We saw so many patients during our four clinic days in Granada, but one very special little patient stood out among them. At the start of our first day, a very kind man named Oscar brought in a little blonde and white puppy that was clearly not doing very well. With his whole body shaking, very pale gums, dehydration, and major GI upset, this puppy was in for a rough road ahead. On top of being very ill, the pup was a street dog without a home. We affectionately named him Chancho, Spanish for pig, as he had a very big, round belly due to parasites.
Chancho stayed in our clinic on IV fluids, meds, and lots of TLC from the amazing World Vets team. He quickly won over their hearts. World Vets volunteer Dr. Robert Trevino worked tirelessly trying to create a treatment plan strong enough to support Chancho and bring him back to health. Within 48 hours a little pup that came in lethargic and non-responsive bounced back! Checking in on him, we found a puppy rolling on his back kicking his feet in the air or dancing at the front of his cage with a tail that never stopped wagging. This puppy was clearly a fighter and would not let his rough start at life defeat him.
Now the question became what would be the future of Chancho as he was still without a home. Such a special guy definitely deserved a great future. The veterinary student on the trip, Tori Hall, finally broke down and went through the steps needed to bring Chancho back to the US. From there on, Chancho became the unofficial mascot of this World Vets trip, with his playful puppy attitude and his immediate love for anyone he meets. Seemingly forgetting anything that happened to him before he came to his World Vets team, Chancho quickly adjusted to his new life of constant love and playing. While he will soon travel to Mississippi with Tori, he is starting to look for a very special forever home where he can get all the love and attention that the little guy deserves.