Hope Animal Sanctuary: Petal And Penelope
February 1st, 2012 | 
Author: 
Sarah & Billy Joe with Priscilla, Persimmon, Penny, Penelope, Petal
Last month, Petal and Penelope were rescued from a terrible situation of neglect in Coffeeville, Mississippi. Their siblings, seen in the photo of their rescue (the girls are on right in BJ’s arms) were just babies. Because we had so many puppies, our friends with the Mississippi State University student program “Homeward Bound” accepted three of the pups into its foster and placement program. They were all set to go on our February transport to Colorado.
The five siblings arrived with fleas, Coccidia, and worm distension. Petal and Penelope were actually the healthiest of the siblings. But, tragically, we either brought Parvo home with a new pup, or picked it up in one of the many places we may have come into contact with communicable canine disease (even the animal companion section of Wal-Mart).
The girls became ill last Tuesday. Wednesday morning we rushed them to Veterinary Associates for testing and treatment. At the sanctuary we can give sub-Q fluids, but at the hospital they were given IV, and we wanted to minimize contamination of their roommates. It’s uncertain if the two other families of other pups sharing their quarters have been infected.
Our little girls lost their valiant struggle. It just hurts so bad. We saved them from neglect, freed them from parasites, medicated them, loved them, and they were heading to Colorado awaiting guardians, and now they’re gone. I’m sorry but “they knew love” or “they would have died where they were” doesn’t lessen the pain. They were happy, beautiful, and then they got horribly sick—sick enough to suffer death.
We move forward because other animals will suffer if we don’t, and caring people cannot wallow in the luxury of self-preservation or pity. We feel the whole world should know that Petal or Penelope were here and what was lost, so we will all fight to prevent the inevitable misery of animals who are not protected. Our little girls will not be forgotten.
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Posted in Animal Rescue, Featured News, Guardian, Hope Animal Sanctuary | 
Tags: abuse, Dogs, Mississippi
45 Responses to “Hope Animal Sanctuary: Petal And Penelope”
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i just recently lost one of my dogs unexpectedly and it just never gets easier. i grieve with you. like everyone who wrote on here, i am glad those dogs did not die at their previous location. you truly did make a difference in their lives. instead of neglect they knew LOVE and they still know it. you gave them so much love and that is the strongest force on earth and in the universe, in fact. i know it is hard to feel that right now but i am sure those angels were so happy to have found you. i will keep them in my prayers as i will each of you who are valiant heroes.
I have lost two young dogs. Both died after receiving combined vaccinations and developing an auto-immune problem. Since then I have been leary of combined vaccinations for young dogs.
Thank you so much for what you did and giving love to these precious babies before they passed.
Doll- People like you,Sarah and Billy Joe are my heroes. Thank you for having the strength and fortitude to work every day for the animals. You always do the best you can. Bless you.
very sad, but glad that they had a chance to experience love & kindness. thank you for all the wonderful things you do for these animals.
You did a great job, just by caring for them. Katie’s comment, (Feb 1, 5.00 pm) says it all. You tried, and you did show those dogs love. Thanks for caring.
very sad
We will all meet them again. To know of them is to love them. You know we are all going to look like the pied piper. On to the sickness. The parvo vaccine often causes parvo. Very possible they were exposed to an animal that had just been vaccinated. Promising help although i have not used it is an enema with colloidal silver. Half hour after first enema and a second enema is given. It helps if 10% DMSO an be added to the enema solution. The virus grows and spreads through the large intestine. Colloidal silver kills viral, fungal and bacterial germ. Keeps on working. Additionally hydration must be just as important. Most die of dehydration. Means staying up all night. Colloidal silver by mouth along with some pedialyte, gatoraid, chicken soup almost anything even if by eyedropper. I heard the success rate on this was very good. I use CS in and on my animals. Wouldn’t be without it. In and out for lots of things. A generator is a good investment as it only costs pennys per gallon as opposed to buying 8 ounces at a time in the health food store.
Echoing what Carol Coley states, vaccinations are not a guarantee the animal won’t still contract the disease. Plus there are risks to vaccines and when rescued animals are already facing a multitude of health challenges, it’s can be wise to wait to vaccinate until their bodies are healthy enough to tolerate the dose. I rescue cats and have had distemper come through twice. In my experience the cats who were most stressed (most feral to start with) did not survive and it didn’t make a difference if they were vaccinated. Supportive care was all I could do while waiting to see who would pull though. It’s devastating when you are willing to do anything to save these precious beings in the first place and it hurts when others put the blame on you because they don’t know any better. You will never forget Penelope and Petal – they will live on in your hearts as you continue to do your amazing work that is your gift.
Petal and Penelope’s story is heartbreaking. I am so very sorry for your loss. So many animals suffer needlessly and die silently – I hope it is a small comfort for you in knowing you reached out with your heart to these innocent souls and made a difference in their lives, however brief.
Thank you for the work you do and for your compassion. Their cries cannot be heard with our voices.
Kathleen Lowson
Filmmaker, CRY OF THE INNOCENT: The Voices That Can’t Speak
http://www.cryoftheinnocent.com
Life is not fair. The only comfort is to know that people like you never give up. Our heart aches when this happens, and it’s weighing us down. You tried and you did what you could. Sometimes things happen and we cannot control it. Keep up your wonderful work. Thank you for all you do to help animals.
Someone mentioned a vacine for Disdimper and Parvo??? Are there so animal’s can’t get this??? If so all animal’s should be required to get them..
i am so sorry about your lost. now they will not suffer anymore ,at least they knew LOVE, can,t you imagine,they would have suffer so much without care , my greyhound how pass,will be waiting for the 2 little girls ,and they will start playing with LILY god bless you all and god bless the animals .julie
So sad and tear’s stream down my face to see these babies and no they are no longer here but grateful they knew love in the end!!!! God bless you for all your work in rescue effort’s as I know how painful the loss of any animal can be.. Hopefully this Parvo can find a cure soon…
I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I had the right words to comfort you. All I can say is do your best and leave the rest to God. He cares about animals too. They are part of His creation.
You gave them love, compassion and a chance at a better life. I have recued animals and they know a warm and caring heart and although it was, in your case, a short time, you gave them the git of love and caring and they knew it,It was important for them to know someone cared. Of course the loss , for you, is painful, but you did and are doing such important work. Their last days were filled with people who cared and loved them. So many die without ever know or experiencing that love and care.
Thank you for all that you do to ease the suffering of innocent beings who, through no fault of their own, are born into an unthinking and largely uncaring world.
Like many of the people commenting on this sad article I too am involved in rescues, rehabilitating the traumatized and finding new homes, and my heart breaks every time one is lost, as it is breaking now. But when I look at the photo of Petal and Penelope I can’t help but be grateful that you wonderful people found them in time. Yes, in time, even though they only had a short while with you. But for that short time they were happy, comfy, warm, they were together, and their little faces are full of trust and love. That is the really important thing.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s really hard to accept but at least these babies knew love and not neglect, pain or abandmonment. Rest in peace little ones.
Not meant in a negative way, but this should have been preventable. I hope you take steps in the future for prevention. ie, wash hands to prevent cross contamination, keep puppies, quarantined until vet check & inoculation.
To Sarah: Pets are not completely protected until their entire series of shots have been given. I’ve had dogs with 2 out of their 4 distemper/parvo shots come down with the disease when they were exposed. And even when up to date on vaccines, nothing is 100% guaranteed.
To Hope Animal Sanctuary – God bless you and help you carry on with your work. I rescue as well and as some of the other comments say-the love you show them no matter for how short a period helps us continue for another day to save another life.
My heart goes out to you and those wonderful little beings. Thank God you were there for them. Really, I know that doesn’t ease the pain of losing them to a horrible illness but loving them made a huge difference in their short lives. I run a very small life long animal shelter. Over the course of twenty plus years I have loved and lost as well. Just in the last two years four of my life long best friends passed away and like others have said ‘it feels like my guts have been ripped out’. Working for animals is hard because for most rescue people their is no pay and it’s all for love. Love is the hugest investment we can make in this world and loving any animal is as heartbreaking as it is rewarding. May I say God Bless you for loving them. I really appreciate it.
This is heartbreaking, I am so sorry for precious Petal and Penelope! Thank you for trying your best to give these sweet girls a better life. They deserved so much more. It’s cliche, but I have to believe they knew they were safe and loved. It’s never enough time, whether it’s years or months or days… All of us who have loved and lost can feel your pain. RIP Petal and Penelope, you will never be forgotten!
those little girls are gone but i will never forget them! they are two angels!!!!!!!!!!am happy they find love even for ashort time.
