This is my last post on BrokenPuppy. The blog has served its purpose; first, it was a forum for news and donations, in that terribly critical week after I found Hope in the road. Second, it allowed me to tell Hope’s remarkable story and share pictures with the many friends that Hope made along her journey. If you are a new visitor, please start at the beginning and read this blog in reverse (chronological) order for the full story and pictures, or read the summary below.
To recap: on August 26, 2009, I was driving home from a new job in Pembroke (NC) when I saw a dog in the middle of an intersection. She looked panicked and confused, but I didn’t realize she was hurt until I got out of my car to try to “shoo” her off to the side - she hobbled two steps and lied down. With the help of a passer-by I pulled her out of the road, then went to the closest house and asked if anyone recognized this dog. The woman who lived there gave me sheets and water, but didn’t know who the dog belonged to.
I typed “vet” into my GPS and contacted the closest listing. On the way over, I patted this dog and talked to her. She was lying in the passenger seat, scared but incredibly trusting. She was covered in fleas and ticks (three kinds of worms too, I later learned). She “asked” me to help her. I promised her I would.
The veterinarian was out treating livestock, so his son helped stabilize the dog and promised that his Father would assess her and call as soon as he returned. I left the dog off, thinking that this was the end of the tale, that she would get the help she needed. It was getting dark and I still had a two-hour drive home.
Around 8:00 that night the vet called. He told me that the dog was around eight months old and had two broken rear legs. The legs were in such bad shape that he recommended euthanasia. Not wanting to serve execution orders for a dog I had tried so hard to save, nor reneg on my promise to her, I questioned whether anything could be done to give her a normal life again. His hesitation was all the motivation I needed to get a second opinion. I asked him to monitor her over the night, and if she survived I would be in touch in the morning.
My new colleague Valerie Austin, a fellow dog-lover, transported the dog to a new vet the next day. Dr. Curt Locklear at the Southeastern Veterinary Hospital assessed her and decided that she could be saved, though it would not be easy. He advised that she needed a specialist, and it would be expensive. Rebecca and I began calling rescue organizations and shelters, anyone who may help this creature. Many did not want to get involved. A few gave us friendly advice but could not handle her complex situation. The Guilford County Animal Shelter was willing to take her in and give her treatment, but we would have to surrender her and would not be able to follow her progress. For a whole day we made phone calls and researched possibilities. The only specialists we could find who would take on her situation gave us an estimated price tag of $4000. As the evening hours passed we were sad and discouraged. Then got a call from a California-based rescue organization (United Animal Nations) who pledged a grant toward her hospital bills. My good friend Brandon Bautista, a webdesigner in Michigan, suggested we start a blog and ask for help in fundraising. Thus, the BrokenPuppy blog was formed.
I sent out emails to my closest friends and established a cause on facebook. News of this puppy’s struggle circulated and donations came pouring in. Over the weekend we had over 1500 hits from eight different countries and raised more than half of her estimated expenses. The momentum kept increasing, and by September third I was able to shut down the paypal site, having raised the full amount. Friends and strangers alike were linking this story to their blogs, joining the facebook cause, even contacting news organizations. The response was surprising and overwhelming. She had her surgery, and despite the naysayers (and there were more than a few) it seemed possible that she would really be able to walk again. We named her Hope and spent the next six weeks rehabilitating her in our home.
Hope not only regained the ability to walk, she healed to the point where she can run and play like a normal dog. And though our original intention was to rehabilitate her and adopt her out, this dog became such a beloved part of our household that we decided she would become part of our family. She is one of the kindest creatures I have ever encountered, and not a day goes by that I am not thankful for the happy ending to this story. Rebecca and I are eternally indebted to all who helped save Hope, and honored to have been a part of such an emotional and inspiring saga.
