Saving the Leg of Sadie the stray
Donation protected
On Tuesday, March 3, at 6:15 am, my son, on his way to a meeting, spotted a dog lying in some frozen weeds along the side of the road. He turned his van around and went back to spot where he saw her head slightly above the vegetation. When he walked up to her she got up and limped towards him. He then lifted her into the van and took her home. Then he called me.
We spent the better part of the day taking all the steps necessary to get the word out that she had been found. There surely was a someone out there missing this beautiful, soulful dog and we wanted to find that someone. My son also took her to the animal hospital and it was discovered that her left rear leg was badly broken. She was given pain meds to keep her comfortable and confined while we waited for someone to come forward.
That was Tuesday. By Thursday the leg was beginning to swell and bruising started developing on the inner thigh. This time the vet x-rayed the leg and it was discovered that there were multiple breaks resulting in the need of a specialist. Even after all this time, the dog that we had begun to call Sadie, not even once vocalized her injury, except an occasional sleep-like moan that easily could have been a response to the cushy warm bed that she found herself in.
Still, no one came forward for this dog and her condition was in our opinion becoming dire. So we made the decision to save the leg. We knew the only other alternative for Sadie was euthanasia and that really was not an option. Sadie is quite young, 3 to 5, with many years ahead and we wanted to make sure she would live to enjoy those years. She is a wonderful dog, loving, obedient, only wanting to be near a human or another dog – part of a pack. I have never met a more wonderful dog than Sadie. She deserved a second chance and we could provide that for her.
Sadie likes riding in the car. Her specialist is in San Diego and it is a long drive. But she is a trooper. Saturday traffic flowed well and we got there on time. Because we e-mailed the x-rays and clinical notes to the facility, the surgeon had the opportunity to become familiar with the task at hand and prepare a hospital ‘room’ and an OR for her.
Sadie was carried out of the room and taken upstairs to be readied for surgery. She never made a peep.
The surgery was a success. She is still in the hospital but is walking on the leg! There will be a long period of healing and physical therapy, but fortunately she is healthy and has a spirit that soars. We saved the leg! An expensive course of treatment; surgical implants and it is because of this that we have to ask for help and support in paying for Sadie’s treatment. I have never asked for crowd funding of any kind – never for other dog rescues, or spay/neuter for a struggling family. Or dog food for someone who has hit rough times…saving the leg is more important to me than any rescue work I have done. Finding Sadie was a gift, but saving her leg is the greatest gift of all. Now my family must pay for that privilege.
Thank you so much for taking the time to look at this and if you are able, thank you in advance for helping save the leg of Sadie the stray.
Your friends,
Ty, Christie, Sondra and Gene
We spent the better part of the day taking all the steps necessary to get the word out that she had been found. There surely was a someone out there missing this beautiful, soulful dog and we wanted to find that someone. My son also took her to the animal hospital and it was discovered that her left rear leg was badly broken. She was given pain meds to keep her comfortable and confined while we waited for someone to come forward.
That was Tuesday. By Thursday the leg was beginning to swell and bruising started developing on the inner thigh. This time the vet x-rayed the leg and it was discovered that there were multiple breaks resulting in the need of a specialist. Even after all this time, the dog that we had begun to call Sadie, not even once vocalized her injury, except an occasional sleep-like moan that easily could have been a response to the cushy warm bed that she found herself in.
Still, no one came forward for this dog and her condition was in our opinion becoming dire. So we made the decision to save the leg. We knew the only other alternative for Sadie was euthanasia and that really was not an option. Sadie is quite young, 3 to 5, with many years ahead and we wanted to make sure she would live to enjoy those years. She is a wonderful dog, loving, obedient, only wanting to be near a human or another dog – part of a pack. I have never met a more wonderful dog than Sadie. She deserved a second chance and we could provide that for her.
Sadie likes riding in the car. Her specialist is in San Diego and it is a long drive. But she is a trooper. Saturday traffic flowed well and we got there on time. Because we e-mailed the x-rays and clinical notes to the facility, the surgeon had the opportunity to become familiar with the task at hand and prepare a hospital ‘room’ and an OR for her.
Sadie was carried out of the room and taken upstairs to be readied for surgery. She never made a peep.
The surgery was a success. She is still in the hospital but is walking on the leg! There will be a long period of healing and physical therapy, but fortunately she is healthy and has a spirit that soars. We saved the leg! An expensive course of treatment; surgical implants and it is because of this that we have to ask for help and support in paying for Sadie’s treatment. I have never asked for crowd funding of any kind – never for other dog rescues, or spay/neuter for a struggling family. Or dog food for someone who has hit rough times…saving the leg is more important to me than any rescue work I have done. Finding Sadie was a gift, but saving her leg is the greatest gift of all. Now my family must pay for that privilege.
Thank you so much for taking the time to look at this and if you are able, thank you in advance for helping save the leg of Sadie the stray.
Your friends,
Ty, Christie, Sondra and Gene
Organizer and beneficiary
Ty Heslep
Organizer
Hemet, CA
Christie Heslep
Beneficiary
