Merlin, Our Newest Family Member

Yesterday, we drove a total of 9 hours round trip to adopt a senior akita! 

Merlin, a senior guessed to be somewhere between 8-10 years old, was rescued from a shelter in Atlanta by Dorie Sparkman and the Akita Rescue Society of Florida. He was literally pulled from the euthanasia room where he was scheduled to be put to sleep! Hence the name Merlin!

He was taken by a volunteer to a vet's office where they removed a growth from his eyelid, pulled several teeth that were hanging by a thread, removed 2 bladder stones from an infected bladder, and performed a gastropexy to prevent gastric torsion which akitas are prone to. He spent about a week recovering at the vet's office before being transported to Jacksonville.

We met Merlin yesterday. This poor boy has clearly been through hell. He's a skeleton covered in fur. And that fur stank to high heaven from diarrhea and urine. We drove home with all the windows open, enduring the roar in our ears as the stench was so bad.

After a meal and meds, Merlin got his first bath out on our lanai where we have a shower that works great for this task. He stood patiently while I scrubbed him, not trying to get away at all. When it was time for bed, we put him in his brand new extra large crate with a comforter and pillow. We turned out the lights and closed our bedroom door. He cried for a minute or two, then everything was quiet.

In the morning, my husband got up first. He couldn't understand why I had let Merlin out in the middle of the night! But I didn't!! He somehow magicked himself out of that crate with the door still locked!!! So the name Merlin is going to fit him perfectly.

This morning, he had a long walk at the park, followed by breakfast and meds, then another bath. He is still a tiny bit stinky so I must have missed a spot. He seemed to enjoy the facecloth cleaning his ears. I think baths are going to be a regular part of our routine.

Luna, our female, is still not quite sure why we have invited this giant smelly boy into our home. With time, I hope they will become good friends. For now, they seem to be tolerating each other.

Thanks to Dorie Sparkman for saving him! If you are looking for a worthy cause to support, the Akita Rescue of Florida could really use your donations. They spare no expense when rescuing this beautiful and noble breed.