amazing dog stories › archie

Archie, this little black mutt puppy, was sold on the streets of Wilmington at only 3 weeks old out of the back of a pickup truck. The people who purchased him realized something was wrong with him. They learned about Happy Dog Healthy Dog and the work we do for dogs so they brought him to see us.

He was extremely dehydrated, malnourished and on the verge of a heatstroke. With the help of everyone here at HDHD, we provided him with a safe and nurturing environment. Because he was taken so early from his mom and wasn't properly weaned, his health suffered and his immune system was severely compromised. After we showed him that dirt was not a food, he slowly began to accept a bottle and be hand fed.  He slept most of his early days and everyone who came into the store gave him words of encouragement and love. He was improving daily, gaining weight, increasing his energy and even chewing bones. Then he began yelling & talking, thus earning his name "Archie" after Archie Bunker.  We thought we were well on our way to health, when we noticed a red bumpy rash all over his tummy.  It developed quickly into sores that spread rapidly.  He had developed Demadex mange which is inherent in all puppies.  But since Archie was taken away from his mother so young, his immune system didn't receive the necessary antibodies usually provided from mother's milk.

We decided to treat him homeopathically, and so Archie soon met a nice homeopathic veterinarian.  She explained to us that antibiotics might clear up his condition in the short run, but for his body to gain overall strength and heal from within we needed a different treatment plan.  Over the next 6 weeks we fed him a whole food diet and the proper homeopathic remedies.  He steadily improved.  The sores eventually went away and his coat started to grow back. Since Archie was too weak to get any of the normal vaccinations a puppy would receive he was at risk for developing a number of illnesses. We had no choice because his immune system was too weak.
 
Just before Christmas he developed diarrhea and became very listless.  We ended up at a Veterinary Specialty Center and he was diagnosed with Parvovirus.  He fought for his life those three days, not accepting water or food and was kept in isolation.  We were not allowed to visit.  On the evening of the 5th day without food or water we were told that if he did not eat the next day we had a very difficult decision to make.  We asked everyone, his caregivers, customers, and friends to send him all the "good energy" we could that Monday night.  On Tuesday we got one of the best phone calls we have ever received.  Archie turned the corner over night.  He wanted food and water and he was going to make it!

He was doing fantastic!! We were so excited and to celebrate we made a special oatmeal cookie named after him, Archie's Alphabet. Then one day when he was out on a walk, the local SPCA issued a warning that he would be confiscated (making it sound as if he was just a piece of property) because he was a "Pitbull" and was not neutered. Because of his health history we inquired to the vet about neutering him. We were told without question that this would severely compromise his health. It was recommended that we wait until he was at least 3 years old since neutering effects the immune system. We were not willing to jeopardize his health and we knew he was not a "Pitbull"!!!! Based on his behaviors, his personality and size... we thought he was predominantly Akita with some other varieties mixed in. Because we lived within city limits we were pursued and harassed by the SPCA who had labeled him a "Pitbull". Finally with a threatening note from the SPCA we had no choice but to register Archie as a "Pitbull", and obtain a license for him.

Time was not our friend. Because of the pressure and the fact that we loved him dearly as our family pet, we decided to have him neutered and his DNA tested. He came home a little lighter and the DNA confirmed that he is primarily Akita, Lab and German  Shepherd (ears). We did what we had to do, but unfortunately Archie paid the price. Immediately after neutering, his behavior, his health, and personality started deteriorating rapidly.  Two years and many doctor visits later, we found out that his thyroid was barely functioning, and it was confirmed that it was due to him being fixed.
 
Good news, we are treating his thyroid with conventional medication and he has responded incredibly well and is back to being the Archie we know and love. He is true love.  He has a feisty streak in him that is beautiful to watch.  It is the fighter in him that has kept him alive to this point. He has a very large extended family and we would like to thank everyone for the care and support that kept him alive.

It's hard to put into words what Archie means to us and how much love and joy he has brought into our lives. To know him is to understand why we do the work we do and why we want to help dogs. It was during Archie's hospital stay when we realized how many other dogs needed care whether physical or emotional but where not receiving it due to the financial strain involved. It was then that Diane decided to sell her wedding rings &  "The Diamonds for Dogs Foundation" was born. Over the past 5 years, we have been able to help numerous dogs through this fund by paying for medical care, healing foods, and therapy sessions which provided them with a new life instead of euthanasia.

We thank him for making such a profound difference in the lives of so many other dogs and for showing us the path we need to take.

Archie is an amazing dog. He is a true blessing & a gift from above. Only such a special dog would find himself in the Bark Magazine. Yes, it is true. This handsome boy's photo taken by Sam Allen was featured in one of her ads. What a face, and those ears are unbelievable. Thank you Sam Allen!!

These days Archie has a wonderful life and lives with one of the women that helped raise him and his canine companion, Maggie, a beautiful English Springer Spaniel that took him in, shared her toys, bed and "mom".


-CT, Wilmington, DE

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