Missy's tragic story

Demi HEWAMANNA

I just don't understand how some people can just drive by hitting another life and leave them to die. How do you go to sleep? How do you wake up the next day even breathing life? And also the people who see this crime...why can't they come in and help put an end to people who kill people like this and get away?

Missy was just another dog on the streets, living a life with her daughter. Three weeks back right near Soysa Pura flats while she was crossing the road, a vehicle that was speeding hit her, running over her belly and crushing her under the burning tyres and driving off.

Drinking milk

Missy all bandaged up

How can anyone do such things?

Howling in pain, she managed to drag her body to the other side of the pavement and lay there for a whole day. It was during this time, that people living in the vicinity called up Nadeeka Dharmaratne, and told her about this accident and the dog lying helplessly on the pavement. Nadeeka immediately went to see what this was and she with the help of a cobbler who was nearby, took Missy to the closest Vet and showed her to Dr. Tilekeratne (Mount Lavinia). The Vet gave her antibiotics for the pain and was soon taken to Dr. Kodikara for an x-ray.

There, Dr. Kodikara she has a fractured her right leg plus her uterus and had a big wound in her tail. As Dr. Kodikara has no boarding facility, Missy was then taken to Sky Pet Animal Hospital (Borella) which is done by the Sri Lankan Air Force and admitted there.

Within a week, Missy's tail got infected and sadly it had to be amputated.

Nadeeka added that they are working on a wheelchair for her. If someone is there to lift her up, she can manager her body, but when she is not getting that help, she drags her body with great difficulty from one corner to the other.

It brought tears to my eyes when Nadeeka said that Missy dragged her body and came to Nadeeka when she had brought food to give her.

Missy is a very friendly dog and she is like 3 to 4 years old and right now what she really needs is a home. That's all she needs. Love, smiles and a home that she can just live in without the worry about crossing or fearing for her life is all she needs. Life is now not the same for her and she will never be able to survive on the streets in the condition she is in. So please, anyone who can do a great deed before this year ends please call Nadeeka on 0714-961157.

Nadeeka is another volunteer in the team of Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka. To date they have homed 200 homeless dogs and recently they sterilized around 100 dogs in Sella Katharagama, 50 more in and around Colombo and have truly helped the weakest of the animals that people ignored when they saw them on the streets.

If you do see something dying anywhere (road, beach, neighbourhood) don't ignore it. If you are scared, ask someone who is not. Always put yourself in the situation of the person or animal who is suffering so you would know how it feels to be ignored and left to die alone in this world.