GAITHERSBURG, Md. — A dog that made headlines after she was found pregnant aboard a container ship in Texas has passed away.
Connie the Container Dog was found by Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston marine inspectors at Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal on January 31. The pregnant golden retriever was covered in grime. She was thirsty after officials said she was found inside a container with totaled cars inside that was set to be shipped to Dubai.
The container had come from the Houston-Galveston area and had been in the terminal for eight days, which means Connie was trapped there for at least that long. Officials believe she may have been living in a junkyard or inside one of the cars and had been placed in the container by accident.
Connie was taken in by the Forever Changed Animal Rescue located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She was adopted and gave birth to eight puppies in February; all have been adopted as of June.
Just weeks after the news that all the puppies had been adopted, Forever Changed Animal Rescue shared the news that Connie had passed away after a battle with pythiosis, an extremely rare fungal infection.
"Pythium is extremely rare and almost never seen in dogs in our area of the country, but is seen more in other areas, including Texas," the rescue said. "It is an extremely aggressive fungal infection that animals can get from swimming in or ingesting contaminated water."
The rescue further added that it is possible Connie was infected while trying to drink to survive on the streets of Texas.
The rescue says experts tried to give Connie her best chance at survival but despite specialists, advanced imaging, blood transfusions and more, Connie's health rapidly declined.
"After all she had been through and survived, we simply couldn’t believe that this was how her story was supposed to end," the rescue said. "She was such a young dog, with the absolute sweetest spirit, and yet she was such a fighter, a true survivor. She deserved so many years of love and happiness, and she had found THE MOST PERFECT family that was finally giving her that. While we are glad that she had a few good months of happiness and love, it will never seem like it was enough. She deserved more."
Despite her young life being cut short, the rescue says Connie leaves behind a phenomenal story and eight puppies who will get to live the life she missed out on.
Forever Changed Animal Rescue now hopes to use Connie's tragic death to bring to light a bigger issue of the thousands of dogs in Texas just like Connie.
"[The dogs] are euthanized in shelters, or living and dying miserable deaths on the streets every day," the rescue said. "Small rescue groups like ours try to help as much as possible, but we are fighting a losing battle."
The rescue is calling for more laws involving ownership and the treatment of animals. Additionally, they are pointing to what they call the desperate need for spaying and neutering across the country.
"Connie, we are so very sorry. If love could have saved you, you’d still be with us, sweet girl. We love and miss you always. You fought so hard and deserved so much more. Rest easy, perfect girl. You’ll certainly never be forgotten," the rescue said.
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