1000+ Days in the Shelter: Why This Dog’s Past Keeps Her Future on Hold
TEHACHAPI, Calif. – A black Kelpie mix named Sierra has become the longest resident at Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, having spent 1,026 days – nearly three years – waiting for adoption.
Sierra, described by shelter staff as initially shy but quick to warm up, has been overlooked by potential adopters since 2021. Despite her extended stay, shelter workers emphasize her playful nature and compatibility with both humans and other dogs.
After knowing her story, many people have expressed their love and support for Sierra in the video shared by @marleysmutts. Heike Büdding wrote, “That shiny black fur and those eyes❣️ Someone WILL fall in love with you, Sierra.” Another user, Kristen Baquerizo, commented, “This girl is so special, and I can’t wait to finally see her with her own family in a beautiful home❤️”
From Life-Threatening Disease To Full Recovery
Sierra faced significant health challenges from birth due to a congenital condition known as imperforate anus, where she was born without a functional opening for her to go to the bathroom. This condition, a form of atresia ani, caused complications with her digestive system, requiring special medical care to address the issue.
Atresia ani in dogs is a critical problem, and generally, such puppies become septic eventually, which leads to them getting euthanized. Thus, an atresia ani puppy to survive and grow into a healthy dog is quite rare. But Sierra was able to pull through with the help of the rescue.
Arriving at the rescue from Lake Isabella Shelter, they took her to the vet for treatment, where she had to undergo surgery. Luckily, the surgery was successful, and she went on to make a full recovery.
Sierra’s courage, combined with the rescue’s efforts, has not only saved her but also improved her quality of life. Now, she has a rectum and is able to excrete with minimum issues.
Source: MarleysMutts – Youtube
Help Sierra Find A Home
The rescue has set a schedule for her where they take her out every day at fixed times, so she could defecate outside. But she will never be fully house-trained. Potential adopters should know beforehand that there can be accidents in the house through no fault of hers, being an atresia ani canine. However, otherwise, Sierra is a perfectly healthy and energetic dog with a lot of good years in her.
Sierra’s journey has been nothing short of miraculous. But this dog needs another miracle of finding a forever home. She has a lot of love to give, and hopefully, she will find a place she could call home.
Being one of the sweetest dogs, it’s heartbreaking to see her without a home, especially since she battled a severe medical condition to become the happy dog that she is today. So, if you can, please go to Marley’s Mutts and adopt this wonderful girl.
What is Imperforate Anus?
To understand Sierra’s case better, you might want to know more about the condition she was born with. Imperforate anus in dogs is a rare-occurring genetic disorder in which a developed anal opening is missing. It is the most common type of atresia ani, which is basically anecdotal malformations in dogs.
A dog with imperforate anus is not able to defecate properly, just as in Sierra’s case before her surgery. In place of the anal opening, they may have a bulge on the skin. Additionally, there may be other congenital malformations present.
Diagnosis
The disease is usually diagnosed through a physical examination. Other diagnostic tests, such as radiographs can be helpful to evaluate the formation of gastrointestinal and reproductive systems.
Treatment
The treatment of atresia ani in dogs is only possible through surgery. When you take the dog to a general practitioner vet, they will most likely refer the canine to a board-certified veterinary surgeon who can perform the required surgery to treat the condition.
This surgery involves creating an anal opening for the dog to pass their poop through it. After the surgery, some dogs may face chronic constipation. In these cases, vets usually prescribe stool softeners or recommend a diet that causes soft bowel movements.
Atresia ani dog surgery can be pretty expensive, as its cost ranges between $2000 and $3000. Sometimes, it can even exceed $3000.
Post-operation, the dogs generally need 2 to 4 weeks to make a full recovery. Vets should monitor the dogs for any infection occuring due to the surgery.
Prevention
There is no way to prevent imperforate anus in dogs. When puppies are born, they must be examined to see whether they face any difficulty in pooping. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the easier the treatment can be.
The only way to prevent it from occurring in dogs is not to breed the dog who has suffered from the condition.
This is why backyard breeding should be eradicated because it leads to unhealthy parents giving birth to unhealthy offspring. Moreover, if these puppies suffer from severe genetic conditions, they either get tossed on the streets or are euthanized.
