End animal suffering in KCMO urban core

Not all of our stories have a happy ending.  Some just leave us with an ache in our hearts.  Calvin did.  Chain of Hope received a call and provided outreach to a family with 4 large bully breeds.  They agreed to spay and neuter the dogs in order to get food and other support, which we did periodically for quite some time.   Though not ideal circumstances, the dogs remained at a good weight. The people  seemed appreciative and open to our support.  Like in the winter when they  brought  the dogs inside, but bolted them to the wall by a 3 foot chain so they wouldn't  "tear things up".  That is the  most important part of outreach - educating - about humane solutions - and providing support to make it happen, like providing crates for all of them.  Quite a bit of time passed then we recieved a call that one of the dogs, the stunning American Bulldog, seemed sick.    Calvin, as we later named him, was inside.  To our shock and outrage he was lying on a concrete floor barely alive, he could not stand, could barely lift his head.  How could they have let this go on?  It was obvious he was in horrible shape.  We took him immediately to the vet. Calvin was assessed, flooded with antiobiotics, and stayed overnight for observation and more tests to determine what was wrong.  This is not uncommon, bringing a dog in on hope and a prayer and to our relief seeing them fight, and rally. But Calvin was too far gone, his body was full of infection and his organs were breaking down.  The only thing left was to hold him, to let him know if only for a brief time a human truly cared for him, loved him enough to be with him when he took his last breath.  Your support made that possible, and we thank you.