Fiona Ingram - The Poppy Project: How Fijis Most Famous Dog Got Saved!

WHY POPPY?

Although Poppy is now famous in her home country of Fiji and her new country Australia, I had never heard of this brave little dog until I saw an episode of Bondi Vet on Animal Planet, dedicated solely to Poppys story of rescue and reconstructive surgery. I cried and laughed alternately through the show as I watched Poppys tale of woe unfold and then turn to joy.

Despite the horrific injuries to her snout, and the pain and discomfort she must have felt many times during her long road to recovery, that tail never stopped wagging and her wonderful doggy smile never left her face. Poppy showed love and joyfulness at all times. She was just ecstatic to be with people. I was moved by the number of people who formed a chain of love stretching from Fiji to Australia and, indeed, the rest of the world in an effort to give one dog a chance at life.

Poppy grabbed that chance between her teeth and ran with it.

I have included some not-so-pretty images of Poppys journey, not for sensational purposes, but to highlight exactly what this amazing animal endured. One can see by the after pictures just how incredible were the efforts by sponsors, care-givers, and vets, many of whom donated their services. The people involved in animal rescues are, for the most part, unsung heroes, and their reward is the survival and continued comfortable and happy life of the animal concerned. Although Poppy now has her loving Forever Family, there are many animals left behind in Fiji that still need care. The proceeds from the sale of this book go to Animals Fiji so they can expand their clinic and services and help other animals in distress.

Poppys miracle began the day someone spotted her foraging for food, malnourished and clearly suffering. Without significant and drastic help, Poppy would never have survived. That help came. Poppys miracle is now complete. Please share her message of happiness and, by doing so, in some small way you will be helping other animalsthe ones left behind.

Fiona Ingram, author

ABOUT THE BOOK

Poppy is Fijis most famous dog and her amazing journey has helped to highlight the desperate plight of animals in Fiji. Poppy arrived at the Animals Fiji Clinic with a brutal facial injury in March 2012. It appeared she had been struck by a cane knife, amputating 50% of her muzzle. With a dreadful open wound, she had been left to fend for herself, and by the time she reached the Animals Fiji Clinic she weighed half of her normal body weight. Had a Good Samaritan not found Poppy and handed her in, she would have died of starvation or as a result of her wounds. Due to lack of funding, the Animals Fiji Clinic did not have a vet on staff. However, thanks to a fantastically successful fundraising appeal, Poppy was airlifted to Australia in October 2012 for reconstructive surgery. Her journey was documented by the Australian television show, Bondi Vet. Poppys story is one in a million. Sadly, so many of the animals she left behind in Fiji suffer and die every day without treatment for illness and injury. Poppys book, The Poppy Project, is intended to raise awareness worldwide for the plight of animals in Fiji.

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

Saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but the world will surely change for that animal.

For Poppy, and all creatures great and small.

JUST A DOG

From time to time, people tell me, lighten up, its just a dog, or thats a lot of money for just a dog. They dont understand the distance travelled, the time spent or the costs involved for just a dog. Some of my proudest moments have come about with just a dog. Many hours have passed and my only company was just a dog, but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by just a dog, and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of just a dog gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day. If you, too, think its just a dog, then you probably understand phrases like just a friend, just a sunrise, or just a promise.

Just a dog brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. Just a dog brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of just a dog I will rise early, take long walks, and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, its not just a dog but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

Just a dog brings out whats good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that its not just a dog, but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being just a man or just a woman. So the next time you hear the phrase just a dog, just smile, because they just dont understand.

Unknown Author

POPPYS STORY

FINDING POPPY

In Greek and Roman mythology, the poppy is seen as a symbol of resurrection after death, of new life, hope, and fresh beginnings. Poppy could not be a more fitting name for this brave Fijian native dog. The words of Stephen Grellet, a French Quaker missionary (1773-1855) ring true here.

I expect to pass through this life but once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness that I can show, or any good thing that I can do to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.

For Poppy, a series of good things and many kindnesses ensured her survival and her new life. In fact, Poppys dreadful accident led to a complete change in life and the kind of future she faced. Strangely, from the bad came a wonderful good.

Poppy was originally a pig-hunting dog. Her ears were cut off when she was just a pup, as is the custom with such working dogs. Sadly, this is believed to make them less vulnerable when pigs fight back. Her job was to round up and corner wild pigs for her owner, who would then swipe at them with his machete. But one day, the owner missed the target and instead hit Poppy, cutting off her nose and half her upper jaw. What happened to Poppy after that is unclear, but she was discovered by Segran Pillay, the headmaster of a local school at Kavanagasau near Sigatoka.

Not just another skinny, homeless dog, Poppy also had a frightening injury on her face. The top of her nose was completely missing, leaving a large gaping hole near her eyes. By the time she was found, Poppy weighed only nine kilograms, about half her normal body weight. Without the happy chance of being discovered, she would have starved to death. The headmaster asked for help from Julie Hoskison, visiting Fiji at the time. Julie has a long history with the country, having lived there as a child. Although Julie now lives in Australia, she is involved in charity work in Fiji.

14 March 2012, Julie says: I visited Kavanagasau in rural Fiji on