Rusty - the degloved greyhound
Donation protected
Rusty is a very handsome white and fawn greyhound, a very much loved pet greyhound. He lives in Canberra with his greyhound brother, Ripple, (the white and blue boy) and his mum Michele.
Michele is a founding member of Greyhound Connections - a Canberra charity that helps retired and non racing greyhounds find their forever homes. Rusty and Ripple have spent days and hours on end advocating for the responsible rehoming of greyhounds. They are excellent advocates of how wonderful greyhounds can be as pets.
A few weeks ago his Mum got some gardeners to come around and hedge the bushes lining the back yard so the yard would be safe for Rusty and Ripple to play in. That afternoon the boys were playing in the yard and Rusty ran past a bush that had a large branch sticking out.
He de-gloved his entire back.
This means his skin tore open and exposed EVERYTHING underneath. You can imagine the pain and horror of this injury.
If you are squeamish - DONT look at the below photos.
Michele got Rusty to the vet in record time and the first few days was touch and go. Rusty is a big boy at 36kg and the area stretched from one side of his ribs, across his back and to the other side of his ribs. We were incredibly hopeful that the stitches would do their job, but then his skin started to die.
Rusty had another surgery to remove the dead skin and to stabilise the injury. By then he had a 40cm wide belt across his back that had no skin, just bare muscles.
It has taken weeks of multiple surgeries, 24 hour around the clock care and the amazing work of Dr Isabelle and Dr Amanda at Inner South Veterinary Clinic to get Rusty to the point where he was stabilised enough to go home. Even then, Michele has needed to be there, changing Rusty's bandages multiple times a day and night to avoid infection.
While Rusty still has an incredible battle ahead of him and there is still some risk, its starting to feel hopeful that Rusty will recover.
Michele is depleted and needs help. Its been such a hard time and we would like to help her.
Rusty's veterinary bills are over $10,000 and still mounting. While the Inner South Veterinary Clinic have been so fantastic and waived many of their fees to help Michele and Rusty, the costs of surgeries, bandages and everything else Rusty has needed has added up.
Michele is the type of person who always gives of her time, her energy and her money. She is a single woman, a school teacher, with just one adult son who lives in Melbourne. She doesn't have a big family to help. Her family are her dogs, Rusty and Ripple.
We need to be her wider family.
If you can help, even just a little bit, it will all make a difference. If you have ever had a pet who was more than 'just a pet' you will understand the horrific time Michele has been through and how much this little bit of kindness and support will help her.
If you are unable to donate, please share this post, you never know who in your circle will be able to donate to help.
Michele and Rusty will thank you for it.
This was the day of injury - about 20 minutes after it happened.
Finally starting to look healthier
Michele is a founding member of Greyhound Connections - a Canberra charity that helps retired and non racing greyhounds find their forever homes. Rusty and Ripple have spent days and hours on end advocating for the responsible rehoming of greyhounds. They are excellent advocates of how wonderful greyhounds can be as pets.
A few weeks ago his Mum got some gardeners to come around and hedge the bushes lining the back yard so the yard would be safe for Rusty and Ripple to play in. That afternoon the boys were playing in the yard and Rusty ran past a bush that had a large branch sticking out.
He de-gloved his entire back.
This means his skin tore open and exposed EVERYTHING underneath. You can imagine the pain and horror of this injury.
If you are squeamish - DONT look at the below photos.
Michele got Rusty to the vet in record time and the first few days was touch and go. Rusty is a big boy at 36kg and the area stretched from one side of his ribs, across his back and to the other side of his ribs. We were incredibly hopeful that the stitches would do their job, but then his skin started to die.
Rusty had another surgery to remove the dead skin and to stabilise the injury. By then he had a 40cm wide belt across his back that had no skin, just bare muscles.
It has taken weeks of multiple surgeries, 24 hour around the clock care and the amazing work of Dr Isabelle and Dr Amanda at Inner South Veterinary Clinic to get Rusty to the point where he was stabilised enough to go home. Even then, Michele has needed to be there, changing Rusty's bandages multiple times a day and night to avoid infection.
While Rusty still has an incredible battle ahead of him and there is still some risk, its starting to feel hopeful that Rusty will recover.
Michele is depleted and needs help. Its been such a hard time and we would like to help her.
Rusty's veterinary bills are over $10,000 and still mounting. While the Inner South Veterinary Clinic have been so fantastic and waived many of their fees to help Michele and Rusty, the costs of surgeries, bandages and everything else Rusty has needed has added up.
Michele is the type of person who always gives of her time, her energy and her money. She is a single woman, a school teacher, with just one adult son who lives in Melbourne. She doesn't have a big family to help. Her family are her dogs, Rusty and Ripple.
We need to be her wider family.
If you can help, even just a little bit, it will all make a difference. If you have ever had a pet who was more than 'just a pet' you will understand the horrific time Michele has been through and how much this little bit of kindness and support will help her.
If you are unable to donate, please share this post, you never know who in your circle will be able to donate to help.
Michele and Rusty will thank you for it.
This was the day of injury - about 20 minutes after it happened. Finally starting to look healthier
Organizer
Martina Taliano
Organizer
Amaroo, ACT