So you want to rescue!

[Fuzzywug]

A couple of weeks ago I was called about a 5 pound, 5 year old, male yorkie mix with luxating patellas, who was picked up as a stray and was going to be euthanized in the morning. I took him in on Sunday and Monday morning we were at the vet's office. The patella problem was obvious, he holds one leg up when he walks, but he also had uncontrollable, violent sneezing.

The sneezing was diagnosed as nasal mites (I'd never heard of that before) and he was given a shot of ivectin, and needs to be followed up with 2 more shots.

The vet was shocked by the condition of his legs and said it was the worse he'd ever seen, but couldn't be sure of what could be done until he was ex-rayed.

The ex-rays showed that right leg did have a grade 4 luxating patella, the left was a different story. His leg is deformed. The bones have curved outward, there is no groove in the knee and the tibial crest is turned about 90 degrees. The vet went into what he would have to do to try to correct it.

That would consist of cutting wedges out of the upper and lower leg, then piecing them together with metal plates and screws, repositioning the tibial crest and creating a groove in the upper and lower bones to create a knee. He's never heard of anyone doing such radical surgery on a leg this small before and wasn't sure if it would work. That sounds too drastic to me, and experimental.

I asked about other options. He said: repair the right luxating patella and amputate the left leg at the knee, just repair the right luxating patella, or just amputate the left leg. He was so excited - he kept saying it would be such a "challenge" to do this surgery and rebuild the leg!

Of course my next question was cost! With the "generous" 10% rescue discount, the fees are:

The "challenge" with a chance that it would work $3,500
Repair luxating patella 1,200 - $1,400
Amputate left leg 900
Put him to sleep ?? not an option in my mind

I can tell you without hesitation that this is a happy, for the most part - healthy little boy. He loves to eat, he can jump, run and play with all my dogs. Yesterday he had Bodie in a chase and it was shocking to see how fast he can run. Beyond that - he's the sweetest, gentlest little creature and still has the face of a puppy. I don't see any signs that he's in pain, except when I bathe him and put pressure on his hip. Oh, and he does something I've never seen before - he puts his head straight up and does a soft howl at the dog on the other side of the fence - you can't imagine how cute it is to see. Because of that I've been calling him Kyo (short for coyote). He asks for nothing but love.

I told the vet (I've been going there for 7 years) that it was a tough one and that the "challenge" was out of the question....... all the time thinking to myself........ climbing Mt. Everest is a challenge and people pay big money to risk their lives. How can you ask my rescue to pay for you to take on a "challenge" that IF successful would further your career and reputation? How much would it actually cost you to do this, how much time would it take out of your busy life to do any of the options to give this little boy a chance? He must have read my mind because he looked right in my eyes and said: "Trish, this is the real world."

My point? There is no point. No one ever said rescue would be easy. Sadly, I've realized that this is the real world. I've called every vet and every clinic in the area and no one else is willing to give a discount for rescue. I'm not angry but I am disappointed ---- in humans.

Thanks for reading......... and most of all........ thanks for caring.

Best regards,
Trish
Yorkie Rescue Colorado

[vainchick5]

Aww Trish, your little boy sounds precious. I would LOVE to see a picture of him I'm so sorry for all that he and you have to go through for this and God bless you for taking this on like a trooper. I know it isn't easy. I will say a Prayer for you and Kyo. I agree with you, the real world is not the best place and sometimes humans suck.

[Yorkiekids]

I can't believe not one person will help you. Although a lot of times when you look through the rescue pages you see them asking for donations to help the dog. I agree with you, though. There are people who can afford to pay those amounts, and there's people who can't. If each vet in a town would do one probono case a week it would help a lot of people out, and I'm sure they wouldn't go broke.

[Txgurl06]

Why not apply for that IMOM thing! i just heard about it yesterday and i read about it. They help you pay vet bills that you cant pay. Also you might not want to think of it as bettering your vets career but that if another dog was found like this near you that your vet could give him a chance to maybe use that leg again.

JMPO

[Fuzzywug]

Originally Posted by Fuzzywug

A couple of weeks ago I was called about a 5 pound, 5 year old, male yorkie mix with luxating patellas, who was picked up as a stray and was going to be euthanized in the morning. I took him in on Sunday and Monday morning we were at the vet's office. The patella problem was obvious, he holds one leg up when he walks, but he also had uncontrollable, violent sneezing.

The sneezing was diagnosed as nasal mites (I'd never heard of that before) and he was given a shot of ivectin, and needs to be followed up with 2 more shots.

The vet was shocked by the condition of his legs and said it was the worse he'd ever seen, but couldn't be sure of what could be done until he was ex-rayed.

The ex-rays showed that right leg did have a grade 4 luxating patella, the left was a different story. His leg is deformed. The bones have curved outward, there is no groove in the knee and the tibial crest is turned about 90 degrees. The vet went into what he would have to do to try to correct it.

That would consist of cutting wedges out of the upper and lower leg, then piecing them together with metal plates and screws, repositioning the tibial crest and creating a groove in the upper and lower bones to create a knee. He's never heard of anyone doing such radical surgery on a leg this small before and wasn't sure if it would work. That sounds too drastic to me, and experimental.

I asked about other options. He said: repair the right luxating patella and amputate the left leg at the knee, just repair the right luxating patella, or just amputate the left leg. He was so excited - he kept saying it would be such a "challenge" to do this surgery and rebuild the leg!

Of course my next question was cost! With the "generous" 10% rescue discount, the fees are:

The "challenge" with a chance that it would work $3,500
Repair luxating patella 1,200 - $1,400
Amputate left leg 900
Put him to sleep ?? not an option in my mind

I can tell you without hesitation that this is a happy, for the most part - healthy little boy. He loves to eat, he can jump, run and play with all my dogs. Yesterday he had Bodie in a chase and it was shocking to see how fast he can run. Beyond that - he's the sweetest, gentlest little creature and still has the face of a puppy. I don't see any signs that he's in pain, except when I bathe him and put pressure on his hip. Oh, and he does something I've never seen before - he puts his head straight up and does a soft howl at the dog on the other side of the fence - you can't imagine how cute it is to see. Because of that I've been calling him Kyo (short for coyote). He asks for nothing but love.

I told the vet (I've been going there for 7 years) that it was a tough one and that the "challenge" was out of the question....... all the time thinking to myself........ climbing Mt. Everest is a challenge and people pay big money to risk their lives. How can you ask my rescue to pay for you to take on a "challenge" that IF successful would further your career and reputation? How much would it actually cost you to do this, how much time would it take out of your busy life to do any of the options to give this little boy a chance? He must have read my mind because he looked right in my eyes and said: "Trish, this is the real world."

My point? There is no point. No one ever said rescue would be easy. Sadly, I've realized that this is the real world. I've called every vet and every clinic in the area and no one else is willing to give a discount for rescue. I'm not angry but I am disappointed ---- in humans.

Thanks for reading......... and most of all........ thanks for caring.

Best regards,
Trish
Yorkie Rescue Colorado

Sorry, my mistake. luxating patella surgery is not 1200, but 890.

I have never heard of IMOM. What is it? Where is it?

[Txgurl06]

http://www.imom.org/

[3CrazyYorkies]

Are there any teaching veteranary facilities close to you that could use this "Challenge" to help this poor little guy out.

[Fuzzywug]

TX, thank you....... what a wonderful idea! I checked and we don't qualify because we don't have our 501 yet. But it's still a great idea for other rescues and individuals who need help.

[yorkiesmiles]

Are you going to take him to another vet for a second opinion? And perhaps a more compassionate vet not interested in their own career.

I understand you have a long relationship with this vet, but if I was going to undertake such a serious surgery, I would certainly find a vet who has done this surgery before. Just like I wouldn't put my own life into the hands of a surgeon who had performed the specific surgery before.

I am glad to hear that he is a joy in your life!

