Kindness for Kimball
Last week, The County Record began a series on animal issues in Calhoun County. This week, a case of animal neglect and the hope provided when someone steps forward to help seemed all too fitting to share.
Sherry O’Neal, an animal lover with three dogs of her own, pulled into Smith’s Supermarket in Altha Saturday and spotted a dog that had clearly been abandoned and left to die. Many folks would have kept driving, went about their business, gathered their groceries and gone home, shaking their heads about the sad situation, but doing nothing to help.
Not Sherry. She bundled up the helpless animal, covered with mange, starving and on her last leg, then took her home. She named her Kimball, meaning warrior, quite fitting for her fighting spirit to survive.
Knowing there were other animal lovers in Calhoun County who might want to help, Sherry posted a Facebook page, “Kindness for Kimball,” telling this sweet
animal’s story. Over 200 people had “liked” the page and were following the story at press time Tuesday morning.
“I took her to the vet Saturday, immediately after I picked her up. She was given two shots and oral ivermectin for parasites and antibiotics for the infection,” Sherry tells The County Record. “She is so weak and her skin is so brittle. Her legs are so swollen. I can't imagine the pain she is in just from the mange and then for someone to let her starve on top of that. She is definitely a fighter...She is alive still by the grace of God.”
Check out this week's print edition for the full story on Kimball.