Bernie - the Gentle Giant

During regular course of work at Humane Animal Society (HAS), we come across many dogs abandoned by their humans for various reasons - a minor case of skin infection, job transfers, animal's age, the cost of maintaining the so-called pure breeds, major illness, etc... One such abandoned dog is now our Bernie.

It didn't come as a surprise when one of my friends called me one late February night and said there was a dog near Vadavalli that seemed lost. Some people there said the dog had been there for about three days. Moreover it looked like the dog hadn't eaten anything for days.

St Bernard

I was mildly shocked when she mentioned that it was a St.Bernard. Remember the movie Beethoven? Yes, the very same breed. A quick Google search would tell you that Saint Bernards are originally from Swiss Alps and are usually bred for rescue. Imagine the irony when we were asked to rescue this dog, in hot city like ours.

The following day the dog was brought over to our animal shelter at Seeranaickenpalayam where the doctors ran a quick check up. She was a weak, skinny dog and had been neglected for quite some time. However, that was the least of our concerns. Her lower back and hind limbs were so weak that a small amount of pressure on her rear would make her drop to a sitting position. She also had a pronounced limp when she walked. She weighed hardly 30 kilos when a healthy St Bernard would be a minimum of 65 kilos. In spite of all this, I could see a small smile on her face, something that told me this giant was gentle at heart.

Our Bernie

Further check-ups and X-ray showed that she had a rare genetic disorder, possibly due to in-breeding. I'm assuming someone bought her from a breeder maybe to show-off an exotic breed but abandoned her when they found out she wasn't doing too well. I can't think of any other reason why anybody would have the heart to leave her on the streets! 

February was the time of bright, sunny days and Bernie was often found under the shade of a tree, trying to keep herself cool. I definitely can't imagine myself wearing heavy winter clothing in such warm weather - 24x7. Poor girl, I wonder how she managed the harsh heat of summer with her thick fur.

It’s May now, Summer is over and the showers have started in Coimbatore. In the past two and half months she has shown a great deal of improvement in her health. She has gained a little weight and seems quite content hanging around with her other puppy friends and occasionally humans. Bernie loves a good pat and enjoys heaps of attention. Now that she is stronger she runs around and plays happily. However due to her genetic disorder, she needs to be under medication all through her life.

One of the volunteers in HAS told me that he once read somewhere that St. Bernards remain puppies at heart till the time they turn 6. Trust me, he read it right. This gentle giant is still a puppy at heart, albeit a slightly bigger one. Give her your time, and she will definitely make it worth it. Oh! And she is up for adoption, if you can promise her lots of time, lots of attention and lots of space for her to run around. She of course needs proper medical care too. Bernie will not just be a pet, mind you; she will be your responsibility.

In my opinion, she would be the best cure for someone dealing with loneliness and depression. She will pay back for her constant need for attention with unimaginable amount of love and wet kisses. She would most definitely not leave you alone for a moment, and her smile is simply too contagious. She would be your sunshine in Winter. She would spread warmth when you shiver in the chilly night. And she would be your unconditional lover.

Bernie: a gentle giant, a puppy at heart, and the ever present sunshine.