Get Stella Back on All Fours!

On a beautiful Monday evening, July 10th, my neighbors Elyse and Zach Smith were taking a pleasant stroll near The Castaways with their rescued Afghan Hound....STELLA. They were almost home when they came upon a man running with a Pit Bull.  Elyse and Zach paused to let them run by however, once the Pit Bull had passed the Smith's, the Pit Bull turned around and began viciously attacking them with Stella taking the brunt of the attack. Zach made every attempt to intervene as he cuffed Stella's neck while they both attempted to push away the Pit Bull.  Elyse and Zach suffered multiple bites to their arms, hands and legs and suffered dislocated and broken fingers... All the while....the man who was running with the dog DID NOTHING! Once the Smith's were able to separate the two dogs, the man and the Pit Bull ran off leaving them screaming for help and bleeding. A good Samaritan stopped to help, and they loaded Stella into their car and rushed her to the Emergency Vet. Stella underwent emergency surgery that evening. Stella's leg is shattered in three places and has severed tendons, muscles and arteries. This will be the first of many surgeries and urgent care for her.  

I am reaching out to the community to ask that we help support the Smith's with the unsurmountable (and unexpected) costs they will be facing, as a result of this tragedy.  Any amount is so very much appreciated and will help offset the ER and operating expenses.  

STELLA'S STORY...She and some other puppies were turned over to Afghan Hound Rescue of Southern California, Inc.  9 months ago.  The rescue coordinator brought Stella to Zach and Elyse for foster care as a puppy, and they immediately fell in love with her.  They had just rescued Lenny (Afghan Hound) from China, and they knew they had to keep Stella in their lives.  Stella is a certified therapy dog and volunteers with foster children and teens monthly. Elyse teaches a training g class for free a few times a year to help people certify their dogs so they can volunteer in our community.  She is amazing with kids...quiet, patient and so so sweet.

Stella was rushed to the Central Orange County Emergency Vet on July 10th  where she went into her first surgery.  The next day she was transfered to Veterinary Specialist Services Orange County (VSSOC) where they stabilized her and Stella's vet Dr. Sebestyen performed a several hour long surgery reconstructing her leg with titanium plates, screws and bone putty fusion. 

LET'S GET STELLA BACK ON ALL FOURS!