Valor's Orthopedic Surgeries

Early in December I noticed a thin, what appeared to be German Shepherd (we are fairly certain he is a Belgian Malinois) wandering along our country road- not uncommon as many unwanted animals get dumped on this road. He would not let me get close enough to catch him. I asked Shaun to leave dog food out along our property line whenever I saw him because I felt terrible he was starving. We periodically made attempts to coax him to us when we would have a chance encounter but he always evaded us. Fast forward to Christmas Eve, while I was working an unusual day shift, a picture came across my phone- they had this sweet dog in a crate in our garage! He was found down on the side of the road with an obvious front left leg fracture and extremely poor condition. Mom baked a chicken especially for him and we nursed him along with chicken broth, chicken and eventually dog food in small frequent meals over the long holiday weekend. He NEVER once whimpered, growled, bit or barked while we transferred him in and out of a crate to clean up. On Monday morning 12/27 we had our local vet assess him, age estimate 1 to 2 years maximum. We discovered a fractured pelvis (ileum and acetabulum) on the left hind in addition to the left front humeral/radial head fracture. The prognosis was not pretty and surgery would be exhorbent. I requested bloodwork (satisfactory) and heartworm test (negative ) and Shaun, Mom and I decided we had to press forward with saving him.

Now I know you cannot save every stray. I'm in Healthcare I know about practicality but this guy was just different, special!

We initially went to a specialty clinic in Memphis (that is a whole other story and I'll save anyone the trouble - don't bother! ) , ultimately we ended up at Mississippi State CVM on Tuesday night- I can't say enough about how wonderful and communicative the team has been. Special thanks to Emergency Medicine on Tuesday night and Dr. Joanne.

A CT on Wednesday morning revealed the right ileum was also fractured and a physical examination under anesthesia revealed a torn left ACL, so there is a long road ahead and more surgery later down the road.

...Well stray dog became VALOR and he underwent over 8 hours of surgery on 12/29. He came through surgery and is recovering at MSU CVM until he can transition to oral pain medication and get back home to rehabilitate.

The surgery estimate and hospitalization is 5 figures. If anyone would like to donate to help offset some of his surgery costs, we would be forever grateful and so would Valor.

I cannot explain why, but I just felt like he deserved this opportunity.

Job 12:7-10:“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”