[daisy mae06]

Trish the work you do is just wonderful You and Bettye are the greatest! I hope you find all the help this little guy needs he sounds like a champ

[SophieRose]

Hi, Trish. Are you in the process to obtain the 501 status? Warmly, Deborah

[Fuzzywug]

Originally Posted by SophieRose

Hi, Trish. Are you in the process to obtain the 501 status? Warmly, Deborah

Yes, we are in the process of applying for non-profit status. To us, it's all about the dogs. We also have to apply for non-profit status with the state and pay their fees, then the application fee to the IRS is $750.00.

We've had so many unexpected medical expenses for yorkies, that we haven't had the time or the money to get this all done yet. Can you imagine... this small rescue getting two liver shunt dogs within 2 months! When I have to make a decision as to spending money to make a dog well, or turning it down, knowing it will be euthanized or sending a check to the IRS instead, my heart gets in the way of my head......... well, it's clear what the decision has been.

I've called EVERY vet in the area, including Alameda and CSU......... there is no help available for rescue. It seems they are already helping many others.

Our rescue, unlike some of the national groups, cannot afford to spend that much money on one surgery, especially since he isn't sure it will work. I've decided that the best thing to do for Kyo is to repair the luxation that can be repaired without the pins and plates. Repairing that one will put him in better condition than when he came to us. Sadly, he will be a handicapped yorkie; happlily, with a long life ahead of him . . . it sure beats where he'd be if he hadn't been rescued.

Thanks to all of your for your concern and support. We really do appreciate you!

[BabyFidgette]

I'm sorry to hear all the struggles this poor guy is having. You are such a saint to take him in. Now, I know that amputating a leg seems so cruel and a last resort, but I watch Animal Planet all the time, and the vets say it's not as bad as we think it is for the pups. They get along very well without a limb and just adjust. He will still be a happy boy with 3 legs. Whatever you decide to do, good luck! I know it would be a very hard decision for me to make too. Hugs to you.

[bettyeanne]

Trish is a saint!!! We have such love and compassion for these babies, we can't just let them suffer!! I am back in Colorado and have come out of retirement .... I just can't sit by and not help! Trish knows all the things about fostering and trying to "fix" these babies and I am clueless, so the only thing I know how to do is work and hopefully make things for our website "store"! Hopefully, we will be able to get our 501 soon and hopefully be able to get donations and get help from places that require us to have the 501 status to qualify. The problem after getting these babies "repaired" is that there aren't that many out there who want to adopt these flawed little ones! Everyone wants the perfect baby and that's understandable but if you ever once look into the eyes of these helpless little ones or feel that "first" little nuzzle of one who is ready to finally trust humans is so heartbreaking .... you just can't imagine how it feels. We just have to keep trying ... one Yorkie at the time!

The thing is, if we can't adopt these little ones to loving homes, we can't take the next one that needs our help, and there will always be a "next one". Until we are able to shut down these "mills" and "BYB's" .... there will always, always be a need!!

[daisy mae06]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

Trish is a saint!!! We have such love and compassion for these babies, we can't just let them suffer!! I am back in Colorado and have come out of retirement .... I just can't sit by and not help! Trish knows all the things about fostering and trying to "fix" these babies and I am clueless, so the only thing I know how to do is work and hopefully make things for our website "store"! Hopefully, we will be able to get our 501 soon and hopefully be able to get donations and get help from places that require us to have the 501 status to qualify. The problem after getting these babies "repaired" is that there aren't that many out there who want to adopt these flawed little ones! Everyone wants the perfect baby and that's understandable but if you ever once look into the eyes of these helpless little ones or feel that "first" little nuzzle of one who is ready to finally trust humans is so heartbreaking .... you just can't imagine how it feels. We just have to keep trying ... one Yorkie at the time!

The thing is, if we can't adopt these little ones to loving homes, we can't take the next one that needs our help, and there will always be a "next one". Until we are able to shut down these "mills" and "BYB's" .... there will always, always be a need!!

You both are Saints Bettyanne