A canine who made nationwide headlines after being rescued from a delivery container in February has died from a uncommon an infection.
Connie the container canine, as she turned identified, spent greater than every week trapped inside one of many 1000’s of delivery containers on the Port of Houston in Texas earlier than U.S. Coast Guard inspectors occurred to listen to barking and scratching from inside.
The small golden canine was soiled and thin, and had gone least eight days with no meals or water. However she was additionally instantly pleasant and affectionate. She was transferred to the care of a Maryland-based rescue group, which quickly found she was pregnant. Connie and her eight puppies all discovered houses, however on Friday, the rescue group shared a tragic replace. Connie had died from pythiosis, a uncommon fungal an infection.
“In spite of everything she had been by way of and survived, we merely couldn’t imagine that this was how her story was supposed to finish,” Eternally Modified Animal Rescue wrote on Fb. “She was such a younger canine, with absolutely the sweetest spirit, and but she was such a fighter, a real survivor.”
The pythium fungus that causes pythiosis is uncommon in Maryland, the animal rescue famous, however extra widespread in Texas, and canines can contract it from ingesting or swimming in contaminated water. The rescue group suspects Connie obtained it from ingesting water outdoors earlier than she obtained caught within the delivery container. The canine had gastrointestinal lesions, and regardless of complete veterinary remedy, Connie “declined quickly.”
Connie had been residing with a household who “was lastly giving her” the love she deserved, the nonprofit wrote.
“Whereas we’re glad that she had a couple of good months of happiness and love, it’ll by no means seem to be it was sufficient.”
The rescue group added that Connie’s “legacy” was not solely her story, however “her 8 puppies who will get to reside the life she missed out on.” The publish additionally expressed hope that Connie’s story will increase consciousness of the quite a few canines euthanized in animal shelters.
“There are too many canines and never sufficient individuals concerned in rescue, fostering, or adopting,” the nonprofit wrote. “Stricter legal guidelines involving possession/remedy of animals and spaying/neutering are desperately wanted throughout the nation.”
The publish concluded with a bittersweet send-off to Connie.
“If love might have saved you, you’d nonetheless be with us, candy lady,” it stated. “We love and miss you all the time. You fought so exhausting and deserved a lot extra. Relaxation simple, good lady. You’ll definitely by no means be forgotten.”