Paralyzed, She Dragged Herself For As Long As She Could Looking For Help!

Ajay | October 29, 2019 | Rescues

The bravery this little dog showed is incredible! Dragging herself by her front legs through dangerous African terrain looking for help, without food or water!

With a huge dose of determination along with a courageous spirit, she refused to give up. Her spine crushed she literally dragged herself through difficult terrain in search of safety.

Without food or water, it is an absolute miracle that she found help. The little stray, now known as Poppy certainly had lady luck on her side, but in the end, it was her never say die attitude that saved her. How she became injured is unknown, to rescuers though, it was clear she was dumped.

Susanne Vogel, who works at the elephant research camp in a remote part of Botswana recalls the day in 2017 when Poppy dragged herself into their camp:

*Photo Courtesy of* *Facebook/Amanda Stronza*

“She came crawling—literally crawling, because her back legs were completely immobilized—into our research camp,” Vogel told The Dodo. “She was unable to walk, but full of love and seeking help.”

As it was an eight-hour drive to the nearest vet they were unable to provide the brave little dog the care she needed. So Susanne and her team cared for her the best way they could. She had somehow survived with all the odds stacked against her in an area full of Lions, Hyenas, and Elephants. Everyone in the camp felt duty-bound in trying to help her make it.

It was not the safest of roads, taking Poppy to the vet, but Graham McCulloch volunteered for the long dangerous journey. A Drive followed by a ferry across the Okavango River with the seven-month-old puppy by his side. It was the only hope if Poppy was to have any chance of walking again.

“He said the chances were ‘slim’ she could make it through the surgery or recovery afterward,” Amanda Stronza, one of her rescuers, said. “But she had so much life in her, and I knew we needed to honor her will to live and the hard fight she had already fought to find us and stay alive. I couldn’t agree to euthanize her.”

Thus, in order to help Poppy, Stronza set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the surgery. Seeing the plight of this helpless dog, people were generous, and they raised more than enough money to help Poppy.

With the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and the help of plenty of physical rehabilitation exercise, Poppy’s improvement and determination to live amazed everyone.

A trip to the specialist in Johannesburg determined that her spine was totally severed between two vertebrae and surgery was not going to make any difference to her spinal cord, according to an update on her GoFundMe page. The best choice for Poppy was a set of wheels that would enable her to move around.

People around the world were so moved by the spirit of this resilient puppy that they wanted to adopt her. Then, one of Stronza’s friends, MaryBeth Hastings, in Washington, D.C., saw Poppy on Facebook, and her two daughters immediately fell in love with her.

This determined pup is now thriving in her forever home. In January 2019, Poppy even got new wheels. Indeed, she has such a beautiful face and wonderful nature—she knew she needed help and managed to reach the right place at the right time.