Max -- A Baja Rescue Dog

Early one evening a little more than 7 years ago, my sister spotted a small creature in the ditch along side the dirt road to her home near San Quintin. She did not know what is it was, but it looked in distress so she stopped. It was a dog not quite a year old.
With a severe case of mange, the little dog had only a small tuft of fur on his head and another on his butt. His emaciated body had a stomach swollen with a variety of parasites. So frail and and such a mess. She needed to travel to the states the next day, but made the decision to take the little creature home for the night and in the morning have the local vet end his suffering before she traveled to the states.

To spend the night in the house, she decided he had to have a bath. To say the little dog had a bad smell would be kind. He seemed to like the bath. And then after eating so much of her other dog’s food that he barfed, the little dog perked up. A makeshift blockade was created in the living room where little dog was to spend his last night. He was not presentable enough for bedroom rights. But feeling good, the little dog wanted to be with the other dog and made quite a ruckus all night---that ruckus became his jackpot.

In response to his nighttime behavior, by morning my sister was calling him Mad Max. Now he had a name and there would be no mercy trip to the local vet. Max was going on his first trip to the USA.

At one stop on the way to the border, my sister watched her daughter-in-law who was traveling with them vomit all over some cacti. As sick as Max was, he had made some really terrible messes in the car. The worms were just a bit much. He had no manners at all.

With his skin so awful, he was wrapped in a blanket for his first trip to the vet. My sister asked the vet if he could be saved---the vet had no doubt that he could. It was not an easy road.

Even before all the mange and parasites were gone, a wicker basket bed was bought for Max. He promptly chewed up much of the wicker around a post and then impaled himself on the post. A very expensive surgery followed.

Then as a responsible dog owner, Max was to be “fixed”. Opps, one of his testicles had not descended so another expensive surgery was in order.

Then there was the trainer who said Max would always be a problem. He was the only dog she had ever seen who would close his eyes rather than make eye contact so she could gain his attention. He is an independent little guy.

Then there were those learned street survival skills that had to go. A black plastic bag was to be grabbed and protected as it might have food. All trash bags and trash cans had to be marked and protected, even the ones in the house. And when humans were eating, Max would sit back about 4 feet and bark and bark; that must have worked at the taco stands. He also had to learn to not be food possessive with humans. But learn he did.

So was Max worth it? Seven years later, here is one of my very favorite dogs---Max



Difficult to believe he was almost hairless when rescued with the mop of fur he now has

But some things have not changed. When we arrive with our dogs, Max goes into immediate alert mode. His Dog Treat Jar and favorite toy have to be guarded.



That Dog Treat Jar sings a mean version of Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog when it is opened. But it has to be moved to higher ground or Max would be there 24/7 with other dogs in the house.

He looks like a little fancy dog these days, but he is all Baja. He still loves to hunt lizards, drags into the house all the left over rabbit parts that the wild dogs and coyotes leave behind, and that fluffy thick fur is often a mud pit. And if he is up to no good and my sister goes to call him, Max will often drop flat on his stomach and still closes his eyes. He know that if he makes eye contact, he has to behave. Max and my sister are devoted and understand each other.

So Max almost didn’t make it as a young dog, but as my nephew says, his name should be Lucky. He was lucky he was found by the right person that early evening. He is just a great little dog.

Thank you for reading the story of Max.





[Edited on 3-8-2010 by DianaT]

Max is Lucky

Ralph and Ken---thanks for enjoying Max and yes, he loves his home.

Bajabass, I should fix that yellow eye in photoshop as it is much like red eye with human flash photos. But then again, a little loco is definitely Max.

Please keep all your pictures and stories coming Diana. Photoshop or not, they are great. My 11 month old collie pup,Winston, needs a playmate, and we need another dog. Our impending move to La Paz will include a Baja dog. There are several local dogs in La Mision that need a good home!

What a gorgeous dog!!
I love seeing caring people find perfect friends, even if they do cost a fare share!!
It breaks my heart to see sick dogs in the streets and it is one of my dreams to get a job that will give me enough $$ to open a small dog rescue and adoption site...there are some great dogs out there that if given the chance, can make the perfect pet!!

Kudos to the kind person who took this little one in!!!
And thank's for the story!!

I am glad some of you enjoyed the story of Max---he really is a cool dog. We all laugh at Max and our little rescue, Maggie. There are just certain characteristics that remind us that while they are completely spoiled now, they were street dogs at one time.

About the name---when I am north of the border I am Diane---one n with an e, but south of the border I am Diana.