Ron, the surviver

Left alone at the abondoned house, Ron was a real fighter

Ron was left behind with his wife and daughter in an abandoned house after their owner moved out.

They wandered in a fishing village where over 50 feral dogs had come down from the mountains in search of food. We received a call to rescue Ron, whose body was covered with maggots. A villager said, "He is such a good boy and deserves to be happy. Please save him."

It took us a few days to capture Ron at the abandoned house. According to a neighbor who fed Ron and the other dogs, their owner rarely visited. He would come once or twice a week, or sometimes not at all for weeks. We managed to speak to this so-called owner about Ron's health, but he showed no concern. He even suggested that we should leave Ron alone. After several visits, we noticed that Ron's scar, infested with maggots, had grown significantly. Therefore, we decided to enter the abandoned house to catch him. The neighbor promised to look after Ron's wife and daughter.

Before this incident, other street dogs had also been severely injured, their bodies covered in maggots. We tried to catch them, but our efforts failed as they were too wary of humans and soon disappeared from the area. We feared they were dead, which made us desperate to rescue Ron before it was too late.

One day, we successfully caught Ron, and it was a huge relief. We brought him to the animal clinic, where the vet cleaned the large wounds on his body, removing all the maggots. Ron had also developed heartworm, but treatment for that would be postponed until his wounds healed a bit. The ongoing issue remained that there were no foster homes for adult dogs, and brain surgery is rarely performed by veterinarians in Hong Kong. Ron's doctor candidly informed me of this.

After the successful surgery, Ron's vet, Dr. Daian Liu, thanked us for giving Ron a chance at surgery. Although his cancer was not cured, we had extended Ron's life with a good quality of life. Most of the medical bills for the animals in my care were paid out of my own pocket, so Dr. Liu did not charge much for the operation, for which we were incredibly grateful. Our regular check-ups with Dr. Liu and her team became a happy outing for us.

I couldn’t bring myself to send a message card to Dr. Liu to inform her of Ron's passing. I know she must have felt it, but I was too scared to reach out. I am still struggling to cope with his death. The only reason I took the risk for Ron to have brain surgery was his desire to stay with us longer. There was no doubt about his will to live until his last breath. I have witnessed euthanasia many times, but letting go of Ron's body was not easy for me. However, I realize that sometimes love means relieving a loved one from pain.

Veterinarians often suggest euthanizing dogs if they are immobile. While I respect their opinion, what about the dog’s wishes? Without a doubt, Ron wanted to stay longer, even if that is my personal perspective. Some dogs may feel miserable during illness, but it’s also possible that some wish to be with their beloved families. Many scientists are still studying dog behavior and cognition.

Please don’t leave dogs in empty houses if you move out. We know of many people who abandon dogs when they relocate, treating them like garbage. This happens frequently in Hong Kong, where owners dump dogs or leave them at shelters without a second thought when they leave. It remains a mystery to us why people act this way.