Leonardtown, MD – Karma is defined as destiny or fate, following as effect from cause. Karma is also the name given to a local pit bull, whose sweet demeanor defies the odds of her past.
About eight months ago, Karma was a lone stray in Prince George’s County, emaciated and sick. Animal Control found her with her head split open, her right ear almost completely torn off.
Dr. Basheer Ahmed and staff at All Paws Veterinary Center, located in Upper Marlboro, took Karma in for several weeks. A staff member recalled the day she was brought in. “She was a mess, about twenty pounds underweight. Three-quarters of her skull was exposed. She had maggots in her head. We have no confirmed history, she was found wandering the streets, but we are fairly confident that she was used as a bait dog.”
Cautionary measures must be taken when cleaning serious wounds, as all animals may become aggressive in a moment of pain and fear. However, Karma was a different story. Despite the obvious suffering she was a victim of, it was as if she knew these people were there to help her. “We were unable to muzzle her due to the injuries on her head, but she just stood there and wagged her tail while we cleaned her up,” the staff member stated.
Unsure at first if their efforts would prove successful, the staff was thrilled when their surgeon was victorious; Karma lost her right ear, but came out ready for a new life.
After she healed, it was time to find a place for Karma, as pit bulls are not allowed in Prince George’s County. If an authorized rescue group is not able to take them in, they are euthanized. That’s where Second Hope Rescue of Southern Maryland came in, taking Karma under their wing. She is happy, healthy and waiting for her forever family.
Karma currently lives with her foster mom, Second Hope Rescue volunteer Cathy Knott, who took her in at the end of August. “It’s important for dogs to be in a foster home for at least 30 days before adoption,” Knott says. “We can see how they’re adjusting and determine what makes them the most comfortable.” Knott, an active foster for 24 years, is impressed by Karma’s personality. “She’s been through a lot, but Karma is such a loving girl. She is looking for her forever home.”
Interested adopters can meet Karma at the PetValu in Leonardtown on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information on Second Hope Rescue of Southern Maryland, visit http://secondhoperescue.webs.com/.
Contact Barbara Muller at b.muller@thebaynet.com
