassion from others.

If you find are able to help with ANY amount of money, please make your donation and become Victoria's Virtual Foster Owner. Any sum is welcome, from one unit of currency to whatever you feel is appropriate.

If you make a donation, please send an e-mail (at melo.moreira@yahoo.co.uk) reminding me of your gesture, with your name and address. My wife and I are planning to make a video documenting this case to send to all the donors with a postcard from Madeira. We can be contacted by phone: +351-919590035

If you can donate by clicking the appropriate link below (PAYPAL):

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=emmj%40clix%2e...

You can alternately make a payment by bank transfer:

IBAN: PT50000702430078943000957
Bank: BANCO ESPIRITO SANTO
NOME: EGBERTO MELO MOREIRA JUNIOR
BRANCH: SUCURSAL SÉ - FUNCHAL

MANY THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS ALL THROUGH

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• ABANDONED
• DOG;
• MADEIRA
• ISLAND;
• ANIMAL
• CRUELTY;
• SIBERIAN
• HUSKY;
• DYSPLASIA

[bluegas]

I was in Madeira on holidays last Summer. I was shocked with the amount of abandoned dogs... really shocking!

[emmj]

Many thanks for your feedback. Yes, the situation is not good for the abandoned dogs. But there should not be the circumstance of an animal being abandoned in the first place. It is an indicator of serious problems with that peculiar society. Again, lots of moneys invested in service sectors (hotels, restaurants, etc...) but relatively a minor fraction on education. Madeira is a turist façade, behind which you will find all sorts of social problems from abandoned dogs to infatile prostitution.

[megneild]

Ive just got back from Funchal and was appauled at the number of stray dogs in need of vet care that everyone just ignored :( so sad. Ur Husky is gorg!!

[emmj]

Unfortunately, Madeira is exporting the image of a paradise island, but the problems we have been facing here are of paramount importance. Just a few days I went to "MeiaSerra", our main dumping site. I was appalled to find body parts and general hospital waste piling at 3000ft, as a result of a malfunctioning incineration plant, hence compromising our water aquifers.

[ogden22]

what idiot would abandon something so beautiful ??!!

[tindermo]

I hope the husky get the operation she needs to survive. I wish I could donate some money but I have almost no money at all.

[steveshort4steven]

I think someone abandoned their dog near my neighborhood. It's a husky and look completely lost. I've seen it around the last 2 wks and fed it today. I feel so bad and people who do this are despicable

[EmilyLovesHerDogs]

Hi people can be so mean to dogs please sub me back and comment please and thank you very much I hope the husky found a great home with someone that will love her or if it is a him that breed of dog is wonderful to be around I wish people were not mean to dogs because it makes me sad to hear about dogs being hurt

[RutherfordClubb139]

Dowwnload the audio from this tune at thetunify doht cohm.

[gustygirl93]

Awwe thats sad, its a miniature siberian they only grow up to your knees a bit higher but thats it

[monki2004]

yes my husky jummped my fence all the time man could he run

[stickpuppetmaster]

Olha, gostava the saber se me podias ajudar, eu gostava muito de ter um Huskey, vivo em Gaia, lá no norte xD, mas a mim me dizem que o calor e o ambiente é mau para eles, no entanto vejo muito protugueses com eles, gostava que me desse sua opinião.

[mmgoicochea]

are you sure its a husky? looks kinda like a malamute ... but not 100% sure.. :D amazing animal.

[anaaguilar]

@bluegasI'm from Madeira, and unfortunately this has been the tragic truth since I remember myself. I can even name an event about what is wrong with that society, witnessed by someone that was my professor in college, directly connected with the president of that local government, that throws scientific, education, and so on kind of important long term projects into the drawer of his office, preferring to use the money only on big entertainment to fill the ignorant people's eyes, and so on...

[hatesmelikealollipop]

I'm from Madeira and I have 4 dogs, and I would never dare to leave any of them. I love my dogs.

If I could do anything about the abandoned dogs here in Madeira, I would, because I love animals. But unfortunately I can not do anything: \ It's sad . .

[SS2GOGETA]

God bless your soul