MOOSE ON MOPAC BRIDGE BEFORE PLATTE RIVER FLOODED

Mr. Moose is a 5-year-old Lab mix. He's a big, lovable boy weighing 120-plus pounds. He's never strayed far from home.  But that all changed the morning of Friday, April 26, 2019. 

It was still dark out and I knew something was in the yard by the way the hair on the back of his neck stood up.  I stalled for time but as soon as I opened the door, Moose shot out like a rocket and ran down our driveway on a dead run. This was so not like him! He usually stops and returns gloating in the fact that he's protecting his yard.

Moose was "on the lam" for six days. We feared someone took him via "dirt road adoption" so we posted fliers and drove around talking to anyone we could. Once we posted his flier to Facebook, his image went viral! That's when sightings started coming in. 

By Wednesday, May 1, we were able to pinpoint an area so we held a search & rescue.  Moose was found stuck in "flood mud" up to his waist left from the Platte River flooding in March.  He was dehydrated and in shock. We learned he had suffered a pelvic fracture after having been hit by a car the same day he chased turkeys (or whatever) down our drive.  We are guessing he had been in the mud for at least 48 hours.

MOOSE'S RESCUE

SOME MEMBERS OF OUR AWESOME RESCUE TEAM

Moose spent three days in the pet hospital  and is now sporting a new pelvic plate.  Once his cone comes off and stitches come out,  we will be looking at rehab and a long road to recovery. 

MOOSE LEAVING THE HOSPITAL (VCA Midwest Veterinary Clinic )

To further complicate things, Jim is recovering from knee surgery.  It's been a bit tough trying to keep the medical bills straight. But, at least Jim has insurance! We had to pay the pet hospital as soon as Moose was released, so we put his bill on a 90-day note with our bank. 

When people hear the cost of Moose's bill, they probably think we are crazy for going through with the surgery.  But Moose is way more than "just a dog."  He's our companion, security system and burglar alarm. Every so often, he even helps around the house by washing the dishes. Moose does, however, have one flaw: he likes to drink out of toilets.

 MOOSE BEFORE CONE

We are so grateful for any contributions, no matter how small. Every little bit helps and we promise that we will pay it forward. If we happen to raise beyond the cost of his hospital bill, we will donate the excess to Omaha Area Lost Pets  - a group that was very helpful and supportive throughout our search.

If I've learned one important thing through this entire experience, it's that when you think you are facing something all alone, friends (old and new) have a way of coming out of no where.