Let me introduce you to our beagador, Struck. You know, beagador - half beagle, half lab.
Three years ago, my vet called me. She had a dog who'd been hit by a car, pelvis broken in 2 places, left for dead on the side of the road, picked up by a good samaritan and brought in. She told me that they had not performed any heroic measures, just kept him comfortable and waited to see what would happen.
What happened was he rallied and the vet needed someone who could foster him while he rehabilitated for 6-8 weeks, unable to take stairs or jump up because of his broken pelvis.
Enter Chef Stu, PJ and their motley crew of rescued animals.
(Struck has his own chair, covered with a sheet because he sheds black hair and I hate animal hair.)
When Struck came to live with us, he was emaciated. There were actual valleys between his ribs. He had not been neutered (that had to wait until after his pelvis healed); and showed all the signs of total neglect.
He healed up fine over time. There is a slight hitch in his 'gitalong' when he first takes off at a full tilt boogie, but that's it. And, of course he never left us. We couldn't bear to part with him; he's a big LOVE.
When we had him neutered, we had to put little boys underwear on him (my vet's suggestion) to keep him from licking the incisions. I'm including a photo because it was pretty darn funny:
Oh - his name was given to him by one of the vet techs when Struck first arrived for emergency treatment (because he'd been struck by a car) and we kept it, figuring he'd had enough change for one lifetime. I like to think of it as short for "Lovestruck." He is.
Always looking forward, PJ
