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Just when we thought we had left Poolboy Bog Ballinasloe behind us after rescuing Arcadia the GSD x we received a call from a concerned man in the same bog checking his turf who had spotted a dog lying in one of the ditches and as he was horrified by its condition. He tried to coax it over but it struggled to its feet and moved away further into the bog.
So he called it in.
Two of the team responded immediately because they knew the photo that this poor dog needed us as soon as possible.
Knowing Poolboy Bog, as well as they do, they also knew that this could be a near impossible mission but they also knew that they wouldn't be leaving that vast stretch of bogland until they found him or until it became too dark (then they would resume again if needed).
We go out to these rescues quietly, without fuss, without drama. We don't call on public backup at this stage, nor do we alert people to what we are doing. We just do it because it's about getting out to the dog and bringing it home to our sanctuary first before sharing its story. We do what we feel we were born to do. Rescue those who need us the most.
And this boy did indeed need us.
A young boy, driven down into the depths of the bog, thrown out and left to die and he would have had he not been spotted. His totally emaciated body was ravaged by painful, raw mange. His spine, and every other bone, protruding through his broken skin. He had wounds on his legs with a large deep gash near his chest. Yet, once he realised we were there to help he found the strength to pull himself up out of the long grass he had been hiding in and approached our tasty chicken, too tempting for his ravenous mind and body.
Unsure and untrusting, at first, his eyes squeezed shut at times as though trying to block us out.
But oh what a sweet boy who, once caught, was delighted to be in our van, delighted with his bath, warm bed, food and most of all delighted to have new friend (Stroll the lurcher). We gave him a new collar to symbolise his new start. We gave him a name Quinlan meaning Strong in Gaelic. But, most of all, we gave him hope . We will give him a future and, in time, we will give him a family.
Who left Quinlan abandoned to die ?
Who threw his pitiful body into the bog and drove back up the bog road without a back ward glance?
A coward that's who.
Please watch Quinlans video and remember, he will survive and he will not allow this cruelty and neglect define him because we wont let him. He is bigger and better than the excuse of a human who did this.
https://youtube.com/shorts/yJEpn8ZOk2k
Quinlan is the fifth dog we have rescued so far this week and it is only Wednesday. If you can we would be so very grateful for any donation towards Quinlans ongoing care and to help us stay going because we are feeling somewhat battered. It is a daily struggle to keep our gates open but we are needed, needed by dogs like Quinlan.
Thank you.