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Miracle Mimi
Our dog training business was established in 2014, in honour of a brave little dog.
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Her name is Mimi, and she is a French breed called the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen (PBGV). She was born half the size of her siblings, with a heart murmur, but a lively little dog, full of joy and a zest for life.
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She was only five months old when she was attacked by a dog that grabbed her by the neck. She suffered extensive soft-tissue damage, and was infected with the deadly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auerus - a flesh-eating bacterium that caused widespread necrosis on hear throat. (The photos are too gruesome to display.)
The senior professor at the university hospital, where Mimi was rushed to, placed her in an empty room at the very end of the clinic, in order to avoid a full lock-down of the hospital.
The doctors unequivocally advised us to end her misery, as the chance of her survival was estimated at 10%, at best.
She must have been in excruciating pain, due to her injuries. Unable to eat, drink or breathe unaided, tubes hanging out of her body. And yet, Mimi made it clear she was not ready to give it up without a fight. When I went to visit her (twice a day), she never stopped wagging her tail.
She made it clear she wanted to live. We decided to give her a chance, regardless of the costs. We went to the ICU twice a day for three weeks, and employed whatever treatment we could find, including methods considered alternative and holistic, even 'spiritual'.
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She had two operations by the only surgeon who was willing to attempt to repair the damage on her windpipe. A permanent tracheostomy had to be installed.
Then the MIRACLE happened: almost overnight, the MRSA infection disappeared without a trace, and her wounds began to heal. Doctors, professors, even veterinary students came to see Mimi in her "ward", since they had never heard of a dog that survived such a serious trachea injury.
After spending twenty-three days in intensive care, Mimi walked out of the hospital on her own little paws, and began the long road to recovery.
Dogs living with an open trachea are prone to lung infection and pneumonia; the prediction for her life-span was three-to-six months, at best.
That was TEN years ago.
Mimi is still with us, high spirited and living life to the full. She travelled to sixteen countries, lived in four, was trained in agility, was the ring-bearer at a wedding, was trained in scent work, met hundreds of school children who came to see her when I gave lectures about her life, has been the mascot of our dog school, and was even allowed entrance in the Buxton Opera House.
In her spirit, she truly embodies our hope that we can beat the odds through sheer determination, courage and commitment, even when the chances are minuscule to none.
Mimi lives on as if she knew that every day is a gift, and that we must cherish and embrace each moment.
She is a shining example that trust can be rebuild in both dogs and humans, even after a traumatic experience at such an early age.
Dogs that survive an attack or suffer abuse as puppies can end up as “mental wrecks”, scarred for life. They can become absolutely terrified of dogs or people, or both.
Our little Mimi is the living proof that it is possible to find harmony again. She equally loves every single member of our world – dogs big or small, cats, chickens, squirrels, all other animals, and especially children.
If you ever have a chance to meet her – be prepared: she will give you a zealous kiss, no holds barred!
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(Bear in mind, now she is also blind.)
Through Mimi's incredible story we attempt to educate and inspire dog owners on the importance of socialising our dogs in order to avoid attacks and incidents.
And when those accidents do happen, we must never give up the effort to help our best friends to overcome their painful memories, relearn to live without fear, and realize that the world is not such a terrible place after all.
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She is a true inspiration for us all.