Brave dog Sly loses his fight for life after struggle
UPPER PROVIDENCE » Providence Animal Center announced Sunday night that Sly, the emaciated dog found in Chester’s Deshong Park on April 24, was euthanized at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital for Companion Animals, Philadelphia, after not responding to treatment.
X-rays taken Sunday revealed Sly had developed pneumonia following a Friday surgery at Penn. His deteriorating condition while on a ventilator indicated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, prompting the decision to euthanize.
“We’re all devastated here at Providence,” said Justina Calgiano, Providence Animal Center Director of Advancement and Public Relations. “His last couple days were up and down … he went through so much in a few weeks’ timeframe, along with whatever happened before he came into our care.”
The center is holding a memorial service for Sly at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, open to staff and volunteers. The public can view the memorial via Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/providenceanimalcenter.
Calgiano said the quality and extent of care that Sly received was only possible through donations made by the public specifically for his support.
“We were really touched by the community support – they rallied around Sly when he needed it most and they’re helping ease the grieving process for us,” she said. “Sly touched a lot of people on our staff and volunteers, and – through the power of social media – thousands more people.”
Sly arrived at Providence after he was found abandoned and left to die at 11th and Crosby streets on April 24. Following a report a call about a dog in Deshong Park having trouble breathing, Humane Officer Ron Riggle found the adult large mixed-breed lying on a blanket, tucked into the roadside brush.
Upon intake, Sly weighed 50 pounds, estimated at half or less than half of his proper weight. Diagnostics revealed a blockage in his intestines and veterinarians performed an emergency foreign body removal surgery, removing a rope toy from his large intestine.
The Providence team named the dog Sly after actor Sylvester Stallone, in honor of Stallone’s portrayal of Rocky Balboa and the dog’s fighting spirit.
According to Calgiano, the center has seen three previous extreme emaciation cases, all attributable to intentional starvation. Sly’s case differed from the others in being due to the blockage and subseqent abandonment rather than intentional starvation.
While the humane officers’ investigation is still ongoing, the Providence staff’s current assumption is that Sly was abandoned due to his owner’s inability to pay for the necessary treatment. When he was discovered, his stomach and arm area were shaved, consistent with a recent ultrasound or catheterization.
“We have some strong leads, but it’s an ongoing investigation at this point,” said Calgiano.
After the emergency surgery April 24, Sly was sent to Keystone Veterinary Emergency and Referral in Havertown for roundthe-clock care. Once he was stabilized, he returned to Providence for care in its isolation unit and was staying at the home of Providence staff veterinarian Gia Croce, VMD, at night.
Sly took his first steps under his own power on Wednesday, May 2, having gained six pounds during his recovery. By Friday, he had become lethargic and was no longer showing the interest in food he had developed.
He was admitted to Penn on Friday afternoon, undergoing a second emergency surgery to correct adhesions in his intestinal tract. X-rays had revealed a new intestinal blockage caused by the organs sticking together, a complication consistent with the foreign object removal, according to Calgiano.
“He was in a tremendous amount of pain, but still gave us licks and wagged his tail,” said Calgiano. “That’s a lot for a dog who’s been through such an ordeal. We would have liked to see his personality when he was healthy, but we were honored to see some of it for two weeks.”
The center is currently planning a larger memorial for Sly following Tuesday’s service. Calgiano encouraged donations to support the work of Humane Society police officers Ron Riggle and Sean Rowan and the center’s humane investigations program.
“Their work is privately funded,” she said. “It allows us to continue to save pets like Sly. People don’t realize how many animals come in each week that way.”
For information on further memorial plans for Sly and to contribute to the center, visit www.providenceac.org and www.facebook.com/providenceanimalcenter
Those who suspect an animal is suffering from abuse or neglect in Delaware or Chester counties are asked to contact Ron Riggle at 610-566-1370, ext. 214 or rriggle@Providenceac.org.