When Tickled Pink Weimaraner Rescue received a report that a Weimaraner was on death row at a high-kill shelter, they immediately took action. To their shock and horror, upon arrival they discovered a dog with an enormous tumor on his underbelly that had left him barely able to stand. The dog went by the name Gilbert Grape, and it was a mystery how he had managed to survive for so long without receiving any medical care.
Keri Pink, a volunteer in media relations for Tickled Pink Weimaraner Rescue (TPWR), recently shared with DogHeirs the incredible story of Gilbert Grape, a lost dog who was saved and is currently on the path to recovery. Gilbert, a male Weimaraner, was discovered as a stray and brought to a high-risk shelter by local animal control officers during an extremely hot summer day in Arizona. According to Keri, temperatures were soaring above 95 degrees, and the poor dog was unable to move or stand due to a massive, diseased tumor that he was carrying. The shelter placed him on the concrete floor of their isolation area, a place where animals are usually left to die from illness or aggression.
The county has a program in place that allows recognized rescues to take in animals under medical clearance. However, for strays, the shelter stores them for 72 hours without screening to allow owners to claim them. Recently, Tickled Pink Weimaraner Rescue was contacted by two shelter volunteers about an animal named Gilbert Grape, who had a large tumor hanging from his chest. The rescue immediately stepped in to help and brought Gilbert Grape to a specialty veterinary facility. The surgeon determined that in order to attempt a life-saving operation to remove the tumor, Gilbert Grape would need blood transfusions and intravenous catheter stabilization.
The estimated cost for diagnosing, stabilizing, and performing surgery on the dog was around $7,000. Despite the expense, rescuers and medical staff made the unanimous decision to save the dog’s life. However, there is a fine line in rescue between what private pet owners are required to do to provide life-saving treatment for their animals and what rescued dogs may and should go through. Private pet owners have the freedom to choose their own pets, while rescues rely on government support. Gilbert’s health status and exact age were unknown, but his blood tests were mostly normal except for a high white blood cell count due to the diseased tumor. His expected lifespan was approximately seven years.
A glimmer in Flaṅagaṅ’s eyes caught our attention and we wanted to give him a chance, but ultimately we realized we needed the support of the masses. Gilbert underwent a straightforward procedure and made a swift recovery in the intensive care unit. He was released from the hospital within two days and has been thriving ever since.
After his surgery, Gilbert’s 12-pound tumor was diagnosed as a benign lipoma in the pathology report, which was released a week later. Gilbert has remained cancer-free ever since.
During his check-up, the surgical staples that were previously embedded in his chest were removed, and he was given a clean bill of health. However, the veterinarians noted that while Gilbert carried the tumor for over a year, he experienced muscle loss and physiological strain as a result of compensating for the weight. As a result, Gilbert has developed ataxia in his hind legs with negligible muscle mass throughout his body. This imbalance affects his walking movements, making them rather awkward. Gilbert will soon begin a physical therapy program that includes massages, manipulations, and water therapy. Although his physical condition remains precarious, his charming and humorous nature is shining through to his foster father more and more with each passing day.
Gilbert’s story was widely shared, and it is possible that some adoption applications were accepted as a result. Despite not being fully ready for adoption, Gilbert has a promising future ahead of him. One year after his rescue, he was adopted and is now thriving in a loving and caring home. His new family even has a pool for him to swim in regularly to help with his hip dysplasia, and he gets along wonderfully with them.
According to the records, Gilbert was rescued in 2013. Since then, Tickled Pink Weimaraner Rescue has been rescuing other dogs that are in desperate need of help, including those with special needs, sick dogs, and others. For more information and to see the dogs available for adoption, visit their website and Facebook page.
