A pregnant dog is recovering after she was rescued from a dumpster in Ohsweken, Ont. last month. The brindle-coloured shepherd-boxer mix was taken to the Simcoe & District Humane Society in rough shape. Not only was the one-year-old about to give birth, but she also had a potentially fatal infection. “It took the police, fire department and animal services to get her out of the dumpster,” Cathie Hosken, the president of the Simcoe & District Humane Society, said. “Everybody went dumpster diving.” Her rescuers decided to have a little fun coming up with her name. “We called her Kharma, also known as ‘Dumpster Diva,’” Hosken explained. Staff members said the dog’s physical condition was a concern. “She has got a very lame front leg, and her left rear hip is painful to her.” Tests also showed Kharma had heartworm disease, a serious infection that can cause severe organ damage or even death. “The heartworm could move around and block an artery,” Hosken explained. “It’s just constant care for an animal with heartworm.” Two days after Kharma was taken in, their ‘Dumpster Diva’ became a mother. “She had those babies out within four hours,” Hosken recalled. “She actually birthed 12 [puppies], but two were deceased.” While none of them had heartworm disease, she has been seeing more infections in dogs like Kharma. “Ones that are negative are the ones that are surrendered to us. But the ones that are stray… they’ll be heartworm-positive,” Hosken explained. “I have five other heartworm-positive dogs, two that are going through extreme treatment. Two that have just started their first treatment.” It can also be costly. “There are pills that they can take, they are all veterinary products,” Hosken said. “You need to have a chat with your vet about what is easiest and best for you and your animal.” Dogs aren’t the only animals who get heartworm, cats are also vulnerable. “I have three of them,” Hosken noted. The potentially deadly disease is transmitted by mosquitos. It’s common in dogs, but other animals can also get it, like ferrets, foxes, wolves, coyotes and sea lions. While Kharma still has a ways to go in her recovery, it wouldn’t have been possible without the care shown by the Simcoe & District Humane Society.
