It was in Easter 2018 when concerned folks brought Marshmallow and a few other furballs to the Hungarian dog rescue station of Animal Care Austria (ACA). Volunteers from ACA’s team of veterinarians immediately conducted a medical examination on each pooch. The results showed that aside from being completely blind, Marshmallow was suffering from severe heart problems and was a few breaths away from death.
Wanting to understand what happened to the dogs, ACA decided to conduct an investigation. When they went to the house Marshmallow and the other dogs used to live in, they were shocked to see piles of garbage everywhere. They also learned that the dogs had to compete for food and water because the supply was scarce.
As the volunteers went deeper into the investigation, it became clear to them that the dogs were mentally and emotionally damaged too. They started helping the dogs heal by addressing their medical condition first.
The first step towards healing
ACA volunteers sent Marshmallow to Dr. Bettina Rippel-Rachlé and Dipl. Tierarzt Peter Rippel’s vet team. They worked night and day just so the furball would get a second chance in life. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they gave the volunteer photographer present during Marshmallow’s rescue the go signal to bring him home.
The volunteer knew how challenging it would be a foster mom to a blind senior dog. But, that didn’t trump her determination to let Marshmallow experience being loved and cared for by humans. She tied bells to her ankles to make it easy for him to find her. She also let Aida, another dog she rescued from ACA, help Marshmallow move around the house.
It took a while for the furball to adjust to his new living space. Once he became accustomed to it, he transformed into a happy and energetic dog!
Marshmallow stayed with his foster mom for a year and a half. As of writing, he’s now with his forever family, living the kind of life that he deserves.
Credits to PRINCE MIKI’s House of Fluff