Dog ‘suffering beyond measure’ found dying in Indiana cemetery. ‘Love’ kept her alive
A dog that was near death is now spending her days surrounded by warmth from loving humans as she fights for her life.
When Leela was found, it was almost too late, the Humane Society for Hamilton County in Fishers, Indiana, said in a Feb. 19 Facebook post. Nearly a week before the post, her weak body was discovered by accident.
“Leela was found by two good Samaritans wandering in a Marion County cemetery on February 14. She was taken to IACS (Indy Animal Care Services) where the medical team noted that: Leela had a body score of 1—a level so severe that it typically means death.
“She was covered in sores, severely dehydrated, so weak she couldn’t walk, and her bloodwork indicated her life was in danger. As you can see from these photos, Leela arrived at death’s door. She was starving to death. She was freezing to death. She was being eaten alive by fleas. She was suffering beyond measure.”
It’s unknown how long Leela was in peril before she was rescued, but Indy Animal Care Services decided she would have to wait just a little longer.
“The decision was made by IACS management to have Leela wait out her 4 day stray hold period without seeking emergency medical care, or assistance from another organization. Without question, it was the love of IACS staff who work on the frontlines each day that kept this little girl alive.”
The Humane Society was brought in after an IACS volunteer reached out to the shelter’s CEO.
“An IACS volunteer texted photos of Leela to our CEO Monday night. She proactively reached out to IACS on Tuesday to see if Leela was still alive,” the shelter said. “A FaceTime introduction with Leela made it very clear that while she is incredibly sick, her eyes were filled with hope and the sound of her thumping tail was all we needed to hear! Leela is a fighter.
“We initiated the transfer process, and at the end of her 4 day hold yesterday at 6PM, the IACS team launched into action to get Leela transported to the ER for emergency care.”
Leela had a blood transfusion and is receiving an ultrasound to “make sure there’s nothing internally going on.”
The weak pup is going to be monitored closely for the next few days, possibly weeks, until her veterinarians are sure she’s out of danger.
For more updates on Leela, visit the shelter’s Facebook page and website.
Fishers is about a 20-mile drive northeast from Indianapolis.
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM with the headline "Dog ‘suffering beyond measure’ found dying in Indiana cemetery. ‘Love’ kept her alive."