Rescue Dog Theodora Recovers from Neglect and Finds A Family of Her Own

Last November, just a week before Thanksgiving, the NYPD received a call about five abandoned Great Danes in an evicted apartment. Inside the apartment, the officers found a sad scene. Two of the dogs were found already deceased, while the other three were extremely emaciated and in desperate need of help.

The three rescued dogs, later named Alvin, Simone and Theodora, were transported to the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center to receive immediate medical treatment.

Upon intake, it was noted that Theodora had several open pressure sores, significant dental disease and was on the older side for her breed at about 7 years old. She also had the telltale signs of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat.

“This is when the stomach twists around itself,” explained Dr. Karla Kovach, director of veterinary services at the Animal Recovery Center. “This condition is life threatening and progresses quickly to fatality without intervention. It prevents blood from returning to the back half of the body leading to cardiovascular collapse and shock. Being older and emaciated with an increased stress level increases the risk of a bloating event even further. During Theodora’s intake radiographs, she had the hallmark signs of having a GDV and she was immediately taken to surgery.”

After her successful emergency surgery, Theodora was placed on a refeeding program and received wound care for her pressure sores.

A refeeding program is designed to slowly reintroduce caloric intake to avoid “refeeding syndrome,” a potentially fatal syndrome first noted in prisoners of war during and after World War II.

“When starvation has occurred and the body is in an emaciated state, reintroducing full caloric intake quickly can lead to dangerous metabolic derangements and fluid shifts in the body,” said Dr. Kovach. “During refeeding, we restrict their caloric intake and weigh them daily. The goal is to maintain their current weight, not to gain or lose during this period.”

Once an animal comes off the refeeding program, they are given plenty of treats and are fed with an initial goal of gaining 20 to 30% of their initial intake weight. Our staff then continues to weigh the animal three times a week until they have hit an ideal body condition. Most dogs take anywhere from four to six weeks to gain the appropriate weight depending on their condition, breed and other factors.

Due to the fact that her body was still healing (which burns a lot of calories) and being a large breed dog, Theodora gained weight slowly. Fortunately, after several weeks, she was finally able to reach a healthy weight.

During this time, Theodora also developed estrogen responsive urinary incontinence, a common scenario in older spayed females, but thankfully she responded well to medication.

Throughout her treatments, it was noted that Theodora was the most timid of the three Great Danes, though she still enjoyed the company of humans.

“You could see she was conflicted as she wanted affection but was quite fearful,” remembered Dr. Kovach. “After being in our care for a month or so, she started to trust the medical staff more and opened up.”

After seven months of healing, gaining weight and receiving the love and kindness she was once denied, the ASPCA’s Centralized Placement team arranged for Theodora to be transferred to Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League (MAGDRL) in New Jersey, an ASPCA placement partner, in hopes of finding a loving home.

A Love of Great Danes

Over the last 36 years, Terri and Bruce G. have had three Great Danes. Their first was Frannie, followed by Cheyenne and then came Bella, who was the first dog they adopted from MAGDRL. After Bella passed, Terri and Bruce decided they were done adopting dogs. The retired couple spent time travelling, but before their latest vacation realized they missed having a Great Dane in their lives.

“We started checking out the MAGDRL website again in July,” explained Terri. “That’s when Bruce spotted Theodora. We went through the application process, and on August 14 we were on our way to meet her at her foster home.”

When the couple arrived, they were surprised by just how big she was, seeming larger in person than in her pictures.

“From her head to her very large feet, she was a big, beautiful girl,” said Terri. “While we discussed Dora (as she was named by MAGDRL), she laid quietly at her foster’s feet.”

Terri and Bruce discussed Dora’s medical history with her foster, including another recent diagnosis of fecal incontinence.

“We are so grateful to the ASPCA and the caring people that took such wonderful care of her. This was continued by MAGDRL and her caring foster mom,” Terri told us. “We knew she’d been through a rough time and yet seemed so sweet. We decided to bring her back home with us.”

Having heard the wonderful news that Dora had at long last been adopted, Dr. Kovach and her entire department were thrilled!

“We were concerned that her size and urinary leakage (though controlled on medication) would be barriers to her finding a home,” recalled Dr. Kovach. “It takes a special family to open their home and hearts to a giant dog like Dora. It is always uplifting to know that these animals that have had extraordinarily rough starts in life get to spend the rest of their time ensconced in love and security.”

The good news didn’t stop there as they soon learned that Alvin and Simone also found loving homes!

Getting Comfortable

When Dora first arrived home, Terri and Bruce expected her to stay by Terri’s side as they assumed she would be more comfortable around a woman after living with her foster mom. But on the second day home, Bruce took Dora on a long walk and that night, she laid on the floor with Bruce and kept rubbing her head on him.

“That was it!” Terri laughed. “She, like all our other Danes, is in his hip pocket or his ‘Velcro dog’ as they say.”

Throughout the last few months, Dora has been getting more and more comfortable in her new digs. She goes for long walks at a nearby lake, gets the occasional pup cup and loves playing with her Labrador cousins!

“She is a pleasure to take for a walk on a loose leash,” said Terri. “We recently took her to a MAGDRL event at the Mount Hope Winery Celtic Fair. There were people walking around in strange costumes, lots of children and other dogs from tiny terriers to huge Irish wolf hounds. She was awesome! The perfect ambassador for her breed.”

The only real challenge the couple has faced with their new pup is her fecal incontinence. Their vet recommended they try changing her food and adding in some fiber.

“Bruce takes her on a morning walk and that has proven to be helpful at that time,” explained Terri. “In our home, once Dora starts to go, she immediately heads for the door. We have seen some improvement!”

Despite what would be a dealbreaker for many adopters, Terri and Bruce couldn’t be happier with their decision to adopt Dora.

“She has changed our lives by filling that empty spot in our hearts with another very sweet loving Dane,” said Terri.

Terri and Bruce are also actively in the process of adopting another Great Dane so that Dora can have a sibling to play with!