b"Going Rogue.by Tina K. VaLantM , M AY 11WAS A DAY LIKE ANY OTHER for Tomeka gash under his right eye, a hole in his ear and numerous facialONDAYCollins in Saint Petersburg. This time of year, she likes to begin puncture wounds. He had to have been in pain, yet he was trust-before the heat of the day sets in. She rose before the sun, fed ing and friendly. Wagging his tail, he jumped into Tomekas vehi-and walked Cypress, a brindle Pit Bull mix she found as a stray, cle with her help. Thinking such a friendly dog may have beenand arrived for her shift as a meter reader at 7 a.m. Aside from lost, she filed a report with the St. Pete police department. Theya supervisor changing her route that day, everything was just as wanted to keep the dog, as evidence, they told her. I didntit always is. know if he was going to make it through the night, so I thought,if he was going to pass, it was goingtobeinahomewherepeoplecared.Shethentookhimtoananimal emergency room, but theyturned her away. Then she took himto Skyway Animal Hospital.He was infested with parasitesand at 40 pounds, extremely mal-nourished and anemic. His injuriesincludeddeepfleshwounds,eyedamage and infections, causing hisimmune system to be severely com-promised. Skyway Animal HospitalsDr. WilliamC.Slocumb,saidtheinjuries undoubtedly resulted fromdogfighting. Tomekaneversus-pected that history from the affablecanine. Aside from the dogs gentledemeanor,theonlyotherbitofgood news was, he was heartwormnegative.Dr. Slocumb estimated the dogsTomeka Collins with Rogue (left)and Cypress (right). agetobejustoverayearashePhotography by Tina K. VaLant. administered vaccines, pain medica-tion,andantibiotics. TheswellingWalking at a brisk pace, Tomeka looked forward to working would need to subside before his injuries could be further eval-on some home improvements that afternoon, and maybe even uated, and a care plan put into place. After setting up a followupgetting in a CrossFit training session. Approaching a busy inter- protocol, Tomeka took him home. She kept him separate fromsection, she saw a woman chasing after a tan, medium-sized dog. Cypress (who was very curious about this new addition) so heAs she got closer, she could see the male dog was hurt. People would stay calm and rest.lookedconcerned,buttheyjustdroveaway.Perhapsthey While looking at collars and leads in a pet supply store,thought, It's not my problem, That looks dangerous, I've Tomeka chatted with a woman who had a dog named Rogue.got to get where I'm going, I'd like to help, but.). None of Coincidentally, she does CrossFit using Rogue equipment. Thethese thoughts crossed Tomeka's mind. dog she found had gone rogue, having escaped a treacherous,She pulled her vehicle over and got out to assist. Heat- brutal life. He was so named.exhausted, the dog allowed them to lead him from the intersec- Overthenextthreeweeks,Roguewasdroppedoffattion, using Tomeka's belt as a leash. She asked the woman how Skyway for daily wound care. I didnt plan on adding anotherher dog had escaped. Its not my dog, she said. I just didnt dog to my household, let alone a severely injured one. I dontwant him to get hit by a car. I cant take him homecan you know what I would have done without Dr. Slocumb and all thehelp him from here?Skyway staff. They staked their claim in making Rogues newTheskinny,russet-coloreddogwasbloodyandlooked life happy and healthy, with expert veterinary care, given withgruesome. His left eye was nearly swollen shut. There was a deep great love and kindness.52THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com"