LEE COUNTY, SC....Sweet HOPE is a 3 year old Border Collie Mix.  Animal Control was called to pick Hope up at a home that said she was a stray that had wandered onto their property.  They said she had been there for a while but did not belong to them and they wanted her gone.  We have had Hope for several weeks to make sure we knew everything that was going on with her before we posted her condition.  She was malnourished and skinny when we got her but her abdomen was so swollen up that everyone thought she was pregnant.  She was not but was loaded with parasites.  Her bloodwork came back borderline anemic which we believe is from all of the parasites that were feeding on her.  Hopes biggest problem is that she has terrible Demodex that has gone untreated for so long that she is one big infection.  Over 50 % of her body has leathery elephant looking skin because her body has tried to fight off the mites and create a barrier.  She should get most of her fur back once we get rid of the Demodex.  She still looks pretty rough but is comfortable and happy since we have gotten the itching under control.  Her blood work is improving but still has a ways to go before she is in the normal range.  We thought she was a hunting dog mix when we got her but the vet swears she is a Border Collie Mix.  We don’t care what she is.  All we care about is getting this wonderful girl better.  Hope is one of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet.  She loves everyone and loves to play with other dogs.  There is not a mean bone in her body.  How someone could allow this to happen when all they had to do was get her to a vet when she started having problems is beyond me.   Hope has had this for probably two years to be this bad.  We will get her well and are excited about watching her become the beautiful dog she was always meant to be.  Hope is just happy to be alive and surrounded by people that think she is wonderful and special.  She is still at the vet and will be until we get her condition under control.

HOPE is doing wonderful.  It has been four weeks since we rescued her and she is healing beautifully.  She is still at the hospital and will be for several more weeks.  We are now taking applications for this wonderful girl.