- September 28, 2023
St Bernard abandoned in Gujarat finds home abroad | India News – Times of India
AHMEDABAD: She was abandoned by her carers near an Ahmedabad crematorium. Soon she fell terribly sick. But good people found her. And she’s now in her new home, loved and cared for as she always should have been.
In a country where casual cruelty to animals, including pets, is common, the story of this St Bernard is a wonderful exception. Named Athena by her rescuers, she had tick infestation and a dislocated hip bone when they found her. Per vets, her condition was serious. But her rescuers didn’t give up. Richa Singh, founder, Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation, says she was in pain and could barely walk.
Every dog deserves a chance …Lady Sybil would agree
We had to shave her fur completely to get rid of the ticks and heal her infection,” says Singh. Athena was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and had to undergo a rare surgery, femoral hip osteotomy. But Ahmedabad’s veterinary medical infrastructure wasn’t up to the task, so Athena was shifted to Mumbai. “Athena was fostered at my home for five months… she underwent surgery… then intensive physiotherapy. Once she fully recovered, we gave out Athena’s adoption appeal,” says fashion designer Yamini Menon.
That’s how Athena’s new pet parents, Ian Fraser Hirchfield, a retired British diplomat, and his wife, Amanda Stohan, the former Canadian deputy high commissioner in Delhi, found her. They rechristened her Lady Sybil. “We had a rescued St Bernard… but he died suddenly… we were looking to adopt again. My wife and I brought Lady Sybil to our residence in Delhi, where her companion was our Basset Hound, Willy,” says Ian.
Amanda recently finished her term as the deputy high commissioner and the couple is now moving back to Canada with Willy and Lady Sybil.“We broke our journey so that we could holiday at our country home in France for three weeks. Lady Sybil goes for long walks in the woods and the farm outside our home, swims in our pool and in the nearby stream… she loves playing with Willy. She is living the life she deserves. Soon she will be in Canada and enjoy being in the snow,” Ian says. Lady Sybil’s rescuers could not be happier. “Every dog deserves a chance… that’s the motto we live by when we rescue and rehabilitate dogs. I really hope many other dogs get to live the life they deserve,” says Singh. Lady Sybil would agree.
In a country where casual cruelty to animals, including pets, is common, the story of this St Bernard is a wonderful exception. Named Athena by her rescuers, she had tick infestation and a dislocated hip bone when they found her. Per vets, her condition was serious. But her rescuers didn’t give up. Richa Singh, founder, Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation, says she was in pain and could barely walk.
Every dog deserves a chance …Lady Sybil would agree
We had to shave her fur completely to get rid of the ticks and heal her infection,” says Singh. Athena was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and had to undergo a rare surgery, femoral hip osteotomy. But Ahmedabad’s veterinary medical infrastructure wasn’t up to the task, so Athena was shifted to Mumbai. “Athena was fostered at my home for five months… she underwent surgery… then intensive physiotherapy. Once she fully recovered, we gave out Athena’s adoption appeal,” says fashion designer Yamini Menon.
That’s how Athena’s new pet parents, Ian Fraser Hirchfield, a retired British diplomat, and his wife, Amanda Stohan, the former Canadian deputy high commissioner in Delhi, found her. They rechristened her Lady Sybil. “We had a rescued St Bernard… but he died suddenly… we were looking to adopt again. My wife and I brought Lady Sybil to our residence in Delhi, where her companion was our Basset Hound, Willy,” says Ian.
Amanda recently finished her term as the deputy high commissioner and the couple is now moving back to Canada with Willy and Lady Sybil.“We broke our journey so that we could holiday at our country home in France for three weeks. Lady Sybil goes for long walks in the woods and the farm outside our home, swims in our pool and in the nearby stream… she loves playing with Willy. She is living the life she deserves. Soon she will be in Canada and enjoy being in the snow,” Ian says. Lady Sybil’s rescuers could not be happier. “Every dog deserves a chance… that’s the motto we live by when we rescue and rehabilitate dogs. I really hope many other dogs get to live the life they deserve,” says Singh. Lady Sybil would agree.
