Warning: This is an upsetting post.
In an unspeakable act of cruelty carried out by a sadist whom I'll be happy to help string up when he or she is caught, a beautiful dog now known as Dream had three of his paws cut off last week. Dream was found lying in agony in a field near Vittoria [Ragusa Province] on 13th March.
What happened to Dream has sickened the whole of Italy but has also brought out the best in Italians: as soon as the news broke, money poured in for his care and there has been no shortage of kind folk offering to adopt him.
Today Dream was flown to a specialist animal hospital in Bologna and the captain of the Alitalia plane allowed him to fly in the passenger cabin with a volunteer from the hospital. The appropriately named Captain Alessandro Salvati announced that a very special passenger was on board and all Dream's fellow-passengers and the crew showed their concern and compassion for him throughout the flight. Dream, who is said to be a gentle dog with eyes to break your heart, turned out to be a good traveller and continued his journey to the hospital with the good wishes of all who know his story.
Veterinary surgeons in Bologna hope to be able to fit Dream with prostheses from the USA and to help him walk again.
If you read Italian, you will be able to follow Dream's progress on facebook. I am sure that all of you, like me, will be thinking of him in the days and weeks to come.
Update: According to the latest facebook bulletin, Dream's operation today went well. Another part of Dream's front right paw, part of his back right paw and part of his tail had to be amputated because of advanced necrosis. His back left paw was cleaned during the operation because of infection. It is now hoped to fit him with a front right paw prosthesis from Italy and that this will enable him to walk but veterinary surgeons in the USA are being kept updated.