Debi M, we have so much in common. I like Debi am a caregiver to a feral colony, that started at 18 adults. I caught all of the kittens, finding all great homes. I was able to use the TNR program with Pam’s help from FCAT. My feral colony now totals 8 happy ferals. Yes they all have names with their own distict personalties. I still miss all those that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, however I know they lived well feed and very happy. It’s important for all of us, with campanion animals or who rescue to remember we are their support system. They give back the love we give to them, and much more. We feel your loss, yet celebrate their lives.
To Chris: very good about you and your feral cat project and how you rescued the kittens; “Trap Neuter and Return is an excellent way to help our Earth’s Cats; Neutering Stray and ferals Cats (and Dogs) is the best and only way…AW
Thank you Anne. I agree with spay/neutering, just wish others would feel the same way ~ then follow through.
Chris
“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle; easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we would still live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.” ~ Irving Townsend Thank you for rescuing and giving them love and care during their short time on earth.
I am very sorry for the loss of your rescued puppies. I have spent my life rescuing abused animals some did recover from their abuse and injuries and some did not. It never gets any easier to deal with death of an animal that you have resuced in fact for me it gets harder. Here is what I know, I will continue to resuce even if it means that my heart will be broken when own of my resuced “babies” dies because even for the “babies” that have died I know that in their last hours of life they experienced for the first time ever in their life the touch of a gentle caress, the soft spoken words of comfort, the knowledge that they are now safe from harm. So we rescuers continue to go on with our hearts ragged and raw from what we see and from the losses, we go on because we do make a difference and because every life form deserves to feel love before they die.
Here is an Eskimo Legend that I like to share:
Perhaps they are not the Stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.
This is for all of you animal rescuers out there:
“His face was very beautiful to see and when he spoke my heart was glad and I forgot my hunger”
Blessings to all of you.
Beautiful, Richard!
Was there a reason they did not receive parvo and distemper shots before they left Mississippi?
Hi, Thank you for helping them. They are gone too soon, but you loved them and they knew they were loved. Eugenia
Hi, I am also very sorry for your loss. I am glad youoved them. I do too. Thank you for helping them. Eugenia
Tears are running down my face reading this and seeing their beautiful pictures. I am so very, very sorry and my heart is very much with you. Thank you soooo much for all you do, you are my (and their!!) heroes.
I’m really sorry for your loss. As a matter of fact, I just had to put one of my babies to sleep this morning because of a tumor. It’s always so hard when you lose someone you love. You do so much to save the animals. Just continue to do what you do and love them. Thank you for all you do.
I am so sorry to hear about these puppies. I know how parvo can kill. God Bless you and the whole organization in all of your efforts. Thank you so much for your loving kindness for those that have no voice!
So sad for Petal and Penelope, but I’m glad they didn’t die before they were rescued and finally got care, attention, and people who will miss them.
I am so sorry for your loss . As the “Mother ” of a colony of feral cats, at it’s peak I had 20 , I know what it’s like to lose one. But as you say the work MUST go on. Everytime I get another cat spayed or neutered ,I know I’m helping. Sometimes I even get lucky and find a home for 1 or 2 of my cats. There’s a lot of cruelty out there but then we have our angels too. Keep up the good work……they’re counting on you.
Hi Kim & Katie, and anyone else who responds. Thank you for sharing our grief. Knowing you are rescuers creates an immediate bond with you. We have lost more of our angels this morning. We’re just sick. No, these heart wrenching trials don’t stop us, but they sure slug us in the heart. again, thank you for reaching out to us. We have a dedicated and loving team here. I’m proud to be one with them.
They knew love….that is the best thing anyone can ask for. Thank you for your work. God bless.
The little girls will not be forgotten and they will be missed love the girls and sorry for the loss of them
❤Nichole to the girls
They spent their last days being loved. What you do makes a difference! Thank you!
I am so very sorry for your loss. They were beautiful girls. I used to rehab tiny baby opossums. Each loss hurt, especially when one day they are healthy and the next, not…but yes, you go on…for the others. It hurts, but that shows your compassion. Thanks for all you do.
I hear your pain. I had a rescue dog who, after really doing well, got exposed to and died of parvo. It ripped my guts out. Like you, I’ve taken in many rescue dogs over the years…and some didn’t make it. Their problems were too great. The only thing I can tell you is that it DOES make a difference that the last thing they knew was love. It really does. Hang on to that – there are times when it’s all that keeps you going. But I always comfort myself that at least that was their last memory.