Orphaned Pup Gets A New Chance At Life In Chimp Sanctuary – The Photos Are Touching
For Jenny Desmond, dedicating her life to animal rescue means she can never turn away from a creature in need. Jenny, who co-manages the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection Center in West Africa alongside her husband, Jimmy, was heading back to the facility when she noticed a struggling puppy on the road, barely clinging to life. Even though her primary work involved chimpanzees, Jenny couldn't leave the dog behind.
Keep reading to find out what happened next in this extraordinary story!
The Puppy Needed Help
Around the world, countless animals are left to fend for themselves. This was the tragic fate of a tiny puppy discovered in a remote village in Liberia. The little dog sat alone by the roadside, apparently abandoned and left to perish.
While the villagers looked the other way, they unexpectedly pushed back when a woman tried to intervene and offer help.
Jenny Desmond Noticed The Puppy Needed Help
Jenny Desmond, co-founder of the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection (LCRP) center in West Africa, was the woman who discovered the puppy. Alongside her husband Jimmy, she leads the center's efforts to rehabilitate wild and orphaned chimpanzees rescued from illegal wildlife and bushmeat trades. Yet, Jenny, Jimmy, and their team are devoted to helping any animal in need.
While traveling through a remote Liberian village, Jenny noticed the puppy lying by the roadside.
Who Knows How Long He Was Suffering In These Conditions?
Upon stopping to help, Jenny quickly realized the puppy was suffering from a severe worm infestation and a high fever, alongside numerous other health issues. The little dog was dangerously underweight and struggling with eye and skin infections.
Determined to nurse him back to health, Jenny decided to bring the puppy to their facility for proper care. However, the villagers resisted her efforts and voiced their disapproval.
Jenny Had To Argue With The Villagers
Jenny was stunned by the villagers' resistance when she tried to rescue the puppy. She refused to pay for the dog, certain that no one was truly caring for him. "You can see he’s being eaten alive," she said, lifting the puppy to reveal his scab-covered coat.
“Are you seriously asking me to leave him here to die?” she asked, realizing that saving this little dog would be far more challenging than she had first expected.
She Vowed To Never Bring Him Back
In the video, Jenny asks the villagers, "If the dog gets better, would you want me to bring him back to you?" This seemed to ease their concerns, and they allowed her to take the puppy.
As she drove away, Jenny was heard saying, “I'm not bringing him back. I’m just saying that.” She was certain the puppy’s chances for a good life in that village were slim to none.
They Weren't Sure He Was Going To Make It
It was a good thing that Jenny rescued the sick puppy when she did. She was certain that the puppy would have died in two days if she hadn't have come to its rescue.
Upon further inspection, they found that the puppy was missing huge patches of fur and his skin was covered in dirt and sores. Jenny wanted to give the puppy a fighting chance at life even though it seemed like he wouldn't make it.
The Puppy Received What Was Probably His First Bath
When they got to the sanctuary, the first thing they did was give the puppy a much-needed bath. Jenny and one of her colleagues gently scrubbed out the dirt caked into the puppy's fur as he sat helpless under the running water.
This was second nature to Jenny. "She's rescued a lot. She rescued chickens, she rescued grasshoppers, owls... she's rescued a lot of things," explained Jenny's colleague. Jenny has never turned a blind eye to an animal in need.
They Named Him Snafu
The Desmonds decided to name this little guy Snafu. When he first arrived at the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection facility, Snafu was a timid and fragile puppy. It was clear that he didn't have the strength to carry on.
But amazingly, Snafu would make a strong recovery in a matter of days and it would seem the rescue was paying off. But first, there were some important things they had to take care of.
Treatment Was The Next Step
Snafu got treatment right away so that he could start healing. Jimmy Desmond is a wildlife veterinarian and consultant who specializes in emerging disease and the illegal wildlife trade.
Jimmy administered a treatment underneath the puppy's skin that would be absorbed by the body. It was likely that the puppy had some serious infections that would have led to a fatal disease had he not been saved when he was.
Snafu Was So Hungry He Was Digesting His Muscle
Snafu was so malnourished and starving that he had begun digesting his own muscles. Jenny and Jimmy made sure to give him plenty of food and water in order to nourish him back to health.
When given the food and water, Snafu would stand there inhaling it all for quite some time so it was clear that he had been deprived of these necessities while fending for himself in that village.
His Hair Started Growing Back In Five Days
By the fifth day under the Desmond's care, the puppy's fur started to grow back. "He didn't even look like he had fur or hair," Jenny said in reference to when they first found him.
"There used to be big chunks of skin [falling out] and there's not that much of it anymore." The puppy was showing incredible signs of improvement in less than a week of being cared for.
Snafu's Recovery Took A Turn
"Everyday we kind of felt like he was getting a little bit better but with most animals that we rescue, there's a day when they kind of take a turn," Jenny explained. Slowly but surely, that day would come for Snafu.
One thing's for sure, Snafu's spirit was definitely changed within days of being at the LCRP. The once-timid dog soon started to move around playfully after he got used to his new environment.
They Put On The "Cone Of Shame"
As Snafu became more playful, the Desmond's had to be more careful about his treatment. When they first got him, Snafu had multiple open wounds that were oozing with puss. "It was starting to heal with the medicine but then he was biting it, so we put the collar on him," Jenny said.
Part of Snafu's treatment involved having to wear the cone of shame, though we're sure Snafu wasn't ashamed to be healing.
Snafu Got Along With The Rescued Chimps
Even with the restrictive collar around his neck, Snafu still felt well enough to start interacting with everyone at the sanctuary — especially his new animal friends. Not only did he not mind sharing food with the older dogs on the property but he got along well with the chimpanzees too!
For their part, the chimps loved helping to care for Snafu by carrying him down the stairs when he was still small.
Snafu Essentially Grew Up With The Chimps
Under the Desmonds' vigilant care, it wasn't long before Snafu not only began healing but he also began growing as well. Within a year, Snafu had grown into a full-sized dog and was as happy as can be.
Not only that, he was happy to interact with the rescued chimpanzees having grown up on the sanctuary. Snafu actually got his second chance at life but that wasn't the end of his story.
Snafu's Future Was Up In The Air
Snafu looked like a completely different dog within a year of being rescued. It was all thanks to Jenny and Jimmy Desmond who had the resources and hearts full of love that Snafu was able to make a full recovery.
Life seemed pretty perfect at that point but suddenly, the Desmonds realized they couldn't continue to care for Snafu. As new animals came in needing their help, space at the sanctuary was getting tight.
The Desmonds Wanted Snafu To Have A Life He Deserved
Lots of animals find their way to the LCRP but it's not often that they have to say goodbye. Even though Jenny never discriminated against what animals she cared for, she realized that her's and Jimmy's busy schedule in rescuing chimpanzees was their priority.
Still, they wanted Snafu to have the life that he deserved. They needed to think of a solution so that he could continue to get the love they were giving him.
They Couldn't Give Snafu The Attention He Deserved
Jenny and Jimmy fell in love with Snafu and were proud of his recovery but their work at the sanctuary had to come first. Running the LCRP involved a lot of travel, especially since they rescued chimpanzees from all over Africa.
They realized that all their travel prevented them from giving Snafu all the care and attention he deserved. Luckily, they thought of the perfect solution for Snafu's situation.
Jenny's Nieces Adopted Snafu
Jenny knew the perfect people to adopt Snafu and it was her sister's family in Colorado. "He's moving to Colorado to live with my nieces and he's gonna have a great, wonderful life," Jenny said.
"Look at him, he's cute, happy, [and] fat." It was certainly a huge improvement from when Jenny first found Snafu on the side of the road one day. She could only hope that Snafu would enjoy his new life.
Snafu Is Thriving In Colorado
Snafu loved his family at the Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue and Protection facility. She especially loved the new parents he had in Jenny and Jimmy, who hoped that Snafu would continue to be happy when he moved to Colorado.
Fortunately, that was precisely the case! Snafu loved being able to play with Jenny's nieces and to have a new family that loved her just as much as the one back in Africa.